Raging Against the Heavens [Tribe Topic]

There was a deep sigh from the white and grey tabby tom as he pulled himself onto a rock, staring out into the small frost-covered clearing that served as the final resting place for their tribemates. There was a pain in Storm that Lights the Cloud's stomach, a mix of anger and guilt. The Time of Frozen Water had been a harsh time for the tribe...They had lost so many of their tribemates. Kits, Elders...Even Cave-Guards and Prey-Hunters that had gone missing while hunting so that they could scrape by. They had lost so many...He grimaced as he shifted on his paws. The tribe was failing...And nobody knew why.

He slumped into a crouch, shaking his head with a small snarl. What were they to do? He had doubts that things were to get better for them but there was an uncertainty to this all that he despised. He didn't like risks...The danger that not knowing what the future held was something he wanted to avoided...But that was the problem. How were they to weave around this when so many unknown or uncontrollable factors played a part. He snarled softly at the air, curling his tail around his paws as he stared up at the sky with narrowed eyes. "What are we to do?" he growled to the air, expecting no response.

"We do whatever it takes to survive."
She was a survivor. Whatever the Tribe of Endless Hunting has given her to last so long, she didn't know, but she was alive. The only elder to survive the Time of Frozen Water, where the icy, bitter cold had run through their spines and picked off the tribe like a hawk feasting on wandering kits. The lack of prey causing her to grown thinner and bonier by the day. Cave-guards, prey-hunters, kits, her friends, her family. All gone, all succumbed to the cruel time of snow and frost-ridden mountains. Worry crossed her face and haunted the dreams of the lone elder. The tribe was failing, and there was nothing she could do but try to live. Live, so that for all her years, she could see the day the recovered.

Or, more likely, she thought to herself, the day they all perished.

Pale Light of Dusk let out a sigh, half tired, half exasperated. While creaky joints or extreme lethargy had not take control of her like it had many of the other elders before, she was still nowhere near as agile and strong as she was. She hauled herself towards the exit of the cave, still staying under shelter, but close enough to talk. She wasn't going to brave the fierce winds that howled through the peaks like a pack of wolves, for fear of illness. And if she grew ill in these conditions, there was no going back.
"I've lost... too many. But we have to adapt, or die." She thought for a moment, knowing her words as an elder would be respected."Or....we move, however we might do that. Bah, likely impossible to do if the weather keeps up." Pale finished with a groan, thinking these younger ones might not have appreciated the pessimism. Oh, what do they know?

Storm jolted as there was an answer - two of his Tribemates stepping up having heard his question. But the Cave-Guard found himself like neither of the answers. There was uncertainty to both of them, no clear path for them to take and it angered Storm that Lights the Clouds. He wanted a future for his Tribe, one that they could as clearly as stars on a cloudless night but no. His heart sunk as his shoulders sagged. He could not have this comfort, could he? He didn't like it, but the risk of uncertainly was the only thing they knew laid before them. It was all he had. He shook his head, forcing his body to be ridge once more with a faint growl but deep inside was happy for the company. "Adapt..." he echoed the Elder's words, the word flickering on his tongue as he tested it out.

Could they adapt? There was nothing to adapt to - the lack of caught-prey was a death sentence. The elders and kits were to weak to survive - it was lucky enough that Pale was still with them. And so many of their Tribemates had been lost to an...Unknown force. And those who survived to hunt were either unlucky in finding prey, unskilled in it or to weak to properly hunt. There was no adapting. He shook his head in anger at this thought, was death truly the only certainly they had? But then Pale offered another idea - leaving. And the moment the elder uttered those words, he disliked it. Leaving? Their ancestors had lived here for countless moons and Storm dreaded the risk of stepping into the unknown even more. They knew nothing that laid beyond their mountain and the chance that they could find a new home was slim. Was any of them even strong enough to make it down to the land below them all?

He sighed heavily with another angry shake of his head. "Is that truly the only options before us? Adapt, die or leave?" he questioned, not truly expecting a solid answer from his two companions. "The only one that leaves no uncertainly is death but I do not want our Tribe to die out. But there is little to no caught-prey and we are growing smaller every sunrise...I do not know what we should do and it terrifies me," he added in a small voice, his tone cold and hard but still the slightly bit of his fear was seeped into his words. He wanted to be brave and strong but perhaps it was his hungry that sucked all of that strength away. His gaze flickered back to where his tribemates were buried, his heart sinking. He was sure that if Sun that Shines on Water was here, she would know what to do...

The massive stones that jutted out awkwardly from the side of the mountains were laced with a hardly visible, yet incredibly deadly, coating of sheer ice that made Screech of the Startled Eagle's paws feel incredibly unsteady, but the rather old To-Be continued to forge a path across the rocks nonetheless. Slithering down a rather sleep rise, he let out a low, near-inaudible hiss as his tough paws were burnt slightly from the skidding, he quickly found himself overlooking the traditional Tribe burial site. Soft bits of conversation battered his ears, but due to the howling gales that rushed through the area, Screech was unable to discern what was actually being said. Peering over the outcrop, he was greeted with the sight of Storm that Lights the Clouds, Bear Growls through the Night, and Pale Light of Dusk all arguing over the pathetic predicament that currently faced The Tribe of Endless Skies. Grunting as he overheard more of their conversation, the young, dark tom leaped down to join them, eyes flashing as he was able to hear more of their heated debate.

"Leave?!" Screech spat, voice heated with repulsion and shock as he caught a piece of Storm's words, his murky eyes going wide as he stared at the Cave Guard. "The mountains are the only home we've ever known- why would we abandon them just because we're facing a tough Time of Frozen Water?" The prickly To-Be continued, large ears pressing flat against his narrow skull as he continued his tirade of stubborn belief. His long, thin tail lashed fiercely as another harsh gale buffeted the small clearing, plastering Screech's short fur against his bony side as he swung his scrawny form around to stare at Storm and Bear. "All we need to do is persevere- The Time of Freed Water will be here soon and it'll get better." He grumbled, pupils dilating to slivers as he glared at the two older toms. Screech's whiskers twitched as his own hollow words echoed within his narrow mind- did he even believe his own words? After a brief moment of debating, he was able to grasp on to the answer that clung to the back of his mind, despite the fact that he still desperately clung to his childish inhibitions. 'If we stay we'll die.' the little voice within the back of his mind whispered, making his fur prickle uncomfortably. The danger they faced this season was unlike anything he had ever seen within his short lifetime- it had taken his grandparents, his parents, his littermates, and even the limited amount of friends he had managed to accumulate had been snatched away by the terrible season and the threats that lurked within it. "We just need to wait. Once The Time of Freed Water is here, we'll have more caught-prey." Screech grumbled.

A swift, chilled gust of wind swept over Night of Stormy Gales's pitch black fur, the white spot on his chest glowing like a star in the evening sky. His vivid pale green eyes, usually sparkling with curiosity, were dim and serious as he approached the small group of debaters. His tail flicking back and forth, for a moment he listened to their rabble before deciding to speak up. "We need to continue to have faith in our ancestors, and Stoneteller. We have always been guided by visions from our wiser past, why should we not have confidence in them now?" Falling silent, he lay down on a flat rock and gazed critically at each cat in attendance. Eyes narrowed, he continued his speech. "This dark season has taken a toll on every one of us, it is normal for hope to feel lost. It is likely though that, once the time of freed water had come, conditions will improve; but if they don't this time, we need to think of other options." Gazing around, his eyes landed first on Screech, then Storm. Voice ringing with bravery and strength, the wise tom finished; "Yes, there is much uncertainty, but that is not always a bad thing. If you always remain complacent, how will you grow and change? Greatness always begins with uncertainty, my friends. I too hope though, that we will be able to stay here, in our home. Uncountable moons have passed since we arrived here, and I hope that it will also be so for the time that we leave this place." Sighing deeply, the tom closed his eyes and lost himself to his thoughts.

Fox that hunts in the Night was laying on the rocks, frustrated because he couldn't catch any prey for his tribemates. He had been watching how his friends were dying because of starvation and the harsh weather of the mountains, being unable to do anything but saw.
The orange tom heard the discussion, with his ears pointing at the cats that were talking. The debate was so pointless, he thought. In the end, only the Stoneteller had the decision over the actions of the tribe and even if they argue with each other, nothing will be solved.
"I agree with Night of the Stormy Gales." The spotted cat finally joined the talk after the wise words of the black cat. He felt like he was the only one talking with some common sense there. We have to trust in the Stoneteller and wait until he decides what to do. I'm sure that he will do the best for the tribe, even if that means leaving our home for a better place." The prey-hunter glanced at the other members with a serious look, narrowing his green eyes. "I know that this is our home and I will miss it a lot if we leave, but we cannot allow more nonsense deaths caused because of the harshness of the mountains. We need to move if it's necessary". With that final words, he finished his short speech and shifted his gaze toward the cold rocks that were under his large, slender body. He looked at his scarred paws, thinking about all that his tribe had come through so far.

During this season, everything was cold. The winds and the breezes that blew through the land was cold, the air that the cats breathed in and out was cold, and you could see the small clouds be puffed out as cats exhaled. The ground and the grass was blanketed with cold frost. The majority of the prey that had been thriving was dead just because of the cold. However, the coldest thing that seemed to be existing during this Time of Frozen Water were the hearts of tribe cats that lived here, only to be thawed once the Time of Freed Water came around again and brought back prey and life in general. Correction, cats that struggled to live here. Times in the past hadn't been as hard as this...and the amount of deaths that had occurred was almost depressing. It was easy to describe this season, and the adjectives and descriptions that could be used with not be anywhere near pleasant. However, it was even simpler to give descriptions on the appearances of the cats that were going through this. Skinny, thin, and starving. For some cats, you could see the outline of their bones through their fur. It was something that was terrible to watch...

But even worse to experience firsthand...

Berry that Falls from Bush silently lifted his head from his cream-colored paws and swiveled his ears swiftly to let the current sounds and voices come to him. It was almost like a debate. There seemed to be a couple of choices that could be chosen from: Leave or stay. Berry's first reaction was shock.
Leave? But this is our home... He thought, blinking. Berry continued to lay there for a few heartbeats in silent thought.
But if we do leave, maybe we'll be able to survive somehow.
He rose to his paws, still silent, and padded over to the group of cats that had begun to gather to discuss the matter. The to-be opened his mouth to speak, before closing it quickly. Maybe he should keep his thoughts to himself and the cats that were older than him speak. For now, he chose to be swaying towards the side of the cats that thought that leaving would be a fine idea, just to ensure their survival. However, Berry knew that the Tribe should probably follow and trust whatever Stoneteller told them to do. Well, at least Berry would. With pricked ears and a brain full of thoughts and opinions, the cream to-be stood close to the group and continued to listen on.

Storm's ears flickered back as even more of his Tribemates stepped into the clearing, each voicing their own options. His eyes first remained on Screech of the Startled Eagle as the young tom spoke up, anger in his voice at the idea of leaving. And Storm that Lights the Clouds found himself agreeing with his words - or at least most of them. He couldn't stand the idea of leaving...So many of their ancestors had been born here and died here, should they not share the same fate? There was always the chance of things getting better but...For a second, Storm opened his mouth to say something but silenced himself as others started to speak up. His eyes then fell onto Night of Stormy Gales as he started to speak up, narrowing his eyes. There was something they could all agree on - they had to have faith in Stoneteller.

But when Night dared claim that uncertainty wasn't always a bad thing, he wanted to snarl. Taking risks was what had gotten the love of his life killed when he hadn't stopped her from climbing up those rocks...Storm wasn't willing to see any more of his Tribemates fall to the unknown - he wouldn't let them. But he said nothing, letting Fox speak his words. Once everybody had spoken their share, the tom shook his head with an angry snort. "You are all right - we do need to trust in Stoneteller. We can only pray that the ancestors will tell him what to do about our...Situation," he growled as he sat down, scanning over the small gathering - taking note of Berry that Falls from Bush standing quietly in the back. "But I do not want us to take any unnecessary risk. I do not like the idea of not knowing what lies before us as we cannot be prepared to face a threat we are not aware of..." For a second, his words died as his whiskers twitched.

A hardness flickered over his gaze for a quick second but he pushed it away with a shake of his head and continued speaking. "But while I am more certain of how things may turn out if we stay here...I trust Stoneteller," he sighed as he took a seat, casting a single glance toward the cave they called home. "He has been our leader for countless moons...We can only wait for him to be given a sign or make a choice on his own of what to do. I will not allow the idea of leaving our home to be spread around unless Stoneteller gives his support - he is our leader, he is the one that will make such a big choice for us. And while I may not approve of the idea of leaving as we don't know what lies beyond our home, I will follow Stoneteller no matter where he goes, even if it was to be where the sky meets the earth."

Frost that Blankets the Brook padded along the cold, rocky mountain in search of prey. Sure she was off alone and it probably wasn't very smart, but with everyone disappearing, dying, and starving she had to do something. She couldn't wait for a patrol to be formed when she could be out getting prey for the others. The Time of Frozen Water was harsh this year and it had taken all of her family. Her mother and father. Her siblings and friends. Frost knew she should be positive, so that was what she focused on. Well since I'm by myself, it'll be quieter, and maybe I'll be able to catch something quicker. She thought hopefully, though in the back of her head a voice doubted her optimism. She paused, ears perking up hopefully at the sound of scuffling paws, but they drooped in disappointment when she heard her tribemates voices along with it. They seemed to be having a pretty passionate conversation, so she made her way over the see what was going on. She caught the end of Storm that Lights the Clouds sentence and her eyes clouded with confusion. "Where are we going? We can't be leaving here. This is our home.. Where would we go?" The young to-be questioned, holding the fear that was consuming her out of her voice. She couldn't even think of leaving their home. What if they got lost and then- She shook her head, stopping her thoughts. Be positive Frost. He was probably joking. She told herself doubtfully. While she waited anxiously for a reply, she fluffed her multicolor pelt out against the cold, her tail tip twitching as the only sign of her anxiousness.

"We can go nowhere, you know that as well as I do," Pale Light of Dusk grumbled. "The weather is too harsh to even think about it, and we can't afford to lose more cats. And even then, where would we go? I've spend all my years in these mountains without so much as seeing another place to set up a den for a night. We could try, but I doubt we'd ever survive the journey. Stoneteller doesn't know anything - he has no idea what to do, either. And we've received no omens from the Tribe of Endless Hunting, not that I've heard of. Now, come inside, all of you. You'll get sick out there in that frost."