coke in the midas touch [closed]

Though the early afternoon sky was awash with the chilly light of the cool season sun, the prickling presence of dampness slunk beneath the bones and curled low in the gut, a frigid chill seeping deep and fierce under the skin; the nervous system was left perpetually alight, quick and hard shivers and trembles blossoming through muscle and skin in a futile attempt to ward off the worst of the chill. Somewhere in the distance, so far beyond the highstones that it was nothing more than a quavering outline, a dark smear of coiling energy was gathering just out of reach, the tremulous threat of building tension eagerly awaiting its chance to unleash a torrential downpour of poor weather upon the already overflowing, sodden territories.

Maybe, if they were fortunate enough, it was just an awaiting rainstorm. It would be absolutely miserable to receive any more snowfall, considering how much they already had.

Huddled in the outskirts of the wilting reed barrier, Jayshriek's sharp shoulders remained hunched forward in a physical display of his discomfort and sour mood as he impatiently awaited for his peers to gather, residual irritation buzzing about like a stubborn fly during the warm seasons. He had been assigned to the usual monotony of a routine hunting patrol, but was forced to sit idle until his Clanmate and their generously assigned Asylum overseer joined him. It was an unpleasant way to spend the afternoon, but anything was better than spending his day lingering in the shadow of his mother like a scorned ghost.

If it was one thing Eos truly detested, it was the bitter, miserable cold. That, and the snow that she trudged her way through as she made her way toward the camp entrance. Even beneath her white rabbit pelt, she was shivering, though at least it took some of the edge off.

She spotted the shivering form of the Riverclan warrior, and padded over with a quiet sigh. He wasn't the only one suffering in the awful weather, and Eoos, for just a moment, had half a mind to turn and go back to her own nest for the day. But the Riverclanners needed to be babysat still, so she would join the patrol. They weren't exactly friendly to Asylum and she understood why, though it didn't mean that Eos couldn't wish for a more genuine peace between the two.

"Name's Eos. You're Jayshriek, right?" As a scout, she spent most of her time watching over the camp and gathering information. The tom had been made a warrior rather recently, from what she recalled.

"Jayshriek!" Shrikefrost's voice was raspier than usual, lungs not used to such freezing air. Snow was caked in his thick-furred pelt, and he could see his breath forming tiny ice crystals after he spoke. His eyes slid towards the side, prepared to ignore the pelted cat, but there was a spark of recognition somewhere. He remembered the calico from when he had sparred her, and won, in the leaf-bare games a few sunrises ago.

"And.. you," he said, voice lined with bitterness. His tail twitched at the prospect of being babysat, as it were, but it wasn't something new at this point. "Are we waiting for anyone else?"

The sodden afternoon air was belayed by the sudden disruption of steps upon partially melted snow, an uncomfortable and unwarranted wet ripple that sounded akin to wading out into the dark waters of the river, a gentle crunch as the frosty blanket was crushed beneath reluctant slogging. Chin lifting and cheek tilting, Jayshriek unwittingly twisted and tilted to meet the casual appearance of Eos, another involuntary shudder wracking his nervous system at the unusual appearance of an animal pelt wreathed around the Asylum cat as if it were some sort of secondary pelt. Asylum had been with them for several sunrises now, and yet he still could not find it within himself to set aside the innate flinch whenever greeted with the sight of Asylum orderlies donning coats of various creatures.

Molten amber gaze gently framed by the dark curl of lashes and protective strands of dark fur, Jayshriek could offer only an apprehensive nod in immediate response to Eos' gentle inquiry. There was a certain... discomfort at the realization that other cats seemed to know of his name and apparent reputation, dwindling anonymity no longer lending defense. "Yes, it is." He eventually divulged after another few heartbeats of silence, gently feathered fur tufts trembling faintly under his absent shifting, "although I must say I do not know your name. I do not.. consort often with Asylum cats." Sharply tufted ears perking at the timely intervention of Shrikefrost, there was an intrinsic pulse of relief and validation fluttering through his rambunctious circulatory system, an outward mirror to the dreary cloud of disarray that he often carried with him these days. Sweeping to his full height in a silky cloud of smooth and mechanical movements, the dark-furred tom gave his Clanmate a quick headshake in reluctant confirmation as he began to drift towards the entrance with all the welcome of a storm wild sea.

"Nobody else, just us for the afternoon."

It wasn't long before a third joined them, and Eos recognized the dark-furred warrior from their spar in the game, some sunrises earlier.

"Eos." The scout said, with the slightest inclination of her head towards the two toms. They weren't thrilled about her presence, an all-too-common reaction towards the Asylum, and the scout figured it was best to let things be for now.

She padded after Jayshriek as he turned towards the camp entrance. Neither of them were thrilled with her presence, but it wasn't like any of them had a choice in the matter right now. Perhaps the patrol would be brief, and then Eos could bury herself under a pile of pelts when she got back. It might be enough to stop her shivering in the cold, at the very least.

Shrikefrost's tail gave a flick as he followed Jayshriek, brushing past Eos to walk next to his Clanmate. At least the uncomfortably prickling fur at Eos could be passed off at the natural reaction to the cold. His adrenaline had faded, and the cold was setting in. Hopefully Jayshriek had a close place to hunt in mind. They could get this patrol over quickly, and Shrikefrost could spend some time with Wisteriabloom. Or himself. Anyone but the prying eyes of the Asylum.

Idly acknowledging Eos' revelation of name, and subsequent unstated leadership over the unlikely little outing, with nothing more than a slight flick of a dark ear, Jayshriek was quick to brush through the final reaches of the camp's encapsulating barrier- striding out into the brisk chill of the sodden afternoon with a bereft and distinct lack of care. Meticulously groomed nape fur prickling under the strain of inevitably returning to its unkempt and wild natural state, the angular dark-furred tom more closely resembled an awkwardly gaiting hedgehog as he continued to stride a pace or two ahead of Eos and Shrikefrost, a soft cloud of steaming breath left suspended in the terse air after his quick and quiet movements.

Once the sanctity of the river became visible, Jayshriek was quick to break away from the immediate proximity of Eos and Shrikefrost, seeking out his own placement that prevented any potential disruptions to their quick hunting.

Downy tufts of silky dark fur dragging softly against the cool mud of the riverbank, the young tom carried forth his signature reclusiveness as he settled against the softly sloping earth, carefully keeping his shadow angled away from the idling school of fish. The terse silence continuously peddled forward, a singular dark forepaw carefully raised in the ensuing heartbeats, Jayshriek's dark gaze intently trained upon the lazy currents of the somewhat low river. A silvery arc of droplets was sent sprawling out into the moderately cool afternoon air the scales of the writhing fish flashing brilliantly in the low lighting of the riverside. Carefully dispatching the thrashing creature with nothing more than an idle, practiced nip to the base of the skull, the young Apprentice's dark gaze remained fixed upon the swirling depths of the riverside, hardly paying any mind to his fellow Clanmate just a few tail-lengths away.

-

Jayshriek has successfully caught a fish, costing -5 SP.

Jayshriek
40/40 [HP]
115/120 [SP]

The member 'Seer' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 5

Eos kept a respectful distance of the two Riverclanners, understanding that neither was particularly thrilled by their presence and likely wouldn't care for her conversation. That did not mean, however, that she intended to remain idle while they hunted. The only way for the clan cats to begin to start trusting Asylum was if Asylum actually pulled their weight and showed that they weren't here just to conquer and leech off of the clan's resources, to provide for the clan as equals, and Eos wanted to help build that trust.

She settled near the river as Jayshriek did, carefully keeping her shadow from falling over the truly frigid waters. Soft brown eyes fixed on the small fish that passed until she spotted something suitable. A white paw snapped out, claws extended as she made to hook the fish and send it towards her.

The fish landed on the bank in an arc of droplets reflecting shimmering silver scales, and another swipe of her claws had it stilling. Eos returned her attention to the icy waters once more, though her ears remained pricked, focused on both of her companions as well as listening to the riverside around them for signs of danger.

Eos attempted to catch a fish. Catch was successful.
195 / 200sp

The member 'kjSage' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 5

Both of his companions had successfully caught their fish. Shrikefrost wasn't keen to miss now. He sat a distance away from Jayshriek and Eos, at a place where the fish would not be so alert of their paws. For a moment, as his gaze studied the depths of the river, seeking the flash of scales of prey, everything seemed normal. Until, of course, the pelted scout's presence was remembered. His head tilted down at the thought, but instinct propelled his paw into the water as a fish was sighted. It was swung up in the air and onto the ground, where the ghost tabby nipped it and set it down beside him. Though the warrior liked water, the frosty water of the leaf-bare river was something he hadn't experienced much and didn't like. There was no point in grooming his paw if he was going to catch more, though, so he glanced up at his companions before eyeing the river again.

Shrikefrost caught the fish for 5sp.
60/60
195/200

The member 'Sal' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Hunting Dice' : 2

Pale gaze fixed upon the softly rippling movements of the deceptively gentle currents, Jayshriek's pointedly callous expression appeared to more apt with studying the circular ripples left in the wake of his own quick movements as opposed to taking a curious glance at his unlikely counterparts. In the ensuing heartbeats of terse, admittedly awkward, silence, there was only the occasional twitch to be gleaned from the otherwise stone-still young tom; rigid posture and tense muscle bands belaying his intense focus on the silvery flashes of small fish occasionally darting just below the surface. Honey dark gaze hesitantly flicking to the side in a somewhat secretive attempt to observe Eos and her apparent ease with the frigid waters, a reluctant pulse of curiosity webbed through the constricted tendons of his chest.

It was strange to think of the Asylum cats in any manner that suggested assimilation, easier to constantly depict them as unwarranted and unwelcome strangers who did little else but side along the sidelines and observe. It was... disconcerting to think that they were actually adjusting and learning of their surroundings and new counterparts.

Quickly returning his gaze to the dark and frothy waters of the chattering river, Jayshriek's pupils contracted sharply as he attempted to push away the unnecessary thoughts roiling through his mind- it would do little good to become preoccupied with such thoughts if it diminished his ability to focus on hunting. There was another sudden flash, the quiet forcefully disrupted by the sudden splash of a singular paw breaking the muddled surface. The fish unfortunately dredged from the murky riverwater was hardly offered a chance to react, instead left to aimlessly thrash and wriggle until neatly disposed of. Carefully depositing the now limp little fish safely atop the crest of the muddy riverbank, the dark-furred tom's posture remained inflexible and statue-like as he exhaled a vibrant cloud of steaming breath.

"When did you learn to fish?" Jayshriek eventually questioned, peeking over at Eos through dark lashes as he attempted to retain his veil of platitude and cool indifference.

-

Jayshriek has successfully caught a fish, costing -5 SP.

Jayshriek
40/40 [HP]
110/120 [SP]

The member 'Seer' has done the following action : Dices roll

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'Effect Dice' : 4