the way caged birds sing [closed]

∆ Each pawstep was met with a thudding heartbeat and the pounding of blood that coursed through the warrior's broad ears. In turn, each ear swiveled and strained. The effort it took was second nature for her but it hadn't lessened the strenuous effort that she put into the motion. There was always a reason to be alert and Kitefire sought to be in tune with the shifting surroundings. Shadows crept and watched every twitch of a whisker or flickering of a tail. It had become eerily normal and itched at her pelt like ants. If it weren't leafbare, she would have sworn that perhaps she'd accidently slept on an ant hill. Instead, it was merely the oppressive gaze of the invading rogues. Over time she had grown more accustomed to their gaze and even sympathetic of their cause at times but it had done little to lessen the discomfort that writhed in her soul. Something wasn't right about this.

Soft flakes stung her pads like the environment was foreign to her. Kitefire found it to be unusual as she quickened the pace of her paws; however, the sharpening of her sense quickly became more clear as Sunningrocks came into view just ahead. Through the deadened bracken and white-painted foliage, she caught sigh of a hauntingly familiar pelt. Her world had been overwhelmed by strangers and she had been thrown into a place of deeply seeded anxiety once more, made ever worse by her differed abilities and yet... it was thoughts of a Riverclan tom that constantly invaded her waking conscious. Over the past couple moons, the russet warrior was sure he'd crept into her dreams as well. Everything seemed to slow around her as she paused to stare ahead. The desire to rush forward without a thought was overwhelming. She needed to know if the fish-brained Riverclanner had been as easily overwhelmed by the brutes as they were.

A smaller voice nagged, I need to know if he is okay.

The quick witted part of her mind overwhelmed impulsiveness. Asylum cats wouldn't just let her wander across the border for a chat. A faint chittering from a nearby squirrel caught her attention and secured the idea. They wouldn't meet as familiar rivals, nor fellow clan cats, but as enemies squabbling over shifting borderlines. Kitefire angled her ears in the direction of the prey and found it swiftly before rounding on her heels. With the right angle, the prey would be darting towards Sunningrocks. Her lithe frame made navigating the snow easy as she surged forward. One of the trees ahead would make for an easy get away but if she rank in just the right arc, her prey would have nowhere to run.

There was an inaudible snort as the air broke from her nostrils. As planned, the bushy tail scampered across the border and scurried to find a place to hide underneath the rocks. Kitefire intended to pursue the chase and catch the critter but her paws skidded from the snow on rock and she found herself tumbling head first into a soft pillow of dark fur. She breathed in the scent as the wind was knocked out of her. Immediately a calm seemed to overwhelm her pelt, a warm heat contrasting the chill of the season. How she longed to succumb to the sensation. But a flicker of a raccoon pelt behind prompted the snarl the rumbled in her chest.

Kitefire steeled her gaze, as much as she could force in the moment, and sprang at the other warrior. Perhaps if she buried her needle sharp claws into his coat, circumstance couldn't pry them apart. ∆

Kitefire used Leap and Hold on Jayshriek, dealing 8 damage and using 10 stamina. Jayshriek is pinned for 1 turn.

Kitefire
HP: 45/45
SP: 150/160

Jayshriek
HP: 32/40
SP: 120/120
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The figure of a tiny raccoon stood out among the snow-blanketed landscape. As per the instruction of his duty, the scout was trailing behind a lithe she-cat who was hunting near the border. When she turned, streaking after a squirrel, Casper's eyes widened at the sight of her heading for the border. Cats weren't allowed to cross the borders! Surely, she must have missed it. It was his duty to follow after and guide her back to Thunderclan territory but before he could, a snarl reached his ears. There was a Riverclan tom in the path of her catch and it seemed the warrior wasn't looking to share with the enemy clan. Relief crossed his mind as he realized he hadn't failed at preventing friendly border conversations between clan cats. The sight of another Asylum cat headed towards the brawl brought him further comfort. Casper shot her a gaze and a nod. His paws buzzed with energy, prepared to spring in if the encounter proved to be too friendly or in violation of any of the rules laid out by his superiors.

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

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'Effect Dice' : 3

The frigid silence, wreathing across the barren and shambling bones of the frost-laden forest with all the allure of a circling vulture, was plagued with the gentle whisper of light snowfall against frozen earth- a feathery patter of discordant tinkling, the faint tremble of impact as downy flakes collide with hard churned snow. Muted shades of stark greys and blues hung heavily on the gentle curl of the riverbank, a finely-made webbing of shadows curling hungrily across the sparsely vegetated earth of the Sunningrocks, stifling silence remarkably heavy when treading so close to the disputed lands. Though Jayshriek had pulled himself free of the sacred sanctity of the river several long heartbeats ago, a steady collection of frigid dark riverwater continually crested against the angular lines of his shape, a shimmering crown of rapidly frosting weighting heavily against the clumped tufts of his dark fur. Heavy billows of steam wept from the dark smudge of his willowy shape as he stepped inland several paces, a silky curtain of pale body heat instantly leeched into the awaiting, greedy mouth of the unpleasantly cold day.

The strange little ritual of wandering the borders had become somewhat of a sacred practice; a futilely hopeful ritual, one that allowed him the opportunity to unwittingly seek out the potential presence of a certain foxwhelp, while simultaneously offering refuge away from the curious and unwanted stares of both RiverClan and Asylum cats. The unexchangeable presence of an Asylum onlooker was certainly unfortunate, but certainly more welcome than pitying and irritable glares resting upon his shoulders. The initial chatter and scuttle of a nearby squirrel nearly went undetected to Jayshriek's admittedly uncaring ears, dark gaze turned to fix upon the leisurely gliding shape of his Asylum companion several paces back. The faintest ghost of a sudden twitch wracked down the curved length of his spine, the only initial indicator that Kitefire's sudden and strenuous approach was actually being processed, dark gaze illuminating into a reflective gleam of bright ambers and dazzling blues touched with a faint undercurrent of shock and relief simmering low and deep.

Of course. The only time he wasn't actually searching for her, she showed up.

The pale world was sent whirling upon an unfamiliar access at the force of their unanticipated collision, a shocked yet delighted breath crushed from the narrow confines of Jayshriek's chest as they went sprawling deep into a neighboring snowbank- the likely terrified squirrel left to scamper to safety unimpeded. Dark forelimbs wrapping against the slender expanse of Kitefire's shoulders and chin hurriedly tucking itself against the gentle dip between the red-furred molly's wide ears, he brushed away the sudden pinch of bared claws breaking flesh as he allowed them to go rolling, uncertain at how to handle the prospect of... being excited to see another cat. Violently lurching his weight in the direction counter to their mindless tumbling, the pair remained locked in an unpleasant, yet entirely familiar, tangle of jerking limbs and clashing teeth as they went rolling across the snow-capped rocks. Somewhere in the distance, beyond the amused and friendly chatter of the Asylum overseers who had stationed themselves to watch, birdsong dwindled to a sudden halt.

"You're a difficult cat to find," Jayshriek huffed out after a heartbeat, muzzle perched so close to the rounded jut of Kitefire's ear that his breath whipped across the fine little hairs that proudly fringed the side of her skull, "I had assumed you would've shown your face well before now."

-

Jayshriek is no longer pinned.

Jayshriek
32/40 [HP]
120/120 [SP]

Kitefire
45/45 [HP]
150/160 [SP]

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"Hello there, stranger!" A secondary shrill of welcome mimicked the shrill squalling and unsavory spatting on behalf of the tussling cats several tail-lengths away, the carrying sound weighted with warm currents of amusement. Neatly plumed tail arching skywards in a nonverbal signal of greeting to the distantly familiar shape of Casper, Niylah's skips were quick and light as she made her way towards the other Asylum onlooker. Pale gaze occasionally darting over to the thrashing pair of cats, the she-cat's angular features were awash in the reflective gleam cast by the heavy shadows carelessly tossed under the fox pelt currently seated atop her crown. Though she often shared the burden of keeping Jayshriek on a short-leash with her fellow comrades, it was an exciting and unusual change of pace for something to finally happen on one of these dreadful wandering expeditions.

Perhaps the evening would turn out to rather eventful- and they could go home with the reassurance that the Clans were still as ready to squabble over soiled bones as they were prior to the presence of Asylum in the forest.