The future's in your paws. Shape it well.Roleplay in a cat Clan of warriors. Based off the Warriors series by Erin Hunter. Takes place in an AU before the cats in the books existed.
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Characters : [SC]Heatherberry| [TC]Vinecrawler | [SKC] Peatkit | [WC] Moosepaw | [R] Grub Jr Clan/Rank : [H]T3 BT MC / T4 MC | [V]T5 Warrior | [GJ] T1 Rogue | [P] Kit | [M] Apprentice Number of posts : 4591 Gender : she/her Age : 26
Subject: like father, like sons [closed] Tue 12 Mar 2024 - 14:21
To say the journey here was a quiet and quick one would be a bitter lie. More than once Grub had to shush Fish and stop his vibrating as they got closer, hissing in a hushed tone that they wouldn't get to go fishing if either he or Louse cleared the forest of all the fish with their yapping before they even arrived. Sometimes it worked, other times they took a time-out break until they settled down. Grub could feel himself grey before it was even his time, lingering regret at ever bothering to bring the kits with him dragging at his paws. He shared no blood with Mr. Worm, but somehow he could feel himself turning into him with the incessant scolding and time outs the old tom had given him as a kitten. Was this what it felt like...?
The 'border' was crossed before they knew it, along with fresh scent markers. He remembered them feeling rather dull the last time he was here (before the clans abandoned the forest for some reason) and thinking just how little they seemed to care for their little borders but still sank tooth and nail into anyone who crossed it. Whatever happened between now and then was of little concern to him, though. "Alright listen up you two. The key to catching fish is to sit perfectly still, watch, and wait. See those little sparkles every now and again? That's a fin disrupting the waters surface. That is when you strike. Now, get a load of this..." Yellow eyes watched the waters surface with a great intensity, the swift movement under the water cluing him in that this just had to be a fish. Just as his paw gently skimmed the water, a frog leapt out from its cold depths, ping ponged off Louse and Fish's heads, and disappeared right back into the water. His ear felt slightly hot that he had failed to 1) catch a fish and 2) mistook a fish for a frog right in front of his sons. He was sure to catch strays for that one.
His ear flicked at the sound of snow crunching under paw. Paws that were not his or his sons. "Careful there. There are children here." He sneered as the shadow grew longer as a cat approached.
Subject: Re: like father, like sons [closed] Tue 12 Mar 2024 - 14:54
Perchstar was not an unkind cat. She had empathy for those in pain, and she loved those close to her. But she was not infinitely patient... and her patience in particular on the topic of rogues had been worn out long ago. The only cat outside the Clans she'd ever met who hadn't talked down to her was Felix, and that tom was long gone. In his place were the mangy filth who lurked on the outskirts of the borders: those who trespassed willingly. The cause of Morningpaw's death--and now, if she was not mistaken, the cause of Troutpaw's as well. Her borders were well-marked. Any who trespassed would receive no mercy. And now that she had found evidence of further trespass, she was not in a good mood.
A regular border patrol had derailed immediately when she and Swandive found rogue scent trampled all over their territory, leading deeper into the forest. Quickly, they followed the trail, and Perchstar felt her fur prickling with unease along her spine. If any other cats had been out alone right now--if she found any more corpses with the scent of rogues on them... Thankfully, it appeared that the fools were simply attempting to hunt. Not that a filthy rogue would have any clue of how to fish. But when the RiverClan leader saw a familiar dirty orange-mottled pelt, her hackles raised. It was the same tom. And apparently, he was accompanied by two younger figures, both with the same scent. Mouse-brained, overconfident piece of crowfood. Not only was he continuing to trespass after she'd run him off the first time, but now he was bringing more rogues onto her territory. Mere kits, at that--the age of apprentices if not younger. If he thought he could use them to dissuade her vengeance, he was sorely mistaken. Especially once they'd found Troutpaw's body smothered in filthy rogue-scent.
"You cannot hide behind others in order to delay your consequences," Perchstar said, her normally-neutral voice carrying the open threat of a growl. Her fur stood nearly on end. "Not when I have found another of my apprentices dead at the paws of a rogue. I let you off with a warning once--I will not be so kind again. You have trespassed on my territory for the last time, interloper!" Her claws itched, but she remembered to glance back at her companion--Swandive. The she-cat who'd returned with her brother's trampled corpse. This must be difficult for her, too. Perchstar offered her a nod. "I'll run him off, Swandive, if you can keep the kits away. They may be rogues, but they are too young to face tooth and claw unless they so desire." The young warrior probably wanted her own fangs to sink into the rogue's pelt, but Perchstar knew that her battle prowess was larger--and besides, after the recent war, she was tired of telling other cats to fight for her. Hopefully the kits weren't stupid enough to interfere.
Perchstar was a patient cat, but she had grown tired of being crossed.
With one leap, she closed the distance between herself and the rogue. A well-practiced white paw flashed underneath her opponent's limbs, pulling them out from under him and causing him to collapse stunned onto the forest floor. Apparently she had not fought hard enough the first time. This time, she would make sure to dissuade murderers from messing with RiverClan--by any means necessary.
Perchstar used Experienced Steps, dealing 10 (8+2) damage and costing 10 stamina. Grub is stunned for 1 turn.
Subject: Re: like father, like sons [closed] Tue 12 Mar 2024 - 15:04
Swandive enjoyed border patrols. The clan who had taken her and her siblings in as kits was something she would be glad to defend, if ever given the chance, and she had seen the harm that outsiders could bring to the clan. So it was without hesitation that the pale warrior was able to shake off her tiredness and join the patrol without complaint, blue eyes sweeping over the familiar territory.
Unfortunately, the scent of rogue was thick in the air, and Swandive let out a low snarl, tail lashing behind her. She had no objection as Perchstar immediately chose to go after the scent, sticking close to her leader as they followed the scent toward it's disgusting, mangy source.
"You." She spat, recognition flashing in her gaze as she spotted the greasy, patchwork tom who had so callously led Morningpaw to his own death. And he wasn't alone. "That's him, Perchstar, I'm sure of it. He's the filth who got Morningpaw killed." It seemed that Perchstar recognized him too, though when the leader had met the filth she didn't know.
"Too young? They learn that behavior from somewhere, it looks like they're just fine of handling the consequences of such." She disagreed, but for the moment her paws remained sheathed. She might voice an opinion... But she would also listen to her leader, as much as she would have liked to tear that mangepelt apart.
"But my leader is right... If you stay back and don't fight, I promise I'll keep my claws to myself, kits." And if the filth even dared to look wrong at Perchstar, Swandive was very willing to break that promise. If they decided to come after her... She might even welcome it.
Subject: Re: like father, like sons [closed] Tue 12 Mar 2024 - 17:58
"Left foot in the dark 'cause I'm sunnyside up!"
Fish T1 Rogue | Rogue | he/him
The twists and landmarks he noted as they passed were scrambled, indiscernible, when Fish idly tried to sort through them. He had no idea how Grub hoped to get them home, but Fish trusted his father, at least with this. The big cats left often anyway, to hunt or patrol or whatever else they said, and they came back just as routinely. Fish decided it was a skill he'd learn as he got older--though it annoyed him not to possess it now--and focused instead on everything around them. The world far, far beyond camp was so wide and engaging. There were so many things to stare at, discover, and talk about. It was distraction enough to keep Fish's thoughts from declining into worrisome territory. (Until he was scolded for running his mouth so much again, or he had to wait for Grub to quit lecturing Louse, or they were both punished wretchedly with a time out).
But the ground was getting squishy and wet underpaw, between patches of melting snow. It was nothing like the hard earth around camp, though it was close to the wet ground near the road. A strange sound accompanied the shift in terrain, too; a quiet, disruptive gurgle that made Fish's ears twitch rapidly. He'd gone quiet for the moment, bitter from a recent shushing, so he said nothing when he looked up and spotted a reflective curve breaking the grass and high stalks. The river...? Excitement began to thrum in his chest again. His lingering sourness was chased away as Fish hurried forward to jog at Grub's shoulder. As they got closer, he could tell it was indeed water; which meant it must, indeed, be the river. Its swift talk grated on Fish's ears somewhat, but he played to his fascination.
The instructions Grub gave sounded awful, but they were the same directions Fish often heard. He joined his father at the water's edge, rocking precariously against the lip of the bank. Cold mist sprayed into his face, making him snort and briefly recoil. Tiny flashes of silver flitted by. Fish! His head cocked to the side. There went his namesake--there went a dozen of them, darting by. Some were large and some were small; none looked like him, though it was hard to really make them out through the current. A feeling of profoundness hit Fish, swelling achingly in his chest; loss, almost. There was some magic in seeing things for the first time, on their walk and now at the water, but... well, now he'd seen them. There was no myth anymore. There were only fish, and the cat wasn't sure if he was meant to see himself in them.
Grub went striking out. Fish teetered forward expectantly only for something wet and croaking to shoot out of the water and kick off his head. He wheeled back with a yelp, screwing his eyes shut tight as a similar bout of affront rose from Louse. After shaking out his entire body, Fish narrowly opened his eyes again and looked at Grub. "What was that?!" He exclaimed pointedly, bristled tail jerking to and fro. He was breathing in to continue his lament, but something else had drawn Grub's attention. Long shadows appearing, likely drawn by their commotion; tall cats, a pair of them approaching quickly. Clan cats? The River Clan!
Any excitement was quelled by the gray-and-white cat speaking. Her voice was cold, but it wasn't the tone that stalled Fish; it was the mention of consequences. Before he could ask what, she supplied the answer: a cat found dead recently. Dead--a permanent, frightening thing. Fish was not unfamiliar with the concept. Hearing it and the warning that followed made his stomach swoop, his hackles bristle. Something was suddenly very wrong. He could not move to Louse fast enough or ask Grub what was going on before his father was suddenly spilled out across the ground. The shock made Fish's legs tremble, costing him his balance, and he tipped forward into the shallows. He was freezing and bone-wet immediately. Fish rose with a deep inhale, shuddering as he did. His nose burned from the water he incidentally took in, and so did his eyes and his throat, and the wind that stirred made him even colder, and- and---
Fish scrambled out of the water, slipping a few times on the mud as he did. The other cat was speaking--more like snarling--to say that Grub got some Clan cat killed. Fish's ears slicked entirely flat to his head. He wasn't sure if his eyes stung from the water or if there were tears beginning to rise. Everything was suddenly too much. He couldn't take all of this in at once; couldn't process the declarations, or the fact he didn't doubt them. Not the threats from the side-lined warrior, either, not his Grub grounded and hissing. His little claws flexed, pressing as deep into the soft ground as he could.
Inhaling deeply, Fish closed his eyes and darted past the mounting fight to go barreling into the pointed she-cat's ribs. He let out a little puff on impact, surprised at the weight of it, then staggered back and blinked up at her. "Don't hit me!" He said first, then hurried up with: "What are you two talking about?! You can't just--say he killed someone and not explain!" Because he needed it, terribly, not to be true. "And you can't blame you appr- apprentice on us with no proof! There's more rogues than just my father." Fish's objections came fast, as his words always did, but his breath hitched between them now. "Tell us what you're talking about. Tell us!"
Last edited by downfive on Fri 22 Mar 2024 - 16:06; edited 1 time in total
Midnee
Characters : [S]ilverdusk, [L]ouse, [N]ettleweaver, [V]iperpaw, [P]etalkit, [C]lovermottle, Brackendawn* Burningpaw*, Oakberry*, Ospreypaw*, Weaselpaw*, Gladepaw*, Darkflower*, Pumapaw*, Hazeflight*, Driftcloud*, Spructhorn*, Hollyshard*, Ospreypaw*, Blurrypaw*, Dapplekit*, Jaguar* Clan/Rank : [S] ThunderClan T5 warrior [L] T3 rogue [N] Shadowclan T3 warrior [V] WindClan Apprentice [P] ThunderClan kit [C] RiverClan perma-queen Number of posts : 2390 Gender : any pronouns Age : 20
Subject: Re: like father, like sons [closed] Wed 13 Mar 2024 - 9:32
Louse and Fish chatted constantly, and squabbled too. When grub reprimanded them Louse just stuck his tongue out, he didn't care what his father had to say, and that was probably the reason they had to stop for so many timeouts. Which he just pouted through, because he knew they were too far along now to turn back. He was kind of smug about it too. Although he wouldn't admit it either, he felt happy his father wanted to try and be present, but his dislike for him grew whenever he yelled. Grub was even louder than them. There were several times he side eyed him, and then looked at Fish and resumed their snickering.
The journey had been tedious, but they were here now, and he sat eagerly at the back of their little group awaiting their lesson. "They don't look anything like Fish!" he exclaimed loudly upon seeing them. Which probably would have earned him s sharp glare from both tom's but his father's poor attempt at fishing, stopped any reprimanding. A snort of laugher escaped him as the toad crashed into his brother's face "Even that looks more like- agdhdwjghfg-" his laugh turned into an unintelligible sqeal as he was assaulted by the frog, falling over on to his back as he tried to rid himself of the demon. "EEEEEEKKK! GET IT OFF OF ME!!!!" The assault was short lived, and Louse moved to dust himself off only to hear the approach of clan cats. He was frozen for a moment, content to be invisible in the sand, but clearly they'd all been spotted.
The tortoiseshell rolled onto his belly, tail whipping behind him and eyes moving rapidly between each individual. It quickly dawned on him that they were being threatened. The hair along his spine rose, he definitely couldn't get rid of these cats, they were way too big and strong. Not like the cat he had thrown into the river. Louse realised they were also aware of that, but not who his killer was. He was safe, especially since the boss cat had said not to hurt him and Fish, it was a bit funny, but nothing on the outside revealed the humour he found in the revelation. He didn't want to end up like his father who was getting a mega smackdown. Apparently he killed a RiverClan apprentice too, maybe he was more like his dad then he thought. Louse didn't like that.
Fish's outburst drew his attention from Grub and the leader's fight, ears falling back. Fish was right, these guys didn't even know he was responsible for one of those deaths. Quickly, he was on his paws rushing to his brother's side "Yeah!" he said loudly in agreement "And you're threatening us! We're just little, and that's our dad, he was just trying to teach us to fish. I bet..." he fu,bled searching for the words, he didn't want Fish to get hurt, what if they hit him? "I bet... I bet you kill cats like us all the time, and even when we do nothing ! It's not nice." he finished with a pout.
Characters : [SC]Heatherberry| [TC]Vinecrawler | [SKC] Peatkit | [WC] Moosepaw | [R] Grub Jr Clan/Rank : [H]T3 BT MC / T4 MC | [V]T5 Warrior | [GJ] T1 Rogue | [P] Kit | [M] Apprentice Number of posts : 4591 Gender : she/her Age : 26
Subject: Re: like father, like sons [closed] Thu 14 Mar 2024 - 11:01
Grub's smirk dropped slightly as he blinked up at the grey and white maned molly. What was she even going on about? Consequences? For what? And who was this 'Morning paw'? "I don't know who you think I am, but I've got no idea who you are. I've got business with the lovely lady here, but you? You make it sound like we've met before." His head had turned to look at the snow white molly who accused him of having killed someone. No part of how she looked rung any bells on if he had ever seen her in his life, nor did the accusation of him killing anyone bring up any repressed memories. "You can't just accuse someone like that just because they don't live by your rules. Hate to break it to you, but it's not just me out there." He mewed, echoing Fish's objections.
He turned his attention back to the one he truly cared about, brow still furrowed in confusion. "You being unable to keep track of your little tadpoles is more of a you issue, isn't it?" Confusion was wiped off his face as Perchstar closed the distance between them, a flurry of paws tripping him up and landing him on the frozen ground, head spinning from the impact. "The boy's right. No doubt you kill cats like us like it's nothing, whether or not they committed this grand crime you're accusing me of. Must be nice making up your own rules of what's right and wrong, huh?" He eyed his sons, only a twinge of worry on their behalf. Perhaps the clans had mercy against children. Maybe not.
Subject: Re: like father, like sons [closed] Thu 14 Mar 2024 - 23:37
Vaguely Perchstar heard the cries of the kits behind her, outraged at her actions. As if they were not the ones trespassing. She had to remind herself--they were kits. They likely did not know right from wrong, especially not if they had this rogue teaching them. Her ire was not directed towards them. This tom, on the other hand.... At Swandive's voice, at her recognition of him--validating the suspicion she'd had that this was Morningpaw's killer--it was all that Perchstar needed to know. This would be far easier if the kits hadn't been brought; obviously that was the rogue's intention. Unluckily for him, he'd run into her instead of Poppyshine. If she had her way, this would be the last time he ever trespassed.
"For your information, I have never sullied my fangs with the life-blood of a rogue before." As he lay splayed out on the ground, Perchstar leaned in close, assuring that he could hear her. If she'd been angry during their first interaction, she was even moreso now--but a cold, controlled fury. Her eyes were shards of ice piercing into him. "The last time you trespassed on my land, I spared your sorry life. And now you return. Not even a cat as thick-skulled as you could misinterpret being run off by claws as a welcome. Our borders are well-marked. You have no excuse. If you value your life, then I suggest running with your pathetic tail between your legs for all it's worth." She had no mercy for cats such as him. He claimed that he had nothing to do with Morningpaw's murder; whether or not that was true would not grant him any mercy.
"I have an eyewitness account that says you led to the death of one of my apprentices. Whether or not you killed him, or the other of my apprentices, you are still trespassing. You cannot simply believe that the rules do not apply to you because you choose not to follow them. If you break the law, while knowing it exists, then you welcome the consequences. These are the consequences." She raised herself up to her full height, towering over the comparatively-small cat with her practiced posture. Eyes narrowed threateningly, voice low and terrifyingly calm. "You leave, or you die. Whether it was you or another rogue that killed my apprentice, it seems that I must defend my territory with greater force than before in order to dissuade such murders. Any who trespass will meet the same fate." The leader struck again, her sharp claws opening a clean wound on the interloper's shoulder. If he knew anything, he would leave now with all the pride he could scrounge out of the dirt--but remembering their first scuffle had her keeping her guard up, ready for some kind of dirty trick.
Hopefully Swandive could take care of the little ones. Perchstar had to keep her entire focus on her enemy.
Perchstar used Front Paw Strike, dealing 12 (10+2) damage and costing 7 stamina.
Subject: Re: like father, like sons [closed] Fri 15 Mar 2024 - 12:18
One of the kits barreled into her, staggering back from her side. The impact didn't have any true weight behind it owing to the youngster's age and what Swandive assumed was a lack of training, though her claws unsheathed and she let out a deep, rumbling growl as she stared down at the rogue.
The request not to attack earned the tom a scathing glare. He trespassed, he should learn the consequences. "Be grateful my leader has a shred of mercy." Perchstar's grace was the only thing that kept her claws on the ground rather than buried in the rogue's pelt. The kits wanted to know what had happened rather than fight, it seemed, but Swandive didn't trust them not to attack. While Perchstar dealt with the slimy tom who had gotten Morningpaw killed, she would keep them occupied. One way or the other. If talking was enough to keep them from joining the fight against Perchstar... Fine.
"He were at that barn, he were the one who caused my brother's death, and he tries to deny it." Her tail lashed. "I was there, I had to carry him back to camp, lifeless. All because of this sniveling foxheart. We don't kill cats... Perhaps that's our mistake for having honor. Your father certainly doesn't have any." She eyed the second of the kits who approached, maybe they should start killing them, if it was already expected...
"Liar." The larger tom's insistence that he didn't recognize her made her itch to leap at him, to snap every bone in his body like the sheep had done to Morningpaw. "You're the only filth I've met, I think I'd recognize your stupid face upon having the misfortune to see it a second time." Perchstar was right. Trespassing, getting cats killed... They simply couldn't let that stand.
Subject: Re: like father, like sons [closed] Sun 17 Mar 2024 - 9:38
"Left foot in the dark 'cause I'm sunnyside up!"
Fish T1 Rogue | Rogue | he/him
Naivety led Fish to hope that the appearance of Louse at his side, echoing his points, would sway the bristling she-cat. It did not. The glare that spun on him released the tension in Fish's shaking legs, and he slowly sank down until his belly brushed the ground. His eyes turned on the fight, watching the River Clan's apparent leader drag her claws through Grub's shoulder, and the metallic stench that rose into the air made Fish recoil with a poorly-stifled gag. The leader-cat was going to kill him. Would she kill all of them? Louse might've been fast enough to outrun them, but neither of them could fight back and hope to live. Fish's heart thudded heavier in his chest as he turned back, watching the warrior's claws itch at the ground. His stupid fishing trip was going to get them all killed. Maybe this was the kinship he was meant to feel with the bodies darting through the water.
The Clan cats spoke so surely, but-- so did he, and so did Louse, and so did Grub. Fish's head spun. "But-" he tried, and his voice cracked terribly. Fish shook his head hard and wobbily pushed himself back upright, looking to the warrior in front of them again. "I don't even know what a barn is!" He shouted, like it meant anything, and went sputtering on, "He doesn't even recognize you! How could it be his fault?!" Fish felt his tongue grow weighted despite his protests. While he'd only seen a pawful, he'd never forgotten a face he'd seen; if he watched one of his siblings die... if someone else had been at fault...
Fish squeezed his eyes shut tight and pressed against Louse's side. He didn't care about getting his brother wet; he was too cold to care. "You can't kill him!" Was the leader even listening, or was she focused solely on beating their father? "Then what are you going to do with us?! We'll be- we'll be--" what was the word? What was the word? "We'll be orphans! We can't get home without him. We'll starve! You're no better if you leave kits to die." When his eyes popped up again, Fish looked right for his father, trying to find his eyes between shifting limbs of battle. "Tell them it wasn't you, Pop!" Would it matter? Would they listen? Would it be the truth? "Tell them you've never been to their barn. Tell them you didn't kill anybody." How many cats that looked like Grub were out there, wandering the forest? How many did the River Clan's leader appear to have a personal history with--and one of her warriors? "Tell them it was someone else!"
Last edited by downfive on Fri 22 Mar 2024 - 16:06; edited 1 time in total
Midnee
Characters : [S]ilverdusk, [L]ouse, [N]ettleweaver, [V]iperpaw, [P]etalkit, [C]lovermottle, Brackendawn* Burningpaw*, Oakberry*, Ospreypaw*, Weaselpaw*, Gladepaw*, Darkflower*, Pumapaw*, Hazeflight*, Driftcloud*, Spructhorn*, Hollyshard*, Ospreypaw*, Blurrypaw*, Dapplekit*, Jaguar* Clan/Rank : [S] ThunderClan T5 warrior [L] T3 rogue [N] Shadowclan T3 warrior [V] WindClan Apprentice [P] ThunderClan kit [C] RiverClan perma-queen Number of posts : 2390 Gender : any pronouns Age : 20
Subject: Re: like father, like sons [closed] Mon 18 Mar 2024 - 8:09
Usually Louse felt confident in himself to weasel his way out of trouble, but as the situation escalated he became more and more unsure of himself. With Fish so close to harm, he couldn't be indifferent, he had to be smart and careful. He was so worried for his brother he felt like he couldn't be any of those things. Angry yowls rang out and the tom's ears fell back flat against his head. Amber eyes caught the glint of sunlight reflecting off the unsheathed claws of the cat was hissing at him and his brother. She was going to kill them both, regardless of her leader's orders. She wanted him to lash out and defend himself, but Louse didn't want to defend himself he wanted to defend his brother.
In a spurt of idiocy, that rarely befell the soggy looking tom he darted in front of Fish, snarling up at the RiverClanner. "I'll tear you to shreds if you touch my brother!" he hissed, pelt on end and claws unsheathed "Leave us alone, we don't know anything!" Louse felt his brother press against him, and he wrapped his tail around his brother as he backed up, his back arched. Was this his fault for what happened with the rocks and the river and the apprentice? Why wasn't he allowed to do what he wanted? Why wasn't he allowed to play his rock game in peace? Why did these idiots think they knew everything? He'd been out of their home on his own before, but they were so far from it now. The clans were all around them too, and while the others had never been this hostile towards him, Louse found himself suddenly very worried about his father's fate.
"Please don't kill our dad!" he wailed, the concern this time for Grub sincerely genuine, though mostly the concern was really for himself and Fish. "We have nowhere to go if he's gone! Please." With all the effort he had Louse mustered tears to pool in his eyes. "Do you want us to die?! We are just kits, how can you be so heartless to do this to us, we haven't done anything! Our father hasn't done anything!" His pleas became more desperate as the tears fell. Everything would be okay as long as they didn't touch him or Fish, he told himself. Grub... Hopefully he didn't die.
Characters : [SC]Heatherberry| [TC]Vinecrawler | [SKC] Peatkit | [WC] Moosepaw | [R] Grub Jr Clan/Rank : [H]T3 BT MC / T4 MC | [V]T5 Warrior | [GJ] T1 Rogue | [P] Kit | [M] Apprentice Number of posts : 4591 Gender : she/her Age : 26
Subject: Re: like father, like sons [closed] Wed 27 Mar 2024 - 17:48
Leave or die... The latter felt less inviting to Grub as he glanced between the River Clans leader and the warrior who claimed he had any part in her brothers death and the sob story that followed. He could argue till the cows came home, but it would still be a waste of breath. These clan cats didn't get it. Didn't want to get it. They didn't understand that they trespassed on property they had no understanding of and closed their eyes and ears to it. His yellow eyes rolled back into his skull at the nonstop yapping. It was the same talk. Every. Single. Time. His head lolled to the side to look at the snow white molly whose voice dripped with venom. "Glad to know I live rent free in your head, stranger. Hope you get better." His words rolled off his tongue sarcastically before his attention was dragged back to focus on the white-maned molly, her claws dragging across his shoulder as a reminder that he was in the middle of physically fighting her, not the one antagonizing him as she held his kits hostage.
He slapped at a stone peeking out from the cold snow beneath their paws, forcing it to dislodge from its resting place and close the distance between him and the blue-eyed molly. He huffed with satisfaction as it pelted her shoulder.
Grub used Dirty Trick on Perchstar, dealing 7 damage and costing 7 SP.
There had been multiple times at the beginning of this fight where Grub had entertained the idea of fleeing, leaving his sons behind as a distraction in order to escape a situation that could end in his demise. He could leave now, and make it back to the Crew and call for reinforcements, but there was this strange feeling of guilt that lingered that lingered in his stomach at the thought of what might happen to Louse and Fish in the time it took to get help. He could also just run and never look back with the hope the clan cats held true their hesitancy to even point a claw at the young toms and let them go - perhaps the worse they could do was indoctrinate them into clan life. But at least they would be alive, right?
"You can't kill him!"
"Please don't kill our dad!
Grub used Front Paw Strike on Perchstar, dealing 10 damage and costing 7 SP.
Were they... Pleading for his life? Whether it was simply because they wished to live, or because they actually loved him didn't really matter. He understood their plight. Everyone deserved a chance. This was, after all, their second life. It also helped to hear his kits little squeaky voices calling him their Dad. Their Pops. Grimy in looks as he was personality, Grub didn't hate being seen as a father. The responsibility that came with it? Not so much. "Release my sons and I'll leave without another word. You'll never see me again." There was no sarcasm or joke to be had in his tone. He was rather serious this time, actually. A rare feat for him.
Subject: Re: like father, like sons [closed] Thu 28 Mar 2024 - 19:55
Perchstar did not enjoy fighting. She never had. It was always something to which she resorted when other options failed, or were invalid in the current situation. Like if an apprentice had just been murdered by a rogue, and here was a repeat offender trampling all over her territory as if he owned it. Because apparently, fighting him the first time had not been enough. Because apparently--if these were his kits, as it appeared--he thought it a good idea to teach them to trespass, and to bring them into an area that he actively knew was dangerous. The screeches of the rogue kits--well-meaning, obviously, given their very young age--grated on her ears. She was tired of fighting. She was tired, tired of killing. This tom had instigated a fight and now acted as if she were the aggressor for delivering on the promise she had explicitly made. Besides, he was the one who'd led to Morningpaw's death. She trusted Swandive far more than the word of a tom whose first words to her had been lying about his name. And yet, now, he offered to leave. As if she were keeping him here.
The gray-and-white she-cat's claws remained unsheathed as she stared coldly down at the rogue, ignoring the rock that hit her shoulder and the blow that followed it up. "I have offered you the option to leave, every time that we have met. Otherwise you would be dead by now." It would be easy to end his life, here, now. But she was not that kind of cat. "I have no reason to trust your word. However, as you can see, neither I nor my companion have laid a paw on your kits. Don't play the victim when you brought your sons to a place where you knew for a fact they would not be safe. If you truly flee, run with your tail between your legs, then I will not pursue. But know that if I catch even one whiff of your filthy scent over my borders again, the third strike will be your last. Pity stays my paws, but just barely. You'd best hurry. My patience and mercy have both worn very thin and I am not in the mood to argue." Ice-blue eyes, colder than the most frigid winds, bore into the rogue's gaze for another moment before she deliberately turned her back on him.
Then, for a moment, she looked at the kits. Squealing, pathetic things they were, with a sense of loyalty earned by blood but not deserved. Apparently their father did care for them, the slightest bit, but she would have worried for them... if she had any sympathy left to spare. "RiverClan defends our borders," Perchstar told both of the kits, her voice flat. "This is something that your father knew when he took you here. I have already told him not to show his face here again, but not only did he return, he brought cats far more vulnerable than he. You are lucky that Clan cats do not take lives needlessly. If we were truly so terrible as he believed, you both would have been very easy to kill." Her torn ear flicked once. She looked at Swandive for a moment, nodding at her to step back. The young warrior might be upset with her decision here, but Perchstar did not relish the taste of blood. If these cats would truly leave, it would be just the same if they were dead--and then the sorrow of innocents would not be on her paws. She glanced one last time at the rogue kits. If they knew what was best for them, they'd leave this area quickly, never to return. "I know you have no reason to trust my word over that of a relation, but I suggest that you think about whether someone who treats you this way, even a father, deserves your loyalty. Either way, now that you know the consequences of trespassing on RiverClan territory, I expect never to see you again. You know what will await you if you do. Far too many of my Clanmates have been taken by your like. It is in both of our best interests if you go. Now."
Subject: Re: like father, like sons [closed] Sat 30 Mar 2024 - 19:32
"You're old enough to be out and about... You're old enough to fend for yourself." Swandive muttered, a sour, bitter note to her tone as she addressed the rogue, "Not that rogue filth is protected by our code. What you do or don't do isn't our concern when you aren't trespassing." She added with a scoff.
Perchstar had saved her and her siblings... And that was completely different than the situation in front of her. These kits deserved nothing from them.
A low snort escaped her as the one tom stepped in front of his brother, snarling threats. Swandive's pale stare met his coldly, "You are in no position to threaten anyone. It's you in the wrong, not us. If there's someone to direct your anger towards, it's your father - if you can call him that - for putting you in this situation."
The filthy rogue was saying something, though Swandive paid little attention until her leader spoke. Perchstar's terms were reasonable... Unfortunately, but Swandive would stand with the gray and white she-cat.
"Go, then, and don't let me catch you across our border if you want to keep those precious pelts of yours." She growled, stepping away from the pair of rogues... Though her gaze remained on them and would until they had actually left.
Subject: Re: like father, like sons [closed] Sat 13 Apr 2024 - 9:44
"Left foot in the dark 'cause I'm sunnyside up!"
Fish T1 Rogue | Rogue | he/him
Fish almost scurried back when Louse shoved in front of him, both out of surprise and the want to make room for his brother, but the tail curling around him kept him in place. Underneath these new feelings-- fear and all its relatives --a kinder tightness gripped his chest. Louse was ready to jump into claws for him, but-- but the claws shouldn't have been there to begin with. There were even tears forming in his brother's eyes, rolling down his pale cheeks. Fish couldn't remember seeing his brother cry. He couldn't remember seeing anyone in the Crew cry except for himself. The warmth left his chest, leaving everything cold to clamp around his heart again. He wasn't sure which was worse: the usual routine of having his hysterics dismissed, or Louse joining in with fitful earnesty.
Something flitted through his vision. A small stone ricocheted off the River Clan leader, scuttling over the ground until it came to a stop nearby. Fish looked between it, the imposing gray-and-white figure, and Grub. Another blow issued from his father's claws. If Grub wanted to, this was the perfect opportunity to run... but he held his ground. Relief exploded out and took over everything else threatening to overwhelm Fish, but it was short-lived. He was still listening. Wondering, now, why Grub had brought them here. Well...
It was his fault, of course. Fish had done all the begging and pleading that led them here. His stomach felt like a vacuous pit. He pressed even closer to Louse in search of comfort. If he'd never grown curious, never asked in his most frustrating way, this wouldn't have happened... but then, it wasn't his fault that cats had died. He wasn't the one to incur the River Clan's wrath. But- but--
Icy eyes fell over him and Louse. Fish met them, his own wide and unblinking. The leader spoke bluntly, leaving no room for confusion in her words. Despite attacking their father, she showed kindness in not killing them; in staying her warrior's paws from committing the act. Fish understood that now. She was done; they were dismissed. They could leave with their lives and keep them, so long as they never returned. Fish had the sinking feeling Grub and Louse wouldn't obey those orders. He turned to finally blink again, looking at Grub. Was it love and a desire to satisfy his son's desires that spurred this venture? Was it carelessness? A sense of invincibility? He knew not what the answer was. Fish hoped it was the first among those options. It had to be.
He doubted.
The warrior blocking them was not so gracious as her leader. There was bloodlust in her that frightened Fish. He wondered whether or not he would feel the same if he lost any of his siblings. Either way, he didn't want to remain too close, especially not when their lives were being precariously held in swiping distance. He scrambled back, nudging Louse with him, and started to hurry over toward Grub--before his paws ground into the earth and he swiveled suddenly to face the leader. She was tall and frightening, with spots of blood around her. Her eyes were cold, her face stern and unmoving. Fish swallowed.
"It- it's my fault." He managed out. "It's my fault we're here. Not his. He didn't want to endanger us." He looked back at Grub, blinking hopefully, before turning toward the leader-cat again. "My name is Fish! And I didn't know what fish were, so I asked and asked until he promised to show me." Fish couldn't force out the words I'm sorry, but they bit at his tongue. He swallowed them down when they stuck for too long and finally retreated to press at Grub's shoulder. "We gotta go," he said insistently. Looking back at Louse, "C'mon! C'mon, hurry. We really gotta go now."
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