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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Subject: be my shelter from the storm [c] Tue 13 Aug 2024 - 22:47
OATFLUFF
Are you going to age with grace?
Greenleaf was slowly beginning to release its grip on the Clans, and Oatfluff welcomed it. His thick fur made the heat all the more miserable, and though he tried not to let it get to him, it had been rough lately. Luckily, this moon had brought storms - heavy, heavy rainstorms that the dry, cracked moor seemed to soak right up. With all this rain, things were starting to cool down, and that meant Oatfluff wanted to get back on his feet.
The heat had really gotten to him the past few weeks, but as he finished smoothing down his fur, he realized something; he finally had energy. Oatfluff always had energy. He was the type to wake before dawn and volunteer for every single patrol, no matter the hour. But lately he hadn't been able to do as much as he wanted, so it was a pleasant surprise to find his eyes a little brighter and his paws a little more restless. What did he want to do today? He could help patch things up around camp, or join a border patrol, or...
No. He wanted to hunt. And he didn't want to just join some hunting patrol, either. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that he wanted to hunt with someone in particular - someone he'd been hoping to spend more time with. It was just hard, catching that cat alone. Especially when that cat was often in a mood. But he'd been wracking his brain for ways to get to know them better, and this was perfect!
Oatfluff hummed quietly to himself as he made his way to the medicine den. Sure, Hemlockfox was probably busy, but it couldn't hurt to ask - right? Even if he said no, Oatfluff would just bother him another time. For some reason, the fluffy warrior felt oddly nervous about asking him. It made sense, though; Hemlock had been a warrior apprentice before, so surely he missed hunting. He could show him what it was like to hunt on the moor! It would be nice, right? The tom had never been nervous about anything before, except for maybe his warrior ceremony - so it was odd, the way anxiety stirred in his belly as he approached the den. Making friends had never scared him. Why was this different?
It isn't, he told himself. Oatfluff pushed past his anxiety and ducked into the medicine den. Sure enough, there was Hemlockfox. The mottled brown tom tapped on the side of the den with one paw to announce his presence, not wanting to scare the gruff medicine cat. "Hey, Hemlockfox. I was just about to hunt, and I was - well, I was wondering if you wanted to come with me?" His eyes were bright as he spoke, but he faltered a bit on the last few words, as though suddenly unsure of himself. "Uh, just, since it's such a nice day and all. It'd be a shame to waste it inside. But if you're busy, that's okay!" Oatfluff added hastily, then stopped talking. Let him speak. Stars. As he scolded himself, he looked up at Hemlockfox with a hopeful expression. Please?
Subject: Re: be my shelter from the storm [c] Thu 29 Aug 2024 - 1:55
Hemlockfox"Act like I don't need your love and you call my bluff" -T4 Hybrid MC-
⥊🩸⥋
Just like Oatfluff, Hemlockfox often suffered in the oppressive greenleaf heat, his own thick coat serving only to frag him down. He was grateful for in during leafbare, but lately, a thinner, shorter coat was all he wished for. The shade of SkyClan's territory offered some respite from the sun, but there was no such thing as shade on WindClan's exposed moorland. His den and the small burrow set into the back wall of it helped some, but on days devoid of a breeze, even that space became too warm and enclosed to lay in. As such, there was no way he was going to waste away in that stifling corner of the camp for even a moment longer than he had to. The instant he finished sorting the newest collection of herbs, Hemlockfox ducked out of his sheltered burrow with an exasperated sigh, relishing in the breeze that swept through the hollow of the open portion of his den.
The last of the latest greenleaf storms had just passed through and, with it, the worst of the heat as well. Tasting the air, the medicine cat closed his eyes, basking in the scent of the recent rainstorm. It wasn't quite as pleasant as the leafy smell from the forest, but it was still nice. Maybe he'd finally find the energy to explore the territory some more? Since coming here, he'd really only frequented the best herb gathering spots, but surely, there was more to these open plains than met the eye. As he brushed bits of leaf and root from his paws and pondered how to spend the rest of his day, a slight rustle and the dull thud of a cat's paw caught his attention. Blue eyes fluttered over the mottled warrior's body and, upon realizing that he didn't seem injured, Hemlockfox fixed his attention on the words tumbling from Oatfluff's jaws.
What a strange coincidence. He'd not been planning to spend the rest of the day hunting, but he certainly couldn't pass up the opportunity now that it'd fallen at his paws. Of course, he'd rather do it along, but Oatfluff would likely be plenty useful since he'd quite honestly never tried to hunt the rabbits that populated these lands. Or...any lands, really. Before he could get a word it, though, Oatfluff powered on, his words coming out almost suspiciously nervous. What in the name of StarClan was the brown tom getting so worked up over? "I'm not busy." He meowed carefully.
"Just finished up here, actually." Though, maybe it would've been best to lie and make up a reason not to hunt with Oatfluff. The warrior was so disarming - Hemlockfox truly didn't know what to do with him around. Snap at him? Roll his eyes and ignore his antics? Laugh at those ridiculous expressions that sometimes made his stomach feel funny? Eugh. So confusing. Oh well, he'd already admitted that he was free, so he might as well see this through. Anything was bound to be better than sitting in his den...alone. "Anyway, I haven't hunted since coming here. Should be nice to...get back into it." Just the thought of feeling flesh and bone between his teeth again was enough to force a pleasant shudder through the brown and white tom's body. Warm blood on his tongue, the feeling of his prey's life seeping out of its body...
Subject: Re: be my shelter from the storm [c] Sun 1 Sep 2024 - 21:18
OATFLUFF
Are you going to age with grace?
Oatfluff lit up at the tom's reply. He'd said yes! He wasn't busy - Hemlockfox actually wanted to hunt with him! Well, okay, maybe he just wanted to hunt, but he'd take it. It was the perfect opportunity for him to get to know the medicine cat better. He could be so closed off sometimes. Even now, he seemed to eye Oatfluff suspiciously, but Oatfluff hardly seemed to notice. His fur was warm with excitement, his heart bursting with joy. And... well, some anxiety, too. It seemed like his heart would go on beating right out of his chest. Surely that was just the thrill of the hunt making his heart thud, and nothing else.
"Perfect! I find hunting works best in pairs. And, well, I'm sure you miss hunting." He smiled warmly, and tried not to focus on the way Hemlockfox's eyes always made him feel funny. They were just... very blue. He'd never seen eyes so blue before, that was all.
Oatfluff straightened up and shook out his pelt, as though to chase his anxieties away. Why should he be nervous, anyway? This was just a couple of Clanmates going for a hunt. He knew this territory like the back of his paw, and Hemlockfox was a good acquaintance that he hoped to make a friend someday. His tail lifted in the air behind him happily, and he nodded toward the camp's entrance. "Let's go. I'll show you all the best hunting spots!" The mottled tom ducked his head with a purr, then began to walk, hoping Hemlockfox would pad alongside him. "I don't know if you had rabbits back in SkyClan, but they're best hunted with a partner. It's fun! I can chase one toward you first, to demonstrate, and then we can take turns?" His normally soft brown gaze was bright with excitement and cheer. This really was going to be fun - the more he thought about it, the more nervous he got. What if he messed up? What if he failed every catch, and Hemlockfox thought he was a bad hunter and an even worse warrior? He got this odd feeling around him, like he wanted to impress the tom, even though there was no real need to prove himself to the medicine cat. He swallowed his fears and led the way out of camp, headed to a burrow a bit far away. The longer their outing was, the more time he had to get to know the tom.
Subject: Re: be my shelter from the storm [c] Thu 5 Sep 2024 - 21:25
Hemlockfox"Act like I don't need your love and you call my bluff" -T4 Hybrid MC-
⥊🩸⥋
Hemlockfox flicked an ear dismissively, visibly withholding the urge to roll his eyes. Hunting in pairs? Whoever heard of such a ridiculous idea? Sure, some cats in SkyClan did that, but in the trees, with such fast prey, it was often more dangerous than helpful to have another cat trying to help out. He supposed it made some modicum of sense, given how large and fast rabbits were, but even so, it hardly seemed necessary. He'd likely benefit from it, but only because he wasn't as fast or thin as most of these WindClanners. His body was built for strength and climbing, not running aimlessly through the long grasses of the moor. Though, Oatfluff was right about one thing. He did really miss hunting. "You wouldn't know the half of it."
"When I was a kit, I never could have imagined myself spending my days in the medicine den. From the beginning, I knew what I wanted to be." He paused for a moment, expression tight. "What I still wish I could be." There was nothing in the medicine cat code, at least, that prevented him from hunting, but he simply never had the time anymore. Even so, it wasn't just the thrill of the hunt that got his blood moving, but everything about being a warrior. He'd never go back to those days of his early apprenticeship, nor would he get back all of the time he'd lost, but he could still make the most of his life. And besides, even if he couldn't be a warrior, he could still return to SkyClan someday...maybe. It seemed unlikely, though, that Tigerstar would let him go.
Oatfluff, thankfully, seemed mostly oblivious to Hemlockfox's inner turmoil. With a shake of his head, the seal point tom padded quickly after Oatfluff. "But alright, I suppose. Might as well get to know the lay of the land better." They continued side by side towards the camp exit and, after a few moments, Oatfluff continued. Ah, so he was right. There must be something about hunting these rabbits that made teamwork a necessity. At least, if even WindClanners had to work together to bring one down. "Nah. Never really seen on in the forest." He meowed with a shrug. "Even if a rabbit wandered by, it'd be pretty hard to catch one - with the undergrowth and whatnot...but I don't mind giving it a shot."Truthfully, what was the worst that could happen?
Sniffing the air curiously, Hemlockfox followed Oatfluff out of the camp, his thick, sleek tail flicking from side to side. They fell into silence as they continued, Oatfluff seemingly deep in thought of something or other. Which was nice. He wasn't so bad when he wasn't chattering away like a perturbed starling. Grinning at that particular mental image, Hemlockfox scanned the rolling hills and valleys, his blue eyes narrowed against the sunlight. He'd seen rabbits and hares wandering around on occasion, but it'd never really occurred to him to try to chase after them. He more preferred the odd mouse or bird that happened across his path.
Subject: Re: be my shelter from the storm [c] Thu 26 Sep 2024 - 19:40
OATFLUFF
Are you going to age with grace?
Oatfluff was mostly quiet, for once, the fluffy tom's expression more thoughtful than usual as Hemlockfox spoke. It was nice to hear him open up, even if it was only somewhat... it was why he'd wanted to spend more time with the burly medic in the first place, really. Getting to know him hadn't exactly been easy, but Oatfluff supposed he couldn't blame him for that. "...If I was in your place, torn away from my home, my family, all my ambitions... well, actually, I guess I can't even imagine that." The warrior remarked in an almost hushed tone. Though his words were certainly sympathetic, the voice he gave to them was far from pitying. Instead, the heaviness of sincerity furrowed his brow, let his ears flick quickly to the sides. He was being genuine. Telling the truth. He hoped Hemlockfox could see that, rather than recoiling at a perceived pity party, but he knew it wasn't his fault if Hemlockfox misunderstood him.
...And there was that fear, again. The way Oatfluff's heart hammered on and his muscles felt all tense. He didn't want Hemlockfox to get the wrong impression. He didn't want him to think Oatfluff only felt sorry for him, but he also didn't want Hemlockfox to think he couldn't ever be serious. Was he doing this all wrong? Maybe he shouldn't have said anything. Maybe this entire outing was a mistake. Stars, he'd never felt so uptight or had to try so hard to be anyone's friend before; but it wasn't Hemlockfox, he knew. He'd always gotten along with Pantherpounce just fine, and the two toms were very much cut from the same stalk. Was he trying too hard?
Act normal. Maybe he'd forgotten how, for some reason he couldn't put his paw on, but he took a deep breath and let the tension fall from his shoulders as best he could. Oatfluff looked back at his companion - though he knew it wouldn't help him relax any - and was surprised to find Hemlockfox's expression tighten, his normally bright blue eyes swimming with conflict. "I -" He shut his mouth again abruptly. No, he wouldn't push the matter. Irritation twisted in his stomach; not at Hemlockfox, but at the stars, for ripping the tom away from something he so clearly loved. His Clan, his lifestyle, his family. Even if WindClan had needed someone - and desperately - was StarClan's plan for Hemlockfox so great that it warranted so much left behind?
A scent reached his nose, then, and Oatfluff parted his jaws to taste the air. He shook off any deeper thoughts and focused on what was in front of him: a lazy afternoon, spent showing a new friend the ways of his Clan. Easy. Relaxing. The mottled tom stood a little straighter and brightened, his ears perked in the direction of the scent trail. "Well, that's perfect, then - looks like you're about to get your chance, my friend!" Oatfluff smiled warmly at Hemlockfox, then gestured toward the warren he'd scented with his tail. He didn't even have to squint to make out the striking grey fur of a nearby rabbit just a foxlength or two from the burrow; it was a surprise they hadn't scented it sooner.
Happiness warmed Oatfluff's pelt, and he felt his anxiety slip away. What was I worried about?"Unlike in the forest, you can chase a rabbit for ages, and it can't exactly slip away unless it finds its way back to the warren - which is convenient for a duo, since one of us can block its path!" Oatfluff puffed his chest out, as though he took this guard duty very, very seriously. "Okay, the plan. I'll come up on the rabbit from behind and chase it toward you, and once it's headed straight for you, I'll come back to block its path to the burrow, just in case! Sound good?"
After a moment, Oatfluff added, "And don't worry if the first one gets away. They're fast little rascals." he chuckled.
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