Eccentric, huh? Crux thought as he followed Ara through the marshy land, Lynx following in close pursuit. He had only ever heard of swamp cats from stories, childish fairy-tales told by elders to the kits. He never actually thought he could meet a realone.
For a moment, Crux almost forgot where he was going, taking a wrong turn around a rather large tree. Finding his way back, he heard the snickering of Lynx behind him.
"Quit it, will you?" Crux rolled his eyes at his friend's laughter who, seeing as it sparked something in him, continued to do so with greater intensity.
"Come on, Crux. You're just too easy to tease. You make it so easy!" Lynx laughed and picked up his pace, pulling up next to the gray tom as they trudged on, the wet mud clinging to their paws for dear life.
"Oh? Do I?" He tried pulling his paw up, only to find it harder as the murky water became more muddy and sticky. Lynx only laughed at his attempts.
"Besides, I'm faster than you! I beat you here by seven tail-lengths!" While it wastrue, seven tail-lengths? Now he was just making that up! Crux's eyes turned to him, full of laughter and some irritation.
"No you didn't! Even if you didbeat me, it wouldn't have been by seventail-lengths!" Crux rolled his eyes. Why did Lynx always have to exaggerate?
"Of course I did! Everyone saw that!"
"You mean everyone as in you?"
"Ladies! Ladies," they both heard Ara's voice from up ahead. "You're both pretty! Can we get a move on now?" She chuckled slightly under her breath at the boys' childish manners.
Once they had finally stopped their racket, Crux finally had the chance to actually view his surroundings. Other than the crickets and toads chirping on the lily pads, there wasn't much alive in here. The willow trees that hung over the surface of the water, their leaves just barely disturbing its surface, made the swamp even more eerie. By now, Crux's paws were completely soaked in water and soiled by dirt.
A groan came from his right, and Crux had no need to investigate. Judging by the sound, he could tell it was his friend, Lynx, close behind him. It was a groan of terror and nervousness. Crux really couldn't blame him, but that didn't mean he wouldn't use it as an excuse to badger him some more.
"What are you, scared?" He intimidated Lynx and puffed up his chest, trying to show his bravado. His paws stopped for a moment to rest, and Lynx did the same.
"Wh-what? 'Course not!" Lynx shifted uneasily on his paws, contradicting his words. He quickly decided to keep moving, catching up to Ara and leaving Crux behind on his own.
It didn't take that much time before Ara stopped, leaving the two toms confused. Crux twitched his ears in anticipation, taking in all the sounds of the swamp. Most of them were crickets and toads, but together, they formed a symphony of sounds. He was almost enjoying himself before Ara's harsh words snapped him out of his daydream.
"You going to sit here all day or come? I thought you wanted to meet these 'swamp cats.'" Ara flicked her tail, gesturing for them to follow. Lynx proceeded first, contracting the muscles in his shoulder to fit into the small, narrow space between a rock and a swamp bush. Crux followed close behind. The moss that had grown around the area tickled his nose, almost making him sneeze. When he appeared at the other side (and was he glad to finally be out of that hole), he was taken aback by what he saw.
All around him were dark brown and black tabbies, staring at him with beady eyes. Some looked afraid while others looked taken aback by their presence. This was definitelynot what Crux expected.
One of them stepped forward, a large, dark she-cat with crimson yellow pools that shown under the small amount of light that peeked beneath the canopy. At first, she looked as if she were about to attack the cats, but the realization dawned on Crux a bit late.
"Welcome to the Tribe of the Swale... outsiders." The dark she-cat growled lowly in her throat, ready to attack if the strange cats meant harm. She must obviously be the leader of the Clan, or at least, Crux thought.
"Hm. Well, we just came by to say 'Hi! Welcome to the neighborhood!,' but if you're going to say it like that, then we might as well leave." Ara said with a flick of her tail. But before she could turn around, a sudden voice called out.
"Sorry." She profusely apologized, almost as if she truly meant it. However, Crux could still see the uncertainty behind those crimson yellow eyes. "Sorry. We are just... not used to having 'visitors.'" She put emphasis on that word. Visitors. Probably because they tortured and ate what visitors they didget. But that was just a stupid kit-tale, right? Nodding quickly, before she changed her mind, the she-cat bit her lip to keep from saying anything rude. "I am Dusk, leader of this loner group. If you truly arehere to visit," Andnotattackuslikeeveryoneelse.... she added silently to herself, "then you are welcome. Please, let us show you around."
As much as Crux wanted to dash out of the swamp, terrified of these alien cats, he decided that it wouldn't make him look all that great. Swallowing the fear down his throat, he took a few pawsteps into the center of the camp, being led by the cat named Dusk, with Ara lagging behind, obviously not as happy meeting the irritating cat. Her pelt shone beneath the extremely small amount of light that managed to squeeze through the thick canopy. Only a ray of sunlight managed to encase the cats when they reached the center of the camp, where the sky was just enough clear to allow in sunlight.
"This is our "camp" as you would call it. We live here, eat here, groom each other here, and even sleep here." Dusk nodded to a cat that passed by before disappearing into the swampy marsh.
"Hey, where's he going?" Crux spoke out, a little sheepish after he realized that he had just blurted it out.
However, Dusk did not even seem to notice. "Hunting. We need to eat, after all. Just like the rest of you." Her eyes turned back towards the camp, her mind towards the task at hand. "We take care of each other, and in turn, we live happy lives."
"But being a group seems somundane." Lynx pointed out bluntly, yawning as he did so, as if to prove the point that he was bored. "Look, why would you all help each other if you only need to look after yourself? It's so much easier that way."
Growling softly, but amazingly hiding it well, Dusk eyed the cat warily. "Well, we just seem to do things differently our way, so keep your mouth shut." Lynx immediately flinched from Dusk's stern look and took a few steps back.
Deciding to come to his defense, Ara rolled her eyes. "Oh please. You're hardly loners anymore! This isn't a band! These cats aren't even loners anymore!"
"Oh, really? Then what arewe?"
"Please, stop it all of you!" Crux interrupted, putting a single paw between the three arguing cats. "We came here to see their home and way of life, not to criticize it!" Crux lowered his head in an apology, knowing he would not be able to pull one out of Ara and Lynx. "I'm sorry. They'resorry." He looked up at the cat named Dusk.
Dusk raised her brows in surprise, but the look quickly changed to gratitude. "Thank you... Crux, was it?" Crux nodded, and she continued, "We'll..." She looked up towards the small opening in the canopy.
"What? What is it?" Ara asked curiously, padding over next to her in order to see what she was looking at.
"It's already dark." Dusk half-whispered as she noticed a small section of the moon in the distance.
Lynx sighed and groaned, stretching his muscle and rolling onto the mud. "Do we haveto walk back in the dark?"
"You're welcome to stay here, if you desire." Dusk said a bit glumly and turned towards Ara. It took her a minute to think, but she finally nodded in reply.
"Very well. Where exactly do swamp cats sleep?" Crux looked around the camp after Ara asked. There were no sleeping areas.
"We sleep wherever we want. Under the trees, by the lake." She flicked her tail towards each named area. Immediately after, Lynx rolled around and became comfortable where he had fallen. Crux chuckled slightly at the sight.
Ara said nothing else as she walked over to a rather dry spot and laid down, closing her eyes and exhausted from the journey. Crux took a spot nearby, underneath the small opening in the canopy. Rolling onto his side, he turned his head slightly to look at the bright moon above him, shining a silver ray onto his gray pelt, making him ghost-like. Yawning, he turned back over and bathed in the moonlight after taking in its glory.
The moon. So free and high, with no limitations or obstacles. It was why it fascinated him so. It made him grateful for everything, every time he stared at it. Free in the sky. He was free.
But it was the last time he would feel freedom.
Sun: Well, there's Chapter 1 for all you peoples! And please, R&R.
Dive: I'm writing chapter 2 next! And remember, check out the site at drearrpg (dot) webs (dot) com
Sun: Yush, yush. Please join us! You can roleplay in the Drear world!
Dive: Slow beginning is slow...but that'll clear up very soon! See you next time!
Sun: This is Sun, signing off!
Dive: And Dive, ducking out! Ciao!
