Characters:
BloodClan:
Fallen: Leader of BloodClan; tom; an orange cat with black ears, tail and brown tabby stripes, he has a single white paw and green eyes; lanky but muscular
Lost: Deputy of BloodClan; shecat; blue/gray pelt with silver eyes, has only half her tail; small (resembles a main coon)
Leader's Advisors: (They give out advise to the leader and help with the trainers on assessing and placing a new cat)
Diesel: tom; tortoishell of brown, hazel, and white with brown eyes; average but built
Broken: tom; pale yellow and white tabby with a broken tail tip from a battle long ago, has blue eyes; large
The Guards of BloodClan:
Cathair: Advisor of the guard; tom; dark brown pelt with gray paws and spots along his back and tail, his chest and underbelly are white and he has bright green eyes; massive, but hunched over
Baylor: Captain of the Guard and son of Cathair; tom; white pelt with a gray spot on his neck, back, and flank, he has brown paws and ears. He also has one black spot overlapped by the gray one on his shoulder, his eyes are a bright green; massive and muscular
Hail: trainer; tom; Brown with black spots and silver flecks; large
Sleet: trainer; shecat; silver tabby with one black paw and gray eyes; petite
Fang: trainer; tom; a brick red with a white chest and brown eyes; lanky
Titan: trainer; tom; calico, has ice colored eyes; massive
Jasper: tom; Black and white tabby with turquoise eyes; bulky and decently sized
Jagged: tom; brother of Jasper; Gray and black tabby cat with a white streak that goes down his muzzle, has sky blue eyes; also bulky and decently sized
Owl: shecat; dark and light brown tabby, has a black line that stretches down her back; small
Rose: shecat; sister of Rose; a yellow shecat with a red hue and a white chest and paws, she has green eyes; petite
Fox: shecat; sister of Rose; orange pelt with a red hue, has white paws and a black tipped tail, also has deep green eyes; petite
Willow: shecat; light gray shecat with a dark gray face and back, fades out into a silver under belly and she has hazel eyes; large
Quake: tom; all black with yellow eyes; massive
Stitch: tom; gray with one black paw and crimson eyes, got his name after he was caught by the cutter and released neutered; large
Frostbite (Frost): tom; brother to Ghost and Smoke; silver body with white tipped paws and nose, has ice blue eyes; lanky
Smoke: shecat; sister to Frostbite and Ghost; smoke brindled with a pale gray, has a white chest and tipped ears, also has gray eyes; small
Ghost: tom; brother to Smoke and Frostbite; pure white with a silver tipped tail and ears, gray eyes with flecks of ice blue; large but lanky
Wander: tom; brown and black tabby with a white chest and has orange eyes; massive with lean build
Vic: tom; ginger and brown marbled, has a white muzzle and rings under his eyes; small
Wolf: shecat; Persian cat with a silver and brown pelt, has blue eyes; built but short
Shade: tom; red with a darker red belly and brown eyes; average
Nettle: shecat; sister to Havoc; Siamese, has blue eyes; petite but tall
Havoc: tom; Siamese, has blue eyes; massive
Titus: tom; long black pelt with a red-ish hue, has a white chest, paws, and tipped tail with pale green eyes, large and built (recruit)
Fade: shecat; tawny short coat with a dark brown mask on her face, legs, ears, and tail. Has a white chest with bright sea blue eyes; average and lean, has a longer tail than most (recruit)
BloodClan Cats:
Mags: shecat; a light brown tabby cat with a bobbed tail and strange purple eyes; average and lanky
Butler: tom; deep gray undercoat with a black overcoat (deep gray coat catches in the sun), and a single white paw and light yellow eyes; large and lanky with some build
Salem: tom; pitch black pelt with a gray paw and red spot on his tail and back, has one red tipped ear, has bright green eyes; large and built; mate to Harper
Luke: tom; white with black ears and tipped tail, has bright green eyes, average
Murk: tom; shaggy gray coat with white paws, has light blue eyes; stocky
Harper: shecat; mahogany red with a white face and underbelly, has a black spot over her left eye and on her right forepaw, has tawny eyes; average; mate to Salem
Rogues:
Blue: tom; silver gray cat with dark gray rings around his eyes and a black patch on his face, has stunning blue eyes; large and lean
Thatcher: tom; dark brown pelt with a sandy brown chest and paws, has white stripes on his face with brown eyes; large and built
Macie: shecat; light golden pelt with a yellow underbelly and light brown ears and tipped tail, has light blue eyes; average and lean
Posy: shecat; white with cream ears and tail, had a black muzzle and bright green eyes; carrying kits; average and lean
Maple: shecat; a deep mahogany pelt with golden swirls, a white chest, muzzle, paws, and tail with one red spot at the end of it. She has soft blue eyes; petite with long legs
Snake: shecat, daughter of Baylor and Maple; a long golden pelt with darker golden/mahogany swirls, a white chest, paws, underbelly, underside of tail and tip of tail. Also has bright green and lively eyes with silver woven into them and dark brown ears; petite with long legs
Ace: tom, son of Baylor and Maple; has a thick dark brown pelt that darkened into a black as it neared his belly and down his legs, his face is black with dark brown tabby markings strewn across it, has a single white paw and soft blue eyes; Massive like his father
Soot: shecat; daughter of Baylor and Maple; a long silvery smoke pelt with dark gray paws and tipped tail, has white tipped ears and muzzle and a dark gray spot on her shoulder like her father's, one eye is soft blue and the other a green; petite with long legs
The sky was clear and crisp and the moon was near full sending beams of light upon the shecat lighting her coat up to a blue glow. She sat on an old and tired tin roof that overlooked the alleyways and streets on the west border of the city that held so many dark secrets. The remainder of her tail was draped across her hind paws.
"Hope I didn't keep you waiting too long," A gruff voice mewed from behind her. A black tom, though the moonlight struck his pelt red, hauled himself onto the tin roof from a neighboring tree branch. The shecat continued to stare off into the distance, eyes straining as if she was searching for something.
"Oh, no, you didn't. I enjoy sitting up here, sometimes if I look hard enough I can see past the roofs and smog of this place and catch a glimpse of fields and trees," she spoke softly. The tom looked towards the direction her nose seemed to point too, but he couldn't see the fields and trees she talked about. He stole a glance at the curve of her frame, before clearing his thoughts and bringing himself back to the matter at hand.
"So, I guess you still want to go? You know, with me?" He tentatively took a step forward, nerves on edge. She turned around, her blue eyes striking his pale green ones. He took in her features: her enormous eyes, then her small nose and gentle smile, the sharp tuffs on her ears, and then onto her delicate build. She wasn't built for this life, and he longed to give her the one he was sure that she deserved.
She turned her head towards the streets, and thought for a moment. "I have only ever known this life…" Lost inhaled the aroma of the city, where she had spent every moon since her kithood working to be in the position she now held. The shecat looked at her paws and closed her eyes painfully, "but yes Titus, I don't want to stay here any longer than I have to." She stood up and turned around to face him. His pelt burned when she took a step forward.
"You won't miss your mate, Fallen?" The words left a bitter taste on his tongue and he fought the urge to spit it out.
Lost scraped her claws against the roof. "He forced me to be his mate, I didn't have a choice. He stripped me of that, but he only did so because he knows that I don't love him… He believes in time that I will grow to love him, but will that be before or after I have to bear his kits?" Lost lashed her tail, and her pelt bristled from anger. Titus fought the urge to comfort her, knowing that he would only bring back haunting memories.
"You won't have to bear his kits, Blue and his rogues will be making their move next moon and we can escape. I'll get you out of here and away from him, I promise." He looked hard into her eyes, in attempt to reassure her. She leaned in closer to him, but she stopped herself and sighed longingly.
"Titus, why are you doing this?" Lost searched his gaze for an answer but found none, she turned away from him and returned to her perch on the edge, tail draped over her hind paws.
"What do you mean?" He padded to join her, his massive stature making her look more delicate than ever. He noticed the unkempt tufts that poked out from her pelt where she had always kept it neatly groomed and smooth before.
"Why are you helping me Titus? If you're caught you'll be tortured, and I don't think I could bear to see that happen."
"Lost, don't worry about me I'll be fine. Just look towards the day when you're free from this place." He laid his tail on her flank, and looked out to the city rooftops. Lost tensed when she felt his touch, recalling the time when Fallen forced himself on her. She inhaled the scent that radiated from Titus, this is not Fallen, it's not him, she told herself, and relaxed. She looked up to the burly tom, and leaned into his pelt slowly, testing herself. Lost drowned in his scent and melted into his frame, closing her eyes. Titus looked down at the shecat, his heart swelling. He wrapped his tail around her, and laid his chin over her forehead delicately, purring.
Leafbare had begun to engulf the land, frost clinging to foliage and pipes alike and stripped the sun of its warmth, replacing it with chilling gusts of wind and looming clouds. Despite the less welcoming frigidness of Leafbare Maple and Baylor's kits were restless as ever, keeping their mother on her toes so that she wouldn't lose them in the frozen blades of grass that surrounded their home. Being six moons now, their true features were coming in and their muscles toning to match their energy. Nook moved into the barn, since a fox had moved close to his den, not to Baylor's liking of course. Also, his thin pelt and bobbed tail left him vulnerable to the cold and the barn held more heat.
Baylor opened his eyes, drawing himself from his dreams. He let his them adjusts to the moonless night, something was off. He dragged himself out of his nest and onto the dew tipped grass outside of his den. There was something about the way the wind blew tonight, it just wasn't right. He padded over to the ledge, to look over his camp. Nothing stirred below, and there was no sign of life aside from the blood stained sands from yesterday's training. Still, the aura pricked at his senses until he could barely stand it.
Suddenly, Maple and his kits flashed into his mind, and his paws twitched from anticipation. Every one of his senses were on fire, he knew that he couldn't rest until he checked on them. Baylor looked into his den once more, and seeing that his father was still deep in his sleep he turned and loped through the city to the moor.
Upon reaching the vast fields, the ambiance was so thick and unnerving he fought every bone in his body not to bolt to the barn. The urge was so strong he had to bite his tongue not to caterwaul a warning to any threat that may lurk near his family.
Baylor parted his way through a thick fog that draped itself over him. The dew chilled his pelt, which was hot with angst. He glanced up at the sky, and a starless black pool stared back at him. Finally, he couldn't fight it anymore and sprinted the remaining foxlengths.
He slid through the barn doors and a strong odor hit his nose with such an intensity that he choked. Blood.
His eyes quickly adjusted to the horror that laid itself before him. A dark figure stretched out in front of him. Baylor's eyes grew wide as he coiled back from shock, his eyes-no it can't be!
"Think you could get rid of me, did you Baylor?" The cat's dog teeth protruding from his collar glinted from an unidentified source of light.
"I killed you, there's no way- how?" Baylor took in the cat before him, struck with fear.
"Didn't think you could get rid of me that easily, did you Baylor?" The tom took a step forward, hatred lacing his voice. "Thought you could protect her? You were dead wrong."
"What did you do?!" Baylor yowled at his former leader. Reaper grinned, his eyes pooling with pleasure. He sidestepped and waved his tail over what scene laid out behind him.
Baylor buckled at the sight, Maple and his kits, strewn across the floors. Their blood was splattered onto the weathered walls and pooled around them. Maple's eyes stared blankly at him, tears staining her beautiful and untouched face. Reaper stood tall and proud, soaking up the rapturous pride at the sight of the undefeated tom crumpled on the ground moaning like a lost kit. Baylor couldn't believe it, his perfect family left like crowfood for the rats to fight over.
Baylor jolted awake his pelt damp from sweat, he looked around trying to remember where he was. He quickly recognized the dog house him and his father shared, he focused on his paws, blocking out the fear that threatened to drown out his common sense. He shut the dream out and forced his breathing to slow and his claws to unhook from the ground. His toothed collar felt like it was choking him, and he forced his paw in between his throat and the leather.
"Son?" Cathair lifted his head up and peered through squinted eyes at Baylor. The tom was still breathing heavily and his body was trembling slightly. He snapped head in the direction that his father spoke from, and stared at Cathair for a moment to collect his thoughts.
"Bad dream." He chocked the words out, pulling himself back to reality. His father looked at the ground for a moment, thinking.
"Want to tell me about it?" Baylor shook his head slowly, mind still partly fixated on the gruesome scene that was laid out before him.
"The longer you keep this thing, whatever is, to yourself the more it will haunt you. I don't know what is so bad that you can't confide in me, I may have not been the most nurturing father but I am still someone you can trust." Cathair's gruff voice barely passed through Baylor's ears.
"I need to go for a run, I will one day have to tell you but it's best if I put it off as long as I can." Cathair sighed, too tired to press further. He rested his head back onto his paws before Baylor had left.
Gotta see her, gotta make sure she's ok. It's just a dream, Reaper is dead. Baylor's paw steps drummed rhythmically as he sprinted through the alleyways to the forest. He ignored the BloodClan cats that stared at him as he passed, few of them annoyed because it was so late. He reached the forest before long, and didn't slow down when he pushed through the brush and briars stung his pelt as they scraped it. Baylor bursts through the last of them and raced through the moor, the grass whipping his face. He skidded to a stop when he saw the barn, concentrating on slowing his breath so he wouldn't worry Maple. He continued on at a brisk walk, relieved to scent only his family and Nook.
He slid through the entranceway him and Nook made, which was a hole in the barn door. Maple took the liberty herself to dig a tunnel out the back beneath a wheel barrow, it was well hidden. Baylor stood still for a moment, allowing his eyes to adjust to the dark barn. He bit back a snicker when he saw nook curled up in an old burlap sack stuffed with hay and moss, the sight amused him. He silently padded past the tom, careful not to wake him, and scaled up the ladder to where his mate and kits rested.
His heart wrenched when he saw his beautiful mate curled around his kits. He took in the sight of them, reveling in it. A small hole in the roof lit up the loft, highlighting Maple's features. Baylor padded up behind her quietly, he curled around her purring deeply.
Maple lifted her head up, prying her minds from her own dreams. She inhaled his scent, "Baylor," she breathed out. He sighed as she leaned back onto him, her sweet scent mixing with his own. He rested his head beneath hers, and closed his eyes letting sleep take hold.
"Dad!" Snake pounced on her father, tumbling over his broad shoulders. Baylor stretched out his forelimbs yawning, he blinked the sleep out of his eyes; his mind still foggy.
"Good morning Snake," he mewed hoarsely. Snake leapt up and began batting as his ear.
"Can we do training today? I've been practicing with Ace!" A draft pushed a dead leaf across the floor and she jumped at it pretending it was an intruder. Soot pounced out from behind a hale bale and tackled Snake. "Hey!" she mewled as her bigger sibling rolled her around on the floor in mock battle.
Ace jolted awake and peered around the room to see what was going on. His eyes brightened when he saw his sisters playing, and filled with sudden energy that Maple wished she still had, he left his mother's side to join them. Snake finally detached herself from Soot, she yelped when she saw Ace charging at her. He leapt at Snake pushing her into some burlap sacks causing them to fall around the kits, Snake squealed from fright when the sack landed on top of her. Soot was mewling with laughter at her siblings thrashing beneath the rough cloth.
Maple sighed and shook her head with mock shame. She looked up at Baylor and mewed with laughter when she saw his face, "yes it's always like this! I have my own cats to train and keep in line to you know."
Baylor let out a quick sigh, "I think I'll stick with my guard."Maple giggled as he groomed her ear. She nuzzled him affectionately real quick and pulled herself to her paws. "Where are you going?" Baylor couldn't hide the disappointment on his face.
"Hunting, Nook found a good spot near a twoleg's den not far from here. They may look fine now but they'll be wailing for food soon enough." She shook her pelt, and licked down a few tufts sticking out on her chest. Baylor stood up and padded heavily over to her and licked down a tuft that stuck out on her shoulder.
"Ok, let's bring the kits then. It'll be a good lesson." He stepped back and grinned at her.
Ok, but you're keeping up with them." She bounced past him and slid down the latter, "Nook, ready?" The shecat called as she trotted past him. The tom was already stretched out beside the barn door, like usual.
Baylor sighed and turned to look at his kits. Snake and Ace were batting at each other while Soot jumped around them mewing at the to stop, 'because they'll mess up her moss collection', which stood not far off and held some of the softest moss around.
"Ok kits, line up in front of me-Snake! No Ace, now!" He had to almost yowl at the two to get their attention. Ace immediately padded over, Snake tumbling behind him. He bit back a smile seeing his kits perfectly lined up in front of him, they remembered.
"Ok, today I'm going to teach you how to hunt." Snake's eyes lit up, and he had to look at her firmly to keep her from bouncing around. "Before we go, you will stay in my eye sight and listen to me. Also, keep quiet once we get there so you don't scare off the prey. Ok?"
Ace stood tall, puffing out his chest, "yes, sir!" Soot and Snaked nodded in unison. He turned around flicking his tail indicating to them to follow him. He led them down the ladder and out to the moor where Maple and Nook sat waiting for them. Maple flashed him an amused grin, and he winked at her. Nook looked awkwardly to the side, pretending to see something interesting.
Snake bounded to the tom, "Nook, Daddy is going to teach us how to hunt!" Nook flicked his eyes to her and sighed inwardly, relieved that he was able to focus on something other than the two cats ahead nipping at each other affectionately.
"Really, what do you think you'll catch?" Nook inquired the energetic shecat, who was quivering with excitement as usual. Snake stood still for a moment, thinking.
"A rabbit!" She finally decided, and continued to frisk about.
"You're too small to catch a rabbit Snake, it'd eat you before you could catch it!" Ace padded up to her, shouldering the small kit snickering.
"No it wouldn't! I'll- I'll catch a hare to prove it." Snake stuck her tail high in the air, and held her head up confidently. Ace chortled, and she padded off briskly leaving her brother to himself. "Dad, it's really important." Snake slid between her parents, and whispered urgently to the burly tom.
"Hmm?" He took his eyes off Maple to look at his kit, curious.
"Ace says I would be eaten by a rabbit before I caught it, I told him I'd catch a hare… Can you teach me that?" Maple bit back a chuckle, amusement dancing in her eyes.
"I can try; your mom is the real expert with fast prey. How about she works with you while I take care of Ace and Soot, then I'll teach you some more fighting tactics if you're not too tired. Sound good?"
"Perfect!" Snake whipped around and padded to her sister to walk with her, close enough for their pelts to be brushing. They were muttering something Ace couldn't pick up, even though he nearly tripped over his large paws trying to lean in.
The sun lit up the field, highlighting the frost that grazed the tips of the grass. Snake pelted into the field and fell over, rolling into the crisp stalks. "Keep it up and there won't be anything to hunt" Nook nudged the kit up with his paw, "you would be an apprentice by now if you were a clan cat, they would be scolded for exhibiting such behavior." He grinned playfully at her, and she sat up slightly embarrassed and gave her chest a few licks.
"Now, Snake come with me and you two go with your Father." Maple padded out, followed by her mate who ushered his team to a separate section of the field. Nook padded to the far end of the field to catch some prey in case the kits weren't very fruit full.
"Mom are you going to teach me to catch a hare?" She sprung up on her paws, tail swishing.
"That depends on you Snake; if you can master your hunter's crouch this time and catch a mouse I'll show you how to catch one, deal?" Snake nodded eagerly in response.
"Ok, let's see it." Maple sat on her haunches. Snake hunkered down, and stretched herself along the ground. "Raise your tail just a bit and put less pressure on your paws, the mice will hear you coming." Snake adjusted her passion, until she heard her mother's mew of approval.
"Like this?" She asked, and focused on her body, trying to spread her weight evenly.
"Yes, now stalk that red leaf and pounce on it." Maple instructed her kit patiently, her chest warm with pride seeing her mold into a natural hunter. She may never be the best at combat, but at least she has my hunting skills.
Snake carefully slid across the ground, putting each paw out in front of her with consideration. Her eyes focused on the crimson leaf in front of her, and when she was close enough she wiggled her haunches and pounced on the leaf, barely managing to catch it beneath her claws.
"Good, you were a little off balance but that's something I can't teach you. You will have to learn it on your own. Now, scent the air. What do you smell?" Snake unhooked her claws from the brittle leaf and parted her jaws, taking in tinge of morning life.
"Uhh- some kind of bird and, field mice?" She closed her jaws and looked to Maple uncertainly.
"Partridge and mourning doves, you'll catch on. Now go catch a field mouse, I'll follow you." Snake sighed, and scented the air, pin pointing the mice. She turned and slid into the grass, following the scent trails that were laced onto the dirt. She halted near a log, the scent radiating from it. She perked her ears, straining to hear any scuffs or scurrying. Her head snapped to the roots of a half dead tree, thrusting itself out of the ground on the edge of the field. Snake crouched down, relying on the grass to hide her. She caught a glimpse of a plump mouse gnawing on a nut near the base of the tree. Maple crawled up onto a rock and crouched down, eyeing her kit.
Snake glided across the ground swiftly, her belly fur grazing the ground. She adjusted her stride to a slow stalk once she reached the outskirts. The mouse cracked the shell open and started nibbling on the soft nut. Impatience pricked her paws, I need to hurry, it's almost done. The wind ruffled her fur, blowing the scent towards her. At least the wind is on my side, she bunched her haunches up, eyeing the mouse. The creature froze, and dropped its nut looking around, alarmed by something. Snake grunted with frustration and shoved off the ground with all her might. She flew the remaining three foxlengths, hooking the mouse in her claws as she landed with a thud. Snake quickly nipped the mouse's neck, snapping it like Nook taught her too.
Maple yipped with joy and she leapt off the rock and trotted to her kit. "Finally! That's amazing, bury your kill here and I'll show you how to catch a rabbit."
"Did you see that?! The mouse was scared by something and I didn't know if I could make the jump, but I did!" Snake stuck her tail high, pride lighting up her face. She turned and dug a shallow hole like Maple instructed and buried the mouse.
Maple led her kit back out into the field, towards where Nook had went too. "Ok, tread lightly here. Rabbits hear remarkably well, so you have to be extremely quiet. When you see one, you want to get as close as you can without scaring it. It will probably hear you coming and run off, so you have to chase it down and grab its back legs. You want to pin it or immobilize it as soon as possible, scratch it up, break its leg, or if you can break its neck." Snake trotted behind her, listening attentively.
After a short walk Maple halted, and flicked her tail to Snake telling her to move ahead. Snake padded lightly up to the slightly larger shecat, and followed her gaze to the base of a small hill. A breeze blew the scent of what resided there, a young hare. Snake bit her tongue, nervous. Maple nodded at Snake, and both cats crouched down to hide themselves from the hare.
Snake gulped nervously, burying her excitement as she crept forward. She skimmed along the ground, weaving around pebbles and dead leaves. Snake focused on the lean prey ahead of her, it was thankfully preoccupied on grooming itself. She slid under a log, and tested the direction of the wind. Snake realized that the wind was blowing to her left, and shifted over to the right taking up the rear of the hare. She padded carefully up behind it, until she was several tail lengths away. Snake flicked her gaze to her mother, who nodded. She inhaled deeply, before shooting out from the underbrush, catching the young hare unawares. It bolted out, and Snake pulsed after. She stretched out her forelimbs as far as they could go and dug her hind claws into the dirt for more traction, ears flattened to her forehead from the wind.
The hare dashed under a log trying to throw the cat off, but Snake leapt over the log with ease, intent on catching the prey. She tailed the hare through the field, eyes stinging from the stalks whipping at her face. Her breath began to come in short huffs, and she barely managed to keep up with the animal. Just as she started to lose sight of it a lean cat leapt out of the brush and blocked the hare. Snake surged forward and tackled it, which was almost as big as her, yowling as it thrashed beneath her clawing her with its sharp hind claws. She quickly bit down on the hare's throat and it squealed in fright, before the blood gurgled in its throat cutting the cry short. Snake bit down further and thanks to her long teeth, she snapped its neck. The prey fell limp beneath her, and she let it fall from her jowls.
"You did it!" Nook piped up, purring. Snake looked up, her sides heaving from effort and muscles trembling from the excursion. She tried to say something but her lungs burned at the effort so she resorted to nodding her head. Maple ran over and stopped with a skid.
"You're always where you need to be, Thanks Nook," the tom dipped his head at her. "How do you feel Snake?" Maple questioned her kit good humouredly, Snake looked up and forced a smile, still too exhausted to speak. Maple looked over her kit, and noticed some blood clumping up around some scratches. She bent down worriedly, and checked them out. Nook can put some stuff on it when we get back. No use in fixing them up now, if Baylor is going to teach her battle tactics. Satisfied, she stood up and grabbed the hare in her jowls, nodding her head for the cats to follow.
Nook nudged Snake with his muzzle gently, urging her foreword. She shook her pelt and padded groggily after her mother, Nook trailing behind. Maple led the cats towards the mouse Snake caught earlier, and was surprised to see it accompanied by Nook's kill, a thrush and a vole. He went and collected the prey, and Snake dug her mouse up and, now refreshed, bounded after them.
Maple led the cats to Baylor, who was chastising Soot for not being quick enough. He stopped and lifted his gaze up, smiling warmly at his mate. "Looks like you had better luck than us. Snake's yowl scared most of the prey." He noticed the hare dangling from Maple's mouth, "what's this?" he jerked his head to the hare. She set it down, and Nook joined his prey with Snake's. Snake, as if on cue, bursts through the stalks behind them and laid her mouse down.
"I caught a mouse and a hare, told you Ace!" She boasted proudly. Maple sighed and padded over to Baylor, briefly touching muzzles with him before stepping back.
"How did they do?" Maple inquisited the tom, curious to know how her other kits are coming along with their hunting.
Baylor smiled rutilously, "they did alright, Soot caught a field mouse and Ace tracked down and killed a young rabbit that ventured out of its burrow." He paused for a moment, he chuckled recalling past events. "Definitely better than last time, when Ace fell into that ravine."
Maple pretended to be taken aback, "don't even dare joke about that." She cuffed him playfully on his ear. "I can't believe they're getting so old." She looked at her kits, Nook was trying to organize them but Ace and Snake where tackling each other again and Soot was cheering for her sister.
"With everything that's going on, it's probably for the best." Maple looked up at him, concern and anxiety pooling in her gaze. He buried his own, and rested his muzzle on her forehead. "Everything will work out, don't you worry you're pretty little eyes." Maple buried her face into his neck, breathing in his scent.
"Dad, can you do some battle practice with me?" He tore himself from Maple and looked at Snake, who stood collectively in front of him. Maple licked his ear affectionately before padding off to Ace and Soot who were keeping Nook on his toes.
"Sure thing, let's do some reviewing first then I'll teach you something new if you have them down." Snake nodded, her whiskers twitching. "Ok, blind me." She leapt up on her hind paws masterfully and 'clawed' at his eyes, claws sheathed, and as he tried to back up and swing to her side, she bounded over blocking him. Snake then swiped her forepaw over his eyes again.
Baylor batted her to the ground, smiling as she rolled to shake off the impact and jumped to her paws. Her eyes were narrowed, concentrating on his muscles. Baylor surged forward and she barely dodged him, clumsily catching herself before she tripped over her own paws. Snake recovered and dashed under his belly, swiping it as she ran. He whipped around with ease, matching her movements step for step. Snake bunched her muscles and jumped left slightly and as he went to meet her she pivoted right and barreling into his shoulder throwing him off balance. He fell back slightly, grunting from surprise. Snake felt a surge of confidence at unbalancing him.
Baylor collected himself and stood up, licking his paw then running it over his ear. "You did well, watch your paws though." Snake shook her pelt, energy pulsating from it.
"But they're so big." Her tail lowered, shamed.
"So were mine, but I grew into them and so will you." He mewed, Snake smiled a little bit. "Now, let's try something new. What do you say?" She nodded eagerly. "Ok, if you're caught fighting two cats you can use this to get the upper paw." Baylor beckoned Nook and Maple to come over. The two cats trotted up to him, Ace and Soot trailing behind.
Baylor arranged them into position, and flicked his tail signaling them to begin. Nook lunged at maple and Baylor naturally took up the rear. She quickly recognized the tactic her mate was teaching and she kicked her back legs up into Baylor's face knocking him back and twisted around and pounced onto Nook's shoulders locking herself into place, before using her weight to flip him over onto his back. Maple leapt out of the way as the tom fell into the dirt.
"Ok Snake, I want you to try that. Think you got it?" Snake stared back at him with wide eyes, and gave a curt nod. Baylor winked at his kit and stepped back, nuzzled Maple, and sat down on his haunches to watch.
Nook trotted up to Snake, the edges of his mouth turning up in a small grin. Snake narrowed her eyes at him, bunching up her muscles as Maple came up behind her. She quickly ran the move through her head, kick back legs, jump on Nook, and pull him down.
"Begin." The battle experienced tom called out, and Maple lunged at her kit. Snake instinctively jumped forward slightly but quickly caught herself and kicked out her back legs catching her mother in the jaw. The shecat fell back startled, and Nook lurched at Snake. She crouched down on her haunches, forepaws in the air, and lunged onto his narrow shoulders. Snake hooked her claws into his pelt, and Nook winced in pain, before she leaned over making him lose his balance. He toppled to the ground and Snake rolled out from under him, he landed on her tail and she yowled in pain as his spine dug into the thin bone.
"Oh, sorry Snake!" Nook rolled off her tail and she jerked it away holding it close to her body.
"Mouse-Dung! I wasn't fast enough," she flattened her ears against her head in frustration, trying to block out her siblings snickers behind her.
"Snake, when you're fighting you're supposed to keep your tail tucked against your side and out of the way. If you had done that it wouldn't have been caught." Baylor stood up and walked over to his kit, lifting her chin up with his forepaw.
"But I can't balance good when I do that!" She whined, and looked at the ground avoiding his gaze. "I'm just not good at fighting."
"Nonsense, you just need practice. It's hard to balance without your tail, but it's important." Snake sighed and pulled away, she started to trail off but Nook blocked her path, he lowered his muzzle to her level.
"Snake I don't even have a tail to balance with, I was born without one. It took me longer to learn how to walk then most cats, but if you can figure out how to distribute your weight evenly across your paws then you will find that you can fight without one." The young she cat sighed and gave in; she let a small smile slip. Nook bursted in a full on grin, relieved to see her lighten up.
Snake looked over her shoulder to steal a glance at her parents, and noted that Baylor was preoccupied with his mate's teases. Maple had stole a chance to flick her tail across his muzzle making him sneeze, and he was focused on trapping her beneath his hefty paws. Snake turned her attention back to Nook, who was still focused on her.
"Can you teach me a clan cat tactic?" She whispered to him, for whatever reason Baylor had a distaste for them. He thought that they were "inferior to a BloodClan's strategy" but she got it in her head that it would be useful in a confrontation because it would unfamiliar and unexpected. But there was no sense in explaining that to her father, being as strong minded as he was.
Nook's eyes lit up, and he flicked his gaze to Baylor momentarily before darting it back to Snake. "Not now, wait until sunrise tomorrow when Baylor has returned to BloodClan. For now, let's work on your balancing." Snake held back her disappointment, and complied
"Ok," she stood up taller, stretching her forelimb out.
"Ace, Soot! Come here and we'll work on your balancing while I'm at it." Ace looked up from the mouse he was eating, and flicked his eyes to Soot who was grooming her pelt. Ace stared down at his lunch for a moment, he sighed and abandoned the meal. He nudged his sister with his paw to get her attention before padding off to Nook. She ignored him, and continued to lick the tufts back into place.
"Soot you can groom yourself after training, we don't have all day." Nook meowed impatiently to the shecat. Soot mumbled something to herself and stood up.
"Just because I have to fight doesn't mean I have to look unkept." She trotted over, tail held high.
Ace leaned towards Nook, "I don't understand she cats." Nook choked on a laugh, but he forced it down.
"You mean you don't understand Soot, I'm not like that." Snake batted her brother's ear slightly annoyed.
"Whatever." He flashed her a crooked grin, and Snake shook her head in mock disappointment.
"Ok, well when are we going to start?" Soot caught up and stood posted in front of Nook, her pelt neatly groomed.
"How about now, Ace help me dislodge this log here." Nook padded off to a decently sized log which had planted itself near the field.
"Watch how it's done ladies," Ace winked at his sisters as he leapt up. He pranced off after Nook, tail swaying behind him. Snake and Soot looked at each other with confusion before bursting into laughter.
Nook was standing on his hind legs, his forelimbs leaning on the log. Ace followed suit, "on my count push forward and let it fall back then push again," Ace nodded. "1, 2, 3!" Nook and Ace heaved forward, grunting from the strain as the earth started to loosen its hold on the log. In unison, the toms let it fall back and they again pushed forward until the log was easily rocked back and forth.
"Good job, ok Snake, Soot come over here." The two padded over curiously. "Now, hop on the log." Nook waited patiently as Ace jumped on and helped pull Snake up, Soot stood aside until her sister was up and climbed on after. "Tuck your tails in, keep them tucked, and don't fall of." The tom instructed the three, they tucked their tail close to their bodies. Snake looked at him puzzledly; Nook smiled at her as he stood back up on his back legs and leaned against the log. He pushed on it, shifting the log back. Soot gasped in shock, and dug her claws into the wood. "Hang on!" Nook called out, as he rocked it.
Snake focused on keeping her balance, fighting the urge to use her tail.
"Woo, this is fun!" Ace yowled out. Nook chuckled and rocked the log harder, Snake buckled forward slightly as he pushed it back. Ace caught her with his forepaw, and quickly darted it back onto the log before he lost his balance.
"Thanks," she concentrated on the rhythm of the log, evening out her weight amongst her paws.
"No problem," Ace breathed out, focusing on his own balance.
"I think I got it!" Soot confidently lifted a paw up, and then her other leaning back on her haunches. "Ha!"
"Ok that's enough," Nook panted out, and fell back on her forepaws. "That's enough for today, go harass your parents now." He plopped down on the ground, stretched out against the cool dirt.
Soot leapt off and trotted over to Maple who was lying down beside Baylor in the sun. Snake and Ace trailed after her.
"Hey mom can we go to the brook?" Soot looked at her mother hopefully.
"Mmmm, maybe another day. It's getting late how about we head back to the barn. It'll be too cold soon anyways." She stood up and stretched her back, "Nook we're heading back!"
The tom raised his head up, "I'll catch up with you guys later, don't wait on me." He called out, and then rested his head back on his paws.
"Ok!" Maple looked to her mate who was half asleep; she nudged him awake with her paw. "Get Ace to help you with the fresh kill, we need to be heading back." Baylor pried his eyes open, and broke into a yawn as he nodded his head.
"You heard her son, come on." The tom pulled himself up and padded to the prey that was piled up from earlier, he picked the hare and the rabbit up in his jaws and Ace collected the mice. The toms rejoined their family and made their way back to the barn through the moor.
Hey, I decided to do illustrations of some of the characters in The Rise of Snake! If you have a specific character you want illustrated please leave it in the review section or PM me, whichever you prefer. I don't know how exactly I'm going to approach these, but it'll most likely be hand drawn (since it's the easiest and quickest way for me) and touched up on my laptop. You can expect to see two characters posted at the end of chapter six. I'm also redoing the cover picture since it's been the same one for a long time. I am taking suggestions on that too so don't be shy! The deadline is December 1st, and I will have the new one up on New Year's Day.