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Post by absurdjinx on Apr 27, 2024 14:47:53 GMT -6
#s://i~ibb~co/3vhfrsZ/laurel~jpg | laurelfern, "far away from your trouble and worries
you belong somewhere you feel free" |
Finally, new-leaf had arrived. Laurelfern could have an entire mouse for herself - she didn’t even have to share a single morsel, because there was plenty to go around. She didn’t have to feel terribly ashamed of herself for eating and she didn’t have to worry about whether or not the more vulnerable members of the Skywalkers had eaten enough. A half-eaten mouse laid between her paws as she laughed with her friends while they told stories about when they were younger. As a RidgeClan apprentice who had ventured into the mountains for the first time, Laurelfern hadn’t realized how much danger she’d put herself and her friends in. But she’d never regret choosing to take that step over the border and into the unknown. Laurelfern was happy. She was with friends, there was good food, and it was a warm, sunny day. There was something about the lack of snow and ice, and the growth of flowers and plants that brought a smile to her face. The sun seemed brighter, the air seemed fresher, and everything was just better. She couldn’t explain it, but judging by her friends’ joy, she wasn’t the only one who felt it. Laurelfern stayed with her friends until midday, when the next set of patrols would head out, and that’s when they parted ways so everyone could complete their duties by the end of the day. She’d already been on the dawn border patrol and she was supposed to lead a hunting patrol later, but since she had time, she figured she’d go for a walk. Her first instinct was to visit the Riverwalker camp and see what Honeythorn was up to, but Laurelfern didn’t think she’d have enough time to do so before she had to be back for her hunting patrol. She found herself moving in the direction of the western border, which she patrolled often to see if she’d stumble upon a stranger who might be interested in joining The Kingdom. Once she reached the boundary, she considered strolling along it, but ultimately decided to settle down on the even surface of a wide rock. Laurelfern believed she deserved to sunbathe for a short while today as a little treat for all the hard work she’d put into The Kingdom. Just as she started dozing off, a noise caught her attention. “ Hello? Who’s there?” |
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Post by adrian on May 4, 2024 9:30:19 GMT -6
#s://i~ibb~co/bzKTCJV/grey~png Snow sucked. It was only pretty if he had someone there to enjoy it with. Hawthorne was gone. Shadowgaze would no longer see him. All it did at this point was make it harder to hunt for prey that preferred to be hunkering down to escape the cold, and make him miserably cold at night. He used to be better at sleeping alone, he thought. Toughing it out. Lately, he didn't feel tough at all. He wouldn't allow himself to consider that it was a broken heart that made it so difficult for him to enjoy his days, now, because he was determined that this separation would be temporary. It would be. Shadowgaze would see him again, one day, and he would remain in the valley until that day came. Even if that meant stealing prey from crows on the most miserable of cold days. So the snows melting was a blessing for the lone tom cat. Warmer days meant more and better fed prey. It meant he could lounge on the stones of the graveyard and absorb the warmth that remained there, were he still residing in the graveyard. For Shadowgaze's sake, he left that den, hoping no one would be able to find evidence of the two of them there as long as he stayed away for the time being. He was between homes, now. But one particular path kept nagging at him: the Kingdom. They were close to the clans. He could learn about RidgeClan from them, and maybe find out exactly why Shadowgaze was so afraid of them learning about their relationship. Maybe, depending on what they were like, they could even be a home for him. For awhile, at least. But he had absolutely no idea if they were as finicky about their borders as the clans were. Which mean he was now pacing outside the border mark he found, tail lashing now and then as he tried to plot out his next moves. Pissing them off wouldn't make a very good first impression, should he want to ally with them. And surely they would be better allies than Foxglove would have been, with his deep seated clan hatred. Should he just... wait? Until someone came to check the border? That could take days. Just as he had the thought, he smelled another cat in the area on the gentle breeze, not too far from where he was pacing. He allowed himself another moment of hesitation (he could still turn back, now, and maybe camp out further in the woods until... until when, he wasn't sure), and then made his way toward the scent, stumbling upon a she-cat about to take a nap. "Ah, sorry," he said with a sheepish smile. "Didn't mean to interrupt your lounging. You with the Kingdom?" |
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Post by absurdjinx on May 22, 2024 7:31:06 GMT -6
#s://i~ibb~co/3vhfrsZ/laurel~jpg | laurelfern, "far away from your trouble and worries
you belong somewhere you feel free" |
Upon hearing the noise that didn’t seem to fit her surroundings, Laurelfern jumped to her paws. On high alert, she stared in the direction the sound originated from, looking away only to briefly scan the area. When a handsome gray-and-white tabby tom slipped into her line of sight, apologizing, she breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed, sheathing her claws and forcing the bristling fur along her spine to fall flat. Maybe Laurelfern should be more wary of strangers, but she believed in treating others with respect until they proved they didn’t deserve it and in her opinion, that meant trusting them to be civil. Besides, the tom’s sheepish smile seemed genuine, as did his apology, and she didn’t think those with cold hearts would introduce themselves like he did. “ You with The Kingdom?” the stranger asked and before anything else, Laurelfern felt surprise rush through her. Word of The Kingdom was spreading. Once her shock dissipated, she couldn’t help feeling giddy, which was displayed in the wide smile that forced its way onto her face. Her elation was so great that it threatened to escape her in the form of a bark of laughter, but she somehow managed to control herself enough to suppress it. After all, it wasn’t like the stranger could read her mind and the last thing Laurelfern wanted to do was scare the tom off with what might look like an act of madness. That’s when she realized that grinning upon being asked if she belonged to a specific group might be considered an act of madness by some, so she quickly answered, “ I am.” Laurelfern gracefully leapt down from the rock she’d been sunbathing on so she could stand at the same level as the tom. She wanted him to feel comfortable and towering over him didn’t seem like the best way to accomplish that goal. She made sure not to get too close to the tom, though, in case a shorter distance between them made him anxious, and she casually rocked back on her haunches in an attempt to prove she wasn’t a threat. With a kind smile, she continued, “ My name is Laurelfern and I am the founder of The Kingdom. How may I help you, friend?” |
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