storms make trees take deeper roots
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Post by cosmic on Jan 7, 2024 16:50:19 GMT -6
#s://i~imgur~com/6JwFZdH~jpg It was a warmer day than usual in the valley. There was no snow present on the ground, which gave great joy to the warrior. Their joint felt much better in than the previous chilly nights. However, they were still was plagued with the seizures from many moons ago. This recent one, somehow, they was alone for while hunting in the territory. Lavendergaze wondered how long until their luck ran out, and they would have a seizure in front of the wrong person.
The debate on whether to go to Orchidgaze for advice still danced around in their head. Toadfeather suggested that they talk to them, if Orchidgaze was to be trusted. But, that was not sure if they were.
Lavendergaze, still dizzy from waking up for their seizure, decided to head toward the river. There was a rather shallow part of the river near PrairieClan, which was only paw deep and didn't have any strong currents. Despite it being warmer today, it would still be pretty cold to hopefully wake them up a bit more. And the more they are awake, the more chance they could grab some prey before they headed back to camp.
The sliver tabby was approaching the river, with the island in view to their right. They recollected about Toadfeather finding out about their possibility of being the oracle. It was their wish that all this could go away. Perhaps their brother was actually right. Maybe if they gave into their dreams of a night with the starry cats, maybe they would be able to find out what was happening to them. But for now, and for at least a few moonrises, they wanted to still be normal. Just a normal warrior.
However, as they came through the vegetation to the river, they saw another figure in the river. They were tawny-furred, with dark stripes rippling along their form. Lavendergaze stopped in their tracks, with a sharp thrill to hopefully not startle the cat. "O-Oh, sorry there. I guess we had the same idea, huh?" |
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there i go, turn the page
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Post by bones on Jan 12, 2024 16:15:48 GMT -6
#s://i~postimg~cc/52R2g6S4/hazelstreamposting~png hazelstream, | | nonbinary (they/them)
prairieclan
tunneler |
There was a lot of tension of in the tunnels as a of late; it was making the usually warm, cozy atmosphere claustrophobic. Half of their fellow tunnelers tried to stay underground as long as possible, others lurked about camp in discontent. Hazelstream understood the reason: everyone was scared of what Cinderstar would do, now that she finally had the power to back her ideas. No one could decide what was the better response, either: to prove the tunnels useful or to give her a piece of their mind in camp. Molebreeze and Asterberry were of a mind to try and reason with the clan's new leader, while their former mentor Silverberry believed that actions meant more than mere words. The chocolate tabby wasn't sure what they thought... A life without the tunnels? When the tunnels had saved their neighbors from demise? And had been their whole life and the life of their kin before and around them? The river was exceedingly shallow and cold. Normally, they'd go home to share tongues with their family and clean the dirt out of their fur... but camp didn't feel quite like home at the moment. The sound of splashing and a trill called the tabby's gaze away from the dirty, swirling water as it danced away from their toes. They blinked wide orange eyes, wider than normal, at the cat across the churning border, before starting to smile. "Hello." Their soft tone carried easily across the water, the scent of Ridgeclan doing nothing to temper their gentle look, eyes crinkling as they settled for a small, soft smile: "No need to apologize - no one truly owns the border." |
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storms make trees take deeper roots
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Post by cosmic on Jan 28, 2024 21:46:04 GMT -6
#s://i~imgur~com/6JwFZdH~jpg Their orange orbs matched the other cats, as they felt the chilly water caress their ankles. The soft smile from the tawny cat almost made the sliver tabby shiver with ease while they spoke softly, confidently. It was as if they were made by the river border themselves with how they spoke so sweetly. Normally, Lavendergaze would protest the idea, but they could only find that their mouth was slightly open, wanting to say something without the words to continue.
Realizing how silly they must have looked, they lowered their head toward the water for a quick drink. Just to mask their embarrassing attempt at protest, as if they had meant to take a drink of water the whole time.
Silently, their head raised back up, as they finally had their thoughts in order now. "That's certainly a-a way to look at it suppose. I can't find a flaw in the logic of that," they muttered. It was clear that their side of the river was RidgeClan, while this other cat, they assumed, had the PrairieClan territory behind them. But the river itself, the border itself. It was no one's to claim. It simply marked the beginning and end of each clan.
"Do you come to the river often? I-I mean, surely, since it is a primary source of fresh water." StarClan, why are you so awkward, they question themselves. "But... it seems like it would be a great place to think. No influence of the valley in this exact spot. Just to be able to... ex-exist."
Lavendergaze then took their gaze toward the cat's feet. "O-Oh... u-uh. Or, maybe just to rinse your feet..." they stammered, watching certain points of the river turning brown around the PrairieClan cat. They have definitely made a fool of themselves now, always trying to be too philosophical.
"I'm Lavendergaze," they started. Maybe introductions should have been their first priority before talking about non-sense. They waited until the other cat introduced themselves, before quickly talking after hearing their name. "I-I, uh, I can go to a different part of the river if I'm bothering you. I think the chilly water is, uh, messing with my head a little bit."
Lavendergaze, shut up, shut up, shut up!
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there i go, turn the page
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Post by bones on Feb 23, 2024 14:39:17 GMT -6
#s://i~postimg~cc/52R2g6S4/hazelstreamposting~png hazelstream, | | nonbinary (they/them)
prairieclan
tunneler |
Their head cocked, but before the chocolate tabby could humorously question the other cat's gawking - surely dirty cats weren't such an odd sight for a mountain dweller? - but then he ducked down for a drink. They gave a thoughtful once over, curious if perhaps the two had crossed paths before, but decided that was unimportant at the moment. Shifting their paws, they took a chance to pick a stone from between their toes - it was, thankfully smooth, but they hadn't had the time earlier today to dislodge it when it slipped into place while tunneling. It plonked pleasantly into the current and the shake Hazelstream gave their foot was more habit than from actual pain. The silver tabby's obvious nerves made their smile soften further, if that was possible, and they leant their head to the other side and closed their eyes compassionately. They let the Ridgeclan cat keep going though, the way they let Dustyblossom think through her own anxious tendencies - sometimes it was best to give someone time to work through it. "...yes, I've done all those things here," it was a main source of drinking water and plenty of other tunnelers like to wash off the more stubborn muck of a hard day's here, though this was the first time Hazelstream in particularly had decided to indulge. "It is also a good place to cool off, on a hot Greenleaf day..."Dragging their tail through the water against the flow of the river, the willowy cat took a heartbeat to enjoy the silky glide of chilly currents through their fur before returning the favor: "And I'm Hazelstream."Then, in a moment of impulsiveness, they shook their head and cast a hopeful look across the border. Normally, they would want a peaceful moment of respite before returning home to camp, but where would that leave them? Alone with their thoughts? That would resolve nothing... "...that's not necessary..." But making a new friend would surely be better; "unless you want to.""My brother," the tunneler presses onward, moving a touch deeper into the shallows, "finds his solace here... it is nice to know he isn't alone in that regard." |
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storms make trees take deeper roots
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Post by cosmic on Feb 27, 2024 15:28:28 GMT -6
#s://i~imgur~com/6JwFZdH~jpg If it wasn't for the kind smile that the PrairieClanner had offered to them, the shame and humiliation would have drove them to bid their goodbyes and run away. However, it seemed that Hazelstream - they called themselves - had a lot more patience than other cats he knew.
They watched them dislodge a rock from their paw, before they replied to everything they said. Wait... did this cat just let them talk and ramble without interruption? It was quite a rare treat for Lavendergaze to be able to talk freely, especially without any seeming frustration or annoyance. It was a relieving feeling, but it was short-lived, unfortunately. They still were nervous, for sure.
"O-Oh... yeah, that is a good point." The gray tabby nodded. "My apprentice, Redshade, he liked to play in the river when we would patrol through here. He still does, especially in Greenleaf, as you just said."
Hazelstream was their name. "Well, that's fitting," they couldn't help but add a small, weak chuckle at the end of their statement. Perhaps they were named for an affinity towards water? Who knows. But then they stated that the large cat could stay at the river if they choose, which gave them the comfort of feeling like they had a choice in the matter. "Thank you," they mewed gently, before settling into a sit. The water felt refreshing after the seizure, almost like an energy boost in itself.
"I've personally not run into any cats at the river when I sit in it, but perhaps, I'll meet your brother one day." Lavendergaze's eyes looked toward the orange orbs of the other cat. "I wish my brother was like that, maybe he wouldn't be such a stick in the mud all the time." As much as they hated their brother, they couldn't help but wish he was here with them. Life was so much simpler before they became apprentices. "It's Toadfeather," they simply spoke, their gaze turning to the water around them. "He's my brother."
Curiousity, however, made them forget all about their anxiety surrounding their sibling. "Are you a tunneler in PrairieClan? I couldn't help but guess so with the mud that you washed away. How are the tunnels? Are they... interesting?" Duh, of course, they would be interesting to a tunneler. "What's it like underground?" |
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there i go, turn the page
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Post by bones on Apr 17, 2024 16:53:20 GMT -6
#s://i~postimg~cc/52R2g6S4/hazelstreamposting~png hazelstream, | | nonbinary (they/them)
prairieclan
tunneler |
That’s why they looked familiar; every clan knew each other’s high ranks. Now that it was called to their attention, they could see the similarities between Mushroomstar’s deputy and the tabby across the way from them. …Still, it seemed like their brother may be a touchy subject. A chuckle, good-humored and easy-natured, slipped past their teeth: “...if you meet Sandsplash, you might not realize were related, at first…” Seeing as he was a touch brawnier, rounder then them but also a cream tabby; “He and Palesong look more, alike…”It was an amusing subject, how dissimilar they looked to their own littermates. Some even joked about the two being “the twins” back in their apprenticeship… The chocolate tabby’s smile grew at his compliment — amongst the horde of their siblings, compliments from those outside the family weren’t exactly common, given they’d never been one to stand out. Even if the Lavandergaze still seemed nervous, they shuffled a touch deeper into the chilly water and returned it. “...your name is as well…” What with how their soft-looking pelt resembled the tall, pretty plant. Then, of course came the questions – Hazelstream imagined the idea of being stuck underground all day was an odd one to a cat from the mountains. They felt tickled at the tabby’s curiosity and tracked how they sat in the water with their open, gentle gaze; while they weren’t repulsed by the water, the thought of sitting in this cold? It would take far less time for the chill and wet to cut through their thinner pelt than that of their new, longhaired companion. “...I am.” They took a moment to peer down at their paws, noting how most of the day’s dirt had already disappeared with the current, carried off to be deposited downstream. They thought of their answer, head tipping back and forth as they made a thoughtful noise: how to explain something to someone that would never get the chance to see for themselves? “...it’s warmer than most think.” They settle for starting with that: “My family… we’ve always been tunnelers. It’s a safe way to travel across the open plains without constant fear of raptors swooping down on us… I like the smell of the ground after fresh rainfall and then tunnels always, kind of smell like that… some find it cramped down there, but… it feels secure to me: I always know what's around me….”Well, that’s harder than they thought: now they’re the one rambling. Their ears burned a bit and their smile turned a touch bashful for a moment; it felt silly, explaining a facet of their life that most everyone they knew – most in Prairieclan – intimately understood. And, yet, at the same time, it was nice to talk positively about the tunnels, about their livelihood – especially after Mousestep told them about Cinderso–Cinder star’s anti-tunnel conversation with the young molly. Ears twitching, they looked away from their wavering reflection to offer a gentle shrug and short, snorting giggle. |
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storms make trees take deeper roots
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Post by cosmic on May 21, 2024 14:50:45 GMT -6
#s://i~imgur~com/9pTp3ew~jpg It didn't take long for redness to grow across their cheeks with the compliment from the PrairieClan cat about their name. Not everyday that they would get praise for something other than their abilities, which their clan had grown accustom to giving him. Being the solitary, anti-social cat that they were, compliments about anything other than their skills felt like a slap across the ear. Almost like they were trying to find something nice to say about them, rather than actually meaning it. But, it was different when Hazelstream said it.
Listening to Hazelstream speak about the tunnels made Lavendergaze's eyes look at them in amazement, with their head tilting like a kit hearing an elder's story for the first time. While RidgeClan was up high in the mountains, the PrairieClan cats were deep below the earth's surface.
"It's the familiarity, I-I would presume," they started, while matching their chuckle with their own. "Just like the guardians in my clan, or the weavers in MistClan. It's where you can feel like yourself, more than anywhere else." Lavendergaze gave a gentle smile toward the brown tabby, as their eyes trailed toward the looming mountains in the distance, thinking about how they felt about their home. "I wanted to be a guardian, deep within myself. But after my badger attack, I knew I wouldn't be able to. It's hard to move, especially in the winter. Not to mention, I'm not sure my legs would let me leap that far up to grab a hawk."
But their curiosity continued about the tunnels, as it seemed fascinating to explore more of the valley than the typical cat can. "Are the tunnels dangerous at all? I-I mean, not to offend you... but, I've heard rumors about the tunnels collapsing, especially from Gatherings. How do you feel about the tunnels... truthfully?" If it was anything like how the guardians talk about their jobs, the tunnelers feel it in their blood, in the heritage to continue the tradition and to find joy in the work that they present. |
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