Surreal Sat next to her fathers body for several hours crying to the sky, asking all the questions she never had, but still held in her heart. Why was she the only kit to survive? Why Did her mom die when she was so young? Why? Why? Why?
As her body tired she took to her feet shaky and unbalanced she stepped away from the body shaking in distress, her nose so runny and stuffy from crying, bearly able to smell. As she sensed Nova in the distance her heart broke again, if she could she'd allow more tears to run down her face she would, but there where no tears left to cry, Her eyes run dry.
As she stood there near the base of the falls she could smell Nova and could hear her shaky breathing, rattled and unsettled, sadness seeped off her secent in waves. Surreal ran to her Shoving her head into Novas chest sobbing, Nova laid her head on top of surreals allowing herself to cry but also being strong, to be the parent figure Surreal needed, through her tears whispering to surreal words of comfort and Calmness.
Just over her own sobbs Surreal could her Nova. As she stood there her mind was empty except for one thought...what Now?
As the sun rose in the sky they stood there comforting each other for several minuets.
But Surreals Earlier Question would soon be answered,
Nova- "Come Follow me."
Nova pulled away from surreal walking off, Surreal eyes blind followed quickly behind
Surreal- "Where are we going?"
Surreal counted the paces they where already past the leader den, with no anwser from Nova Surreal stopped dead in her Tracks.
Pining her ears back Surreal no longer talked to Nova but instead demanded in a shout,
Surreal- "NovaShard! I said where are we going!? Im not taking another step until you explain!"
Surreal listened to Novas steps stop and turn back to her coming closer, within a few feet.
Nova- "Where going to meet the Elder council."
Surreal- "The what?"
Nova- *Sigh* "The Council of Elders, your peers here to provide wisdom and guidance, also to help you prepare for your nine lives ceremony.”
Surreal- "Why have i never heard of it before?"
Surreal listened for Novas response but all she heard was Novas Breath and footsteps hesatiate like there was Somthing she wanted to say but couldnt.
Nova- "Its just a well kept secerect. No one but the Leader, deputy and those on the council are souppsed to know about it."
When Nova spoke Surreal Smelled fish. Her father never kept secerects never, no matter what anyone told him or how grusome the details where he always told her. It made Surreal Question 'Did he even know about it, or was it connected to something?'. Surreal let the thought go as she felt the small cold draft from a cave, it smelled of dampness and cats, Surreal recognized the secents of the cats. She could smell RavenWing, FireSpark, ChesterEye, & SandViper. As she took note of the cats present she also took note of where the entrance was (Incase she had to make a run for it for some reason), She could feel as the earth grew cold in the shadow of the cave mouth and the slight downward shift in the dirt taking you into the cave.
As Surreal Stepped into the shadows of the open cave she swore she saw somthing bright and white, the only thing her eyes had ever seen. It seemed to be made of stars and light, but before she could see anything more Nova Drawed her attetion with the clearing of her voice. Surreal could her the voices dwindle just before they met silence, the cave full of cats was now silent all focused on her and Nova.
Viper- "Welcome Nova, **Grunt** Welcome Surreal."
Surreal could tell the one who had spoke was Viper she could also tell she wasnt to pleased to see surreal as her greeting towards her sounded force and dry.
Nova- "Lets get todays meeting started."
Surreal could hear Nova take a seat a few steps ahead of her so surreal walked up to her side and took a seat next to her, wraping her tail around her feet, sitting up nice and straight Surreal Listened in.
Nova- "First piece of news, this morning at low sun HawkStrike passed due to illness. I Will need someone the retrieve his body and prepare him for the journey of the dead."
Surreal took immeadte attetion to what Nova said and in a small meek and scared voice surreal spoke.
Surreal- "If no one minds id like to prepare my father. I feel its only right as naturally kin would prepare the body, and i am the last of my fathers kin."
Surreal could feel all the eyes shift to her as the pressure in the room settled on her shoulders.
After a long moment of silence Nova spoke
Nova- "I have no objections."
the rest agreed in unison.
Nova- "So its settled, After this meeting Surreal will prepare her fathers body to depart on the Journey of the dead one moon from now. Now onto the next subject the nine lives cermony."
SandViper- "Yes lets get this dissocuision over with!"
Viper seemed Eager to finish this meeting for some reason.
Nova- "I think RavenWing should take Surreal to the Moon Pool, How long do you think itd take to go and come back RavenWing?"
RavenWing- "Probaly 5 days maybe 6? But the weather may change that."
SandViper- "So we send Raven and Surreal. Plan done."
Nova- "Not Quite SandViper. Shall i remind you of the rouges?"
SandViper- "Ugh- Yes, Yes the rouges. So we send DandleionWisp & ChesterEye with them. So what not that big of a change in plans."
Nova- "Acctually yes it is Viper, wether you like it or not. It means that extra food, Herbs and pelts will have to be packed! Wich also means i have to talk to VivianHaze & FawnPelt, My Own Mate, about designing something able to carry the weight but be easy to move."
Viper let out a huge sigh
Viper- "Fine, Fine, you do that. Are we done yet?"
Nova- "Ye-"
As Nova went to dismiss everyone surreal spoke up
Surreal- "May i ask a question?"
Surreal looked towards Nova
Nova- "Of course you may Surreal. This is your council after all."
Surreal- "what are the casiutiles of the plauge so far? Do we know what the plauge is?"
Chester- "right now we've lost 3 Kits, 7 Warriors, and 3 Elders. Including your Father. As for your other question, we don't know what it is, it acts like nothing we've ever seen."
Nova- "Is that all Surreal?"
Surreal- "No. I have one more question, Why is this council a serect? Why did my father never tell me about it? Whats it History? I want to know, everyone seems to avoid these questions, whats this council connected to?"
Every one silenced and the tesion in the room smeed to become heavyer
Nova- "Those are Answers for another day."
Surreal- "No Nova, If i am to be the Leader of this clan i need to know its dark and bright years and history. Not just the history ive been told."
Surreal felt it as everyone seemed to look at each other and then nova.
Nova- "*Sigh* This clan wasnt always ruled by your forefathers, At one time it was goverened by a cat named Deerstar, while he was a good cat but he wasnt always the honest and it caused some issues among the clan and its just something we dont like to talk about becuase its painful for some to remember those times. So this council was formed to keep the leader in check and give advice so the problem that happened under deerstar hopefully never happen again. thats all."
Surreal took the answer as the truth as it made sense, Surreal accpected what she was told with out a 2nd thought.
With this Nova Released the elders.
Surreal was the last to leave the meeting cave, the world stood silent for once sitting in the silence she took a breath. Letting her mind be still, but the peace and quiet didn't last long as a familiar scent pushed in on the wind behind Surreal. Smelling of prey, mint and water, it was Tali, the she cat came over to surreals side and sat next to her leaning up against surreal and putting her head under her chin.
Tali- "I heard about your father, I'm so sorry surreal. I know he meant a lot to you, especially since he was the last of your family."
Surreal- "Thank you tali, I'm sad but i know I'm not alone i still have you."
Surreal would be the first to admit, she Really loved Tali, theyd been friends since they where kits and over time surreal devopled feelings. But she never never told Tali, i mean how do you tell a life long friend you love them? What do you do if the reject you? How do you go back, can you go back? So surreal kept the truth locked up but every once in a while they acted almost as if they were both in love. But Surreal would be more likely to take the truth to her grave.
They sat there for a while just leaning against each other and purring, occasionally taking a sec to groom the other. As the Sun reached higher up over their heads now they got up. Tali walked up ahead of Surreal but Surreal pulled Tali's Attention to ask a question
Surreal- "i know that this may be weird but would you be willing to help me with my father?"
Tali- "Of course Surreal!"
Surreal and Tali went to the mourning den, this den was built special for the popurce of preparing the dead for their last journey. As you came down the main entrance which entered a commons like Area it split off from there, with 5 different smaller rooms with everynng thing needed to prepare the dead. As Surreal walked next to Tali keeping close Surreal felt as they entered the den, the sun though dim and light left Surreals back weak to the cold of the den. On one side of each tunnel was a piece of tree bark which with either a claw or a sharp rock the name of the dead in the room would be carved, this allowed the family members to find their loved one. Surreal stood next to Tali as Tali read the Names
Tali- "Your fathers this way."
Tali Guided Surreal in the direction of her father. The room that Hawkstrike was in was small and dim a single hole in the ceiling to allow fresh air and light in,
Over the next few hours Tali and Surreal prepared Hawkstikes body, adding herbs and salt and flower to it, to lessen the smell as his body would decay and to preserve it. As the sun went to sleep and the stars came out to dance Surreal and Tali parted ways, Surreal went to her and her fathers den. The place that once felt like home, warm and bustling, and smelling of cats and hides and dinner now smelled of nothing but earth, hides, and dust. The den quite as one could be, no longer feeling warm and like home it felt cold and quite like something was missing, it didn't feel the same as it once did. Surreal felt alone but little did she know she wasn't as she stepped into her den she heard a small meek voice, a hiss like that of a water fall, Surreal turned towards the Noise. As she sniffed she could smell the distinct smell of a snake's musk, the small being was curled up next to the basket of hides between the wall and basket. It was a small and young gardener snake, even though the snake was not of her own kind it made her feel a little less lonely.
Surreal- "Why hello little friend, are you lost?"
As if to answer the snake hissed
Surreal- "Would you like some help little friend?"
the snake hissed once more, it sounded as if the two were having a conversation. Surreal stepped closer to the harmless little snake, she gently picked the snake up in her mouth. Making sure not to squeeze him too much, though he didn't seem to like this idea as he turned to bite Surreals lip with his tiny mouth. Surreal Lowered him to the ground outside a few feet from her den, wait her den? No this was her fathers den, but her father was gone and she was the leader now, this really was her den now.
Surreal- "Here you go little friend, this should be better. Thank you for your short visit my friend it made me happy."
As Surreal stepped back the snake slithered off into the woods, happy as could be.
As her body tired she took to her feet shaky and unbalanced she stepped away from the body shaking in distress, her nose so runny and stuffy from crying, bearly able to smell. As she sensed Nova in the distance her heart broke again, if she could she'd allow more tears to run down her face she would, but there where no tears left to cry, Her eyes run dry.
As she stood there near the base of the falls she could smell Nova and could hear her shaky breathing, rattled and unsettled, sadness seeped off her secent in waves. Surreal ran to her Shoving her head into Novas chest sobbing, Nova laid her head on top of surreals allowing herself to cry but also being strong, to be the parent figure Surreal needed, through her tears whispering to surreal words of comfort and Calmness.
Just over her own sobbs Surreal could her Nova. As she stood there her mind was empty except for one thought...what Now?
As the sun rose in the sky they stood there comforting each other for several minuets.
But Surreals Earlier Question would soon be answered,
Nova- "Come Follow me."
Nova pulled away from surreal walking off, Surreal eyes blind followed quickly behind
Surreal- "Where are we going?"
Surreal counted the paces they where already past the leader den, with no anwser from Nova Surreal stopped dead in her Tracks.
Pining her ears back Surreal no longer talked to Nova but instead demanded in a shout,
Surreal- "NovaShard! I said where are we going!? Im not taking another step until you explain!"
Surreal listened to Novas steps stop and turn back to her coming closer, within a few feet.
Nova- "Where going to meet the Elder council."
Surreal- "The what?"
Nova- *Sigh* "The Council of Elders, your peers here to provide wisdom and guidance, also to help you prepare for your nine lives ceremony.”
Surreal- "Why have i never heard of it before?"
Surreal listened for Novas response but all she heard was Novas Breath and footsteps hesatiate like there was Somthing she wanted to say but couldnt.
Nova- "Its just a well kept secerect. No one but the Leader, deputy and those on the council are souppsed to know about it."
When Nova spoke Surreal Smelled fish. Her father never kept secerects never, no matter what anyone told him or how grusome the details where he always told her. It made Surreal Question 'Did he even know about it, or was it connected to something?'. Surreal let the thought go as she felt the small cold draft from a cave, it smelled of dampness and cats, Surreal recognized the secents of the cats. She could smell RavenWing, FireSpark, ChesterEye, & SandViper. As she took note of the cats present she also took note of where the entrance was (Incase she had to make a run for it for some reason), She could feel as the earth grew cold in the shadow of the cave mouth and the slight downward shift in the dirt taking you into the cave.
As Surreal Stepped into the shadows of the open cave she swore she saw somthing bright and white, the only thing her eyes had ever seen. It seemed to be made of stars and light, but before she could see anything more Nova Drawed her attetion with the clearing of her voice. Surreal could her the voices dwindle just before they met silence, the cave full of cats was now silent all focused on her and Nova.
Viper- "Welcome Nova, **Grunt** Welcome Surreal."
Surreal could tell the one who had spoke was Viper she could also tell she wasnt to pleased to see surreal as her greeting towards her sounded force and dry.
Nova- "Lets get todays meeting started."
Surreal could hear Nova take a seat a few steps ahead of her so surreal walked up to her side and took a seat next to her, wraping her tail around her feet, sitting up nice and straight Surreal Listened in.
Nova- "First piece of news, this morning at low sun HawkStrike passed due to illness. I Will need someone the retrieve his body and prepare him for the journey of the dead."
Surreal took immeadte attetion to what Nova said and in a small meek and scared voice surreal spoke.
Surreal- "If no one minds id like to prepare my father. I feel its only right as naturally kin would prepare the body, and i am the last of my fathers kin."
Surreal could feel all the eyes shift to her as the pressure in the room settled on her shoulders.
After a long moment of silence Nova spoke
Nova- "I have no objections."
the rest agreed in unison.
Nova- "So its settled, After this meeting Surreal will prepare her fathers body to depart on the Journey of the dead one moon from now. Now onto the next subject the nine lives cermony."
SandViper- "Yes lets get this dissocuision over with!"
Viper seemed Eager to finish this meeting for some reason.
Nova- "I think RavenWing should take Surreal to the Moon Pool, How long do you think itd take to go and come back RavenWing?"
RavenWing- "Probaly 5 days maybe 6? But the weather may change that."
SandViper- "So we send Raven and Surreal. Plan done."
Nova- "Not Quite SandViper. Shall i remind you of the rouges?"
SandViper- "Ugh- Yes, Yes the rouges. So we send DandleionWisp & ChesterEye with them. So what not that big of a change in plans."
Nova- "Acctually yes it is Viper, wether you like it or not. It means that extra food, Herbs and pelts will have to be packed! Wich also means i have to talk to VivianHaze & FawnPelt, My Own Mate, about designing something able to carry the weight but be easy to move."
Viper let out a huge sigh
Viper- "Fine, Fine, you do that. Are we done yet?"
Nova- "Ye-"
As Nova went to dismiss everyone surreal spoke up
Surreal- "May i ask a question?"
Surreal looked towards Nova
Nova- "Of course you may Surreal. This is your council after all."
Surreal- "what are the casiutiles of the plauge so far? Do we know what the plauge is?"
Chester- "right now we've lost 3 Kits, 7 Warriors, and 3 Elders. Including your Father. As for your other question, we don't know what it is, it acts like nothing we've ever seen."
Nova- "Is that all Surreal?"
Surreal- "No. I have one more question, Why is this council a serect? Why did my father never tell me about it? Whats it History? I want to know, everyone seems to avoid these questions, whats this council connected to?"
Every one silenced and the tesion in the room smeed to become heavyer
Nova- "Those are Answers for another day."
Surreal- "No Nova, If i am to be the Leader of this clan i need to know its dark and bright years and history. Not just the history ive been told."
Surreal felt it as everyone seemed to look at each other and then nova.
Nova- "*Sigh* This clan wasnt always ruled by your forefathers, At one time it was goverened by a cat named Deerstar, while he was a good cat but he wasnt always the honest and it caused some issues among the clan and its just something we dont like to talk about becuase its painful for some to remember those times. So this council was formed to keep the leader in check and give advice so the problem that happened under deerstar hopefully never happen again. thats all."
Surreal took the answer as the truth as it made sense, Surreal accpected what she was told with out a 2nd thought.
With this Nova Released the elders.
Surreal was the last to leave the meeting cave, the world stood silent for once sitting in the silence she took a breath. Letting her mind be still, but the peace and quiet didn't last long as a familiar scent pushed in on the wind behind Surreal. Smelling of prey, mint and water, it was Tali, the she cat came over to surreals side and sat next to her leaning up against surreal and putting her head under her chin.
Tali- "I heard about your father, I'm so sorry surreal. I know he meant a lot to you, especially since he was the last of your family."
Surreal- "Thank you tali, I'm sad but i know I'm not alone i still have you."
Surreal would be the first to admit, she Really loved Tali, theyd been friends since they where kits and over time surreal devopled feelings. But she never never told Tali, i mean how do you tell a life long friend you love them? What do you do if the reject you? How do you go back, can you go back? So surreal kept the truth locked up but every once in a while they acted almost as if they were both in love. But Surreal would be more likely to take the truth to her grave.
They sat there for a while just leaning against each other and purring, occasionally taking a sec to groom the other. As the Sun reached higher up over their heads now they got up. Tali walked up ahead of Surreal but Surreal pulled Tali's Attention to ask a question
Surreal- "i know that this may be weird but would you be willing to help me with my father?"
Tali- "Of course Surreal!"
Surreal and Tali went to the mourning den, this den was built special for the popurce of preparing the dead for their last journey. As you came down the main entrance which entered a commons like Area it split off from there, with 5 different smaller rooms with everynng thing needed to prepare the dead. As Surreal walked next to Tali keeping close Surreal felt as they entered the den, the sun though dim and light left Surreals back weak to the cold of the den. On one side of each tunnel was a piece of tree bark which with either a claw or a sharp rock the name of the dead in the room would be carved, this allowed the family members to find their loved one. Surreal stood next to Tali as Tali read the Names
Tali- "Your fathers this way."
Tali Guided Surreal in the direction of her father. The room that Hawkstrike was in was small and dim a single hole in the ceiling to allow fresh air and light in,
Over the next few hours Tali and Surreal prepared Hawkstikes body, adding herbs and salt and flower to it, to lessen the smell as his body would decay and to preserve it. As the sun went to sleep and the stars came out to dance Surreal and Tali parted ways, Surreal went to her and her fathers den. The place that once felt like home, warm and bustling, and smelling of cats and hides and dinner now smelled of nothing but earth, hides, and dust. The den quite as one could be, no longer feeling warm and like home it felt cold and quite like something was missing, it didn't feel the same as it once did. Surreal felt alone but little did she know she wasn't as she stepped into her den she heard a small meek voice, a hiss like that of a water fall, Surreal turned towards the Noise. As she sniffed she could smell the distinct smell of a snake's musk, the small being was curled up next to the basket of hides between the wall and basket. It was a small and young gardener snake, even though the snake was not of her own kind it made her feel a little less lonely.
Surreal- "Why hello little friend, are you lost?"
As if to answer the snake hissed
Surreal- "Would you like some help little friend?"
the snake hissed once more, it sounded as if the two were having a conversation. Surreal stepped closer to the harmless little snake, she gently picked the snake up in her mouth. Making sure not to squeeze him too much, though he didn't seem to like this idea as he turned to bite Surreals lip with his tiny mouth. Surreal Lowered him to the ground outside a few feet from her den, wait her den? No this was her fathers den, but her father was gone and she was the leader now, this really was her den now.
Surreal- "Here you go little friend, this should be better. Thank you for your short visit my friend it made me happy."
As Surreal stepped back the snake slithered off into the woods, happy as could be.
- Giving Surreal 1x Mint (Brings Mint Inventory to 0)
- Using 1x Bug on Surreal, 1x Bug on Nova, 1x Bug on Tali, 1x Bug on Viper
(Brings Bug Inventory to 1)
- Surreal - She/Her - HUP 10% - HP 100% - Sick
- Tali - She/Her - HUP 10% - HP 100% - Not sick
- Nova - She/Her - HUP 10% - HP 100% - Sick/Not sick
- Viper - She/Her - HUP 10% - HP 95 - Sick/Not sick
--
- 1x Rabbit (4fp)
- 8x Scraps (1fp)
- 5x Bugs (1fp)
- 1x bindweed
- 1x Mint
- 1x chamomile
- 1x stinging nettle
- 1x yarrow
- 1x squirrel (3fp)
- 2x lamb’s ear
- 1x hawkweed
Notes-
- Surreal Chooses to Confront the snake
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