Username: EchoIre
Link to cat(s) or lion(s) involved in prompt: Chetan and
Kamala|
HazelLink to their pride or group: Motoheri Pride |
Hallow's EdgePrompt level completion: Level 5
Prompt:Chetan and Kamala stood side by side among the crowd of champions. They didn't know each other well, with Kamala often being outside of the pride with her parents and Chetan rarely interacting with the pride, but still they gravitated to the two familiar faces in the crowd. The great goddess spoke, prompting a hush to fall over the crowd.
Chetan listened, his breathing slowing. He could feel the pulse of magic in this world, humming in tandem with the magic sewn into his heart. The goddess's voice, while it may be unnerving to some, was comforting to the leopard on some deeper level, even as she spoke of the approaching army of decay. Mitra, too, seemed to take comfort in the goddess's voice, something they expressed with a few gentle chitters.
Kamala, on the other hand, was stunned. She was suddenly very aware of what she had stepped into. Before she could speak, dozens of cats stepped forward from the tree, some much taller or much, much smaller with her, all with strikingly vibrant pelts. Her jaw fell open as she took in the strange crowd. She had never seen cats so small, or so big!
The roots of the tree lifted and twisted revealing a twisting path leading somewhere below. The goddess asked the champions to enter, and so the crowd moved forward.
Kamala glanced down, noticing for the first time the small cats that stood around the paws of the lions. Once again, her jaw gaped. She had never seen cats so small before, save for kits! And these cats seemed fully grown! She nudged Chetan with her shoulder, gesturing down at the small cats.
"Look at them!" She whispered.
"...Yes?"
"Have you ever seen a cat so small?" A few of the cats glared up at her, though none dared confront such a giant.
Chetan laughed. "Well, almost. There were ocelots in the rainforest - they're basically small leopards." He began to follow the crowd forward, motioning for Kamala to do the same. "It was a little strange, especially because ocelots don't like leopards."
"What?" Kamala asked. "Why?"
"I'm not sure." The leopard shrugged.
Kamala glanced down again, spotting a completely furless tiny cat. Her nose wrinkled involuntarily at the sight. Why were they so... wrinkly?
She ducked her head as they entered the tunnels. Glowing blue mushrooms lit the path, casting an ethereal glow onto the champions. "Why do you think they're here?"
"The other cats?" Chetan glanced at Kamala. "They're champions too, I suppose. The goddess called for many, and so they answered."
I wonder how they'll help.Before Kamala could say anything else, the tunnel opened up to reveal a massive city, occupied by many colorful denizens of the strange world. Even Chetan, who saw so many strange and mystical things, couldn't help but to be awestruck at the sight. Kamala felt determination settle in her heart. She would do everything she could to protect this beautiful place, and she'd explore all of it that she could in her time here.
One of the small cats bumped into Chetan's paw, snapping him out of his wide-eyed wonder. He looked over at Kamala, instantly recognizing the awe written across her face. He smiled gently, but still nudged the lioness out of it. "We need to prepare." Chetan said. It was a shame her first interaction with the otherwordly, with such beautiful things, was so dire. "I'm going to learn what I can about the enemy, and see if I have any knowledge that might help. What are you going to do?"
"I..." Kamala looked around, taking in the champions that came streaming from the tunnel behind them, and the strange citizens of the glowing city that looked at them with awe, relief, and fear. She could see preparations for the attack already being made, and various cats already going through their battle practices. This wasn't a game. She had to be serious, had to help. She squared her shoulders. "I'm going to see if I can find any maps of the city and the forest above, or map it out myself. I'll help find the places we need to protect the most and the places that would be the best to make a stand."
Chetan nodded, feeling oddly proud of the lioness. "That's good. Be sure to take some battle training too." He replied. "You don't want to be caught off-guard."
~~~~~~~~
Hazel found herself standing in a crowd of much, much taller cats. Some smelled so strongly of the sea that she forgot she wasn't at the Edge, and others smelled of damp earth and leaf litter, like the forest. They towered above her - her head didn't even reach their knees! Just as she was beginning to feel like she wasn't the type of champion the spirits had asked for, she spotted more normal-sized cats milling about the paws of these giants. A few were even climbing onto the giant cats' heads in order to see better!
Well...
The tortoiseshell trotted forward, tapping one of the massive cats that had allowed someone onto their back. "May I also... um..." She trailed off, suddenly embarrassed.
The great beast laughed, its voice shaking her bones. "Of course, of course. Hop on."
"Thank you." Hazel dipped her head to the great beast. She then leapt up the giant cat's leg, trying her best not to dig her claws into their flesh, and hoisted herself onto their back. The other cat there gave her an wide-eyed look filled to the brim with excitement.
"Isn't this insane?" They whispered.
Hazel nodded enthusiastically.
She looked around at the crowd of champions, surprised to find some of the large cats had great ruffs of fluff around their neck. Maybe those cats lived in colder areas? Must be nice to have that much fur...
Suddenly, the tree they had gathered around morphed, a cat-like face staring at the crowd from the bark. Hazel listened intently, a trying to push away the growing sense of homesickness. She had to do this, the spirits asked her to, and she would never leave someone in need, but how long would she be gone?
Suddenly, the giant cat she was sitting on began to walk. Hazel let out a yowl of surprise, digging her claws into their fur to try to stay put. "What's going on?"
"The tree's roots moved - there's a tunnel to the goddess's pride." The giant cat explained. "We're supposed to go in to learn how we can help."
Hazel's stomach sank.
We have to go underground? She nodded, though she almost looked sick. "Okay."
Much to her relief, these tunnels were actually... nice. Lit by glowing blue mushrooms, they actually reminded her some of the forests back at the Edge just enough for her to ignore the fact she was underground. Once in the city, Hazel leapt of the giant cat's back, wishing her at the other cat good luck, and went off to train before the war.