Username;; ☁Lady Raincloud☁
Cat Name;; Curlew(skip)
Gender;; tomcat
Age;; tbd
Clan;; NocturneClan
Rank;; warrior, scout, hunter
Prompt;;
"This night seems unnaturally silent."
Curlew glanced up as his fellow guard spoke, watching as the hot summer wind buffeted his black fur. The two had been stationed outside all night, up on top of the farthest building's rooftops; it was the southern outpost. The Treecat's own fighters could appear at any moment, as they had been doing for the previous five moons in close succession. The fighting was getting bloodier and more cats were being loss to injury or death by the day- their side- The Sidewalker's Tribe- was winning, but not without cost.
That night, Curlew wasn't worried about his own side loosing. They were strong, and he himself wasn't afraid of Treecats. His stomach twisted as the cat next to him smiled a slightly sad smile and gave him a nudge.
"Hey- don't look so glum! I know it's your first time on guard duty so close to the tree-climbers home, but it'd not so bad. Been doing this for months and, besides this beaut-" He paused to point a claw at a large scar going up his face and down his nose. "-Never been hurt, not enough to cause alarm. Being so up high and away from any possible action has it's advantages."
"... Yeah, Linus, your right. As usual." Curlew meowed in repose; his heart wasn't in it and Linus could tell. The older tom continued to study his former trainee with a long, solemn look, noticing how Curlew's tail was tight against his side, and how- especially in the light of the moon- his eyes glinted with a clear trace of worry. No reassuring would bring the young cat peace that night.
"Look, Curl- I can get a replacement for you. Our illustrious king isn't going to care if your here or sleeping, just that you reported for duty, and besides-"
"I need to be here!" Curlew snapped, his face all at once scrunching into an angry scowl. Linus's reaction was wide-eyed shock- it was peculiar for Curlew to show any display of disrespect to his mentor, in fact, any such brash emotions like uncalled for shouting was unlike him. And in that hasty glare the smaller cat gave him, Linus felt a small chill. He couldn't place why it effected him so much, and thus he shrugged off and let out a small growl. He didn't need to stand for this, let alone from his own trainee.
"Hey- relax, I'm just trying to help. As I always have!"
"I know."
"Then calm down. Look... Curlew, if you feel you must help tonight, then I'm glad your standing up for yourself. But if there's something deeper that's wrong- it can't just be the Treecats, I doubt they scare you this much, even you- you can confide in me. You know that."
"... I know."
The night wore on in it's unsettling silence. Linus let his thoughts drift to other things- his sister's recent litter of kittens, his own son's coming of age ceremony, the recent town gossip. The jumble of easy thoughts soothed his mind and soon let any worries about Curlew and Treecats go away for the time.
Curlew's tension never left him, though. The small tom stared out at the trees with an expectant look, daring a cat to step out and call a new attack. His claws had slit out and were now chipping themselves against the hard stone of the flat rooftop. This he paid no heed, too focused on the shadows that were vaguely visible in the dim streetlights, and the moon's glow.
At one point he sat up slightly, and winced as he noticed Linus tilting his head and looking towards him.
"Flea bit you or something?" Linus said casually, noting the abrupt move and mistaking it for one of physical discomfort.
"... Yeah, guess so." The younger tom mumbled, briefly bending back to lick his shoulders. Linus let out a small huffed and refocused his amber eyes on the forest floor.
"Best get Lacie to look at that before you spread it to the whole city. Make sure you do that tomorrow."
Curlew cast Linus another look, and after a minute said in a hushed voice that Linus didn't catch.
"If I can still be here, I will..."
A few hours passed and Linus looked up to see that Curlew was beginning to yawn. He smiled in amusement as the clear traces of tiredness were notable on his apprentice's face; the worry was leaving him, it looked like.
"Tired?"
"Wha-? Oh. Yes. But I can-"
"No more buts this time Curlew, you should rest. Go and get a replacement for yourself and head on home and get some shut eye."
Curlew nodded and hastened to leave, the sudden energy in his small frame as he headed away making Linus chuckle. Young cats! He thought to himself. He recalled trying to stay awake on his early shifts, and the sudden surge of energy he gained when he was allowed to go home.
He was looking ahead when a small voice said behind him.
"... Linus?"
"Eh? Curlew, our still here?"
It was still Curlew and he had walked slowly back p to Linus. Gone was both the tired look, and yet, so was the energy. He almost didn't look afraid either- the expression was hard to read. It gave him a similar chill as had the earlier anger; it didn't look like Curlew, but... it was. That was what the problem was.
"Yeah, um... I just wanted to say thank you. For everything. You've been a great mentor and I'll never forget all you've trained and all you've done for me. Whatever happens, know that... I-I'll never forget how much you've helped me, growing up."
Linus was taken about. In his time, he's already trained several apprentices and raised several litters of kits- yeah, they'd be grateful and had said similar things, but a certain weight was in Curlew's words he couldn't understand.
"You say that as if your going somewhere." Linus said with a forced smile. "Now don't do anything rash Curl."
"I'm not." Curlew said, returning the smile. "You know I would never." These were a common exchange between the two- Linus knew how reasonable and clam his apprentice usually was, but liked to precaution him anyways.
That was all he said- a second later, he had vanished off the roof, and Linus saw him run off into the shadows.
But it wasn't long after that his ears were met by the sounds of shrill shrieks- the clear telltale sounds of cats fighting made the fluffy guard sit bolt upright, his fur instantly bristling as he rushed to the opposite side of the roof to see.
"Treecats!"
He wasn't sure how, but unfamiliar enemy cats, their pelts drenched in water and mud, had entered the city without him, or any other guards, noticing. He let out a fierce yowl and leapt from the roof, jumping down several boxes and a garbage can before landing squarely on the shoulders of a spotted gray she-cat who, oddly enough, smelled nothing like the Treecats.
They tussled in the sand and dust, and around him, Linus could hear more and more cats joining the fight. At one moment he tore himself away from the she-cat, and looked upwards to see cats making a getaway- cats he knew were prisoners of his king and enemies to the StreetWalker's Tribe.
He let out an angry bellow and prepared to block their pathway, but teeth latched onto his tail, holding hims back while ripping out thick tufts of fur. The older tom let out an angry yell and turned to face his attacker, assuming it to be the she-cat he struck without looking.
The blow landed directly over the cat's face- going down his forehead and down his nose. Linus was prepared to do more, when he drew his paw back in horror. Having had already torn his tail away from his attacker's mouth, he could see the telltale signs that this was indeed his adversary by the tufts of black fur in his jaws.
It was Curlew.
The small tom spat out the fur, breathing hard and clearly in pain as the new wound on his face stung. Linus let out a small gasp, and took a step towards his former apprentice, but Curlew took it as an sign of aggression and snarled, taking a step away.
The two stood there, and the sound around them seemed to drown out. Curlew's ears rung as the pain burned into his face, and Linus was still holding out his bloodied, outstretch paw with a look of dismay on his face.
"Curl... what?"
"The prisoners... the ones our so... so called king was keeping." Curlew said, suddenly straightening and drawing a paw over his pace. His small paw shook as he rubbed it against the cut, but his eyes were filled with a resolve that was so unlike the young kit Linus had almost seen as his son.
"Curlew-"
"Wrong. So wrong what we've been doing here... and I've finally come to terms with the fact I... can't."
Linus's ears swiveled back as he heard paws behind him, and he turned to see the spotted tabby and another cat- it was a former prisoner who'd escaped a week ago, Towzer- had blocked his exit. They didn't move to attack; they were waiting for Curlew to say something.
Linus let out a small growl and looked to Curlew, who looked back at him with a mingled expression of regret, anger, fear- and Linus understood.
"You were waiting for this- you planned it."
Curlew gave him a small smile, that quickly dropped as he said. "Yes- a-and I don't regret it."
Linus looked back at the other two cats- he was beginning the recognize the spotted tabby from moons ago- Towzer's mother- the cat who would have been queen if she'd not separated from their king a his mate. He never thought he'd see her again.
As the she-cat took a step towards him, Curlew pushed past the still stunned Linus and said. "No- leave him alone, we've got what w-we came for. We're not gonna hurt anybody else."
The she-cat quickly withdrew with her son, shooting Linus a steely glare before heading after the prisoners. The fighting hadn't stopped- but the Treecats, their enemies, had clearly helped with this escape, for as Linus looked around he saw that besides these two and the prisoners, all the enemy were cats he knew from the Treecats- they were doing a good job at blocking all attacks aimed for the prisoners, who had already vanished outside the city limits.
Linus remained where he stood, letting his paws rest on the ground as the tree headed away. This time it was his turn to call after Curlew before it was too late.
"Curlew!"
The small tom stopped, and glanced back at his mentor, squinting from the pain of his injury.
"... Now... don't do anything rash, will you?"
Curlew could have cried then and there, but his face still kept it's composure. A small twitch of his whiskers as the only sign the old familiar comment stung.
He opened his mouth to reply with his usual remark, but stopped. Instead he turned away and stalked after his allies, into the forest. He wasn't going back.
Cat Name;; Curlew(skip)
Gender;; tomcat
Age;; tbd
Clan;; NocturneClan
Rank;; warrior, scout, hunter
Prompt;;
"This night seems unnaturally silent."
Curlew glanced up as his fellow guard spoke, watching as the hot summer wind buffeted his black fur. The two had been stationed outside all night, up on top of the farthest building's rooftops; it was the southern outpost. The Treecat's own fighters could appear at any moment, as they had been doing for the previous five moons in close succession. The fighting was getting bloodier and more cats were being loss to injury or death by the day- their side- The Sidewalker's Tribe- was winning, but not without cost.
That night, Curlew wasn't worried about his own side loosing. They were strong, and he himself wasn't afraid of Treecats. His stomach twisted as the cat next to him smiled a slightly sad smile and gave him a nudge.
"Hey- don't look so glum! I know it's your first time on guard duty so close to the tree-climbers home, but it'd not so bad. Been doing this for months and, besides this beaut-" He paused to point a claw at a large scar going up his face and down his nose. "-Never been hurt, not enough to cause alarm. Being so up high and away from any possible action has it's advantages."
"... Yeah, Linus, your right. As usual." Curlew meowed in repose; his heart wasn't in it and Linus could tell. The older tom continued to study his former trainee with a long, solemn look, noticing how Curlew's tail was tight against his side, and how- especially in the light of the moon- his eyes glinted with a clear trace of worry. No reassuring would bring the young cat peace that night.
"Look, Curl- I can get a replacement for you. Our illustrious king isn't going to care if your here or sleeping, just that you reported for duty, and besides-"
"I need to be here!" Curlew snapped, his face all at once scrunching into an angry scowl. Linus's reaction was wide-eyed shock- it was peculiar for Curlew to show any display of disrespect to his mentor, in fact, any such brash emotions like uncalled for shouting was unlike him. And in that hasty glare the smaller cat gave him, Linus felt a small chill. He couldn't place why it effected him so much, and thus he shrugged off and let out a small growl. He didn't need to stand for this, let alone from his own trainee.
"Hey- relax, I'm just trying to help. As I always have!"
"I know."
"Then calm down. Look... Curlew, if you feel you must help tonight, then I'm glad your standing up for yourself. But if there's something deeper that's wrong- it can't just be the Treecats, I doubt they scare you this much, even you- you can confide in me. You know that."
"... I know."
The night wore on in it's unsettling silence. Linus let his thoughts drift to other things- his sister's recent litter of kittens, his own son's coming of age ceremony, the recent town gossip. The jumble of easy thoughts soothed his mind and soon let any worries about Curlew and Treecats go away for the time.
Curlew's tension never left him, though. The small tom stared out at the trees with an expectant look, daring a cat to step out and call a new attack. His claws had slit out and were now chipping themselves against the hard stone of the flat rooftop. This he paid no heed, too focused on the shadows that were vaguely visible in the dim streetlights, and the moon's glow.
At one point he sat up slightly, and winced as he noticed Linus tilting his head and looking towards him.
"Flea bit you or something?" Linus said casually, noting the abrupt move and mistaking it for one of physical discomfort.
"... Yeah, guess so." The younger tom mumbled, briefly bending back to lick his shoulders. Linus let out a small huffed and refocused his amber eyes on the forest floor.
"Best get Lacie to look at that before you spread it to the whole city. Make sure you do that tomorrow."
Curlew cast Linus another look, and after a minute said in a hushed voice that Linus didn't catch.
"If I can still be here, I will..."
A few hours passed and Linus looked up to see that Curlew was beginning to yawn. He smiled in amusement as the clear traces of tiredness were notable on his apprentice's face; the worry was leaving him, it looked like.
"Tired?"
"Wha-? Oh. Yes. But I can-"
"No more buts this time Curlew, you should rest. Go and get a replacement for yourself and head on home and get some shut eye."
Curlew nodded and hastened to leave, the sudden energy in his small frame as he headed away making Linus chuckle. Young cats! He thought to himself. He recalled trying to stay awake on his early shifts, and the sudden surge of energy he gained when he was allowed to go home.
He was looking ahead when a small voice said behind him.
"... Linus?"
"Eh? Curlew, our still here?"
It was still Curlew and he had walked slowly back p to Linus. Gone was both the tired look, and yet, so was the energy. He almost didn't look afraid either- the expression was hard to read. It gave him a similar chill as had the earlier anger; it didn't look like Curlew, but... it was. That was what the problem was.
"Yeah, um... I just wanted to say thank you. For everything. You've been a great mentor and I'll never forget all you've trained and all you've done for me. Whatever happens, know that... I-I'll never forget how much you've helped me, growing up."
Linus was taken about. In his time, he's already trained several apprentices and raised several litters of kits- yeah, they'd be grateful and had said similar things, but a certain weight was in Curlew's words he couldn't understand.
"You say that as if your going somewhere." Linus said with a forced smile. "Now don't do anything rash Curl."
"I'm not." Curlew said, returning the smile. "You know I would never." These were a common exchange between the two- Linus knew how reasonable and clam his apprentice usually was, but liked to precaution him anyways.
That was all he said- a second later, he had vanished off the roof, and Linus saw him run off into the shadows.
But it wasn't long after that his ears were met by the sounds of shrill shrieks- the clear telltale sounds of cats fighting made the fluffy guard sit bolt upright, his fur instantly bristling as he rushed to the opposite side of the roof to see.
"Treecats!"
He wasn't sure how, but unfamiliar enemy cats, their pelts drenched in water and mud, had entered the city without him, or any other guards, noticing. He let out a fierce yowl and leapt from the roof, jumping down several boxes and a garbage can before landing squarely on the shoulders of a spotted gray she-cat who, oddly enough, smelled nothing like the Treecats.
They tussled in the sand and dust, and around him, Linus could hear more and more cats joining the fight. At one moment he tore himself away from the she-cat, and looked upwards to see cats making a getaway- cats he knew were prisoners of his king and enemies to the StreetWalker's Tribe.
He let out an angry bellow and prepared to block their pathway, but teeth latched onto his tail, holding hims back while ripping out thick tufts of fur. The older tom let out an angry yell and turned to face his attacker, assuming it to be the she-cat he struck without looking.
The blow landed directly over the cat's face- going down his forehead and down his nose. Linus was prepared to do more, when he drew his paw back in horror. Having had already torn his tail away from his attacker's mouth, he could see the telltale signs that this was indeed his adversary by the tufts of black fur in his jaws.
It was Curlew.
The small tom spat out the fur, breathing hard and clearly in pain as the new wound on his face stung. Linus let out a small gasp, and took a step towards his former apprentice, but Curlew took it as an sign of aggression and snarled, taking a step away.
The two stood there, and the sound around them seemed to drown out. Curlew's ears rung as the pain burned into his face, and Linus was still holding out his bloodied, outstretch paw with a look of dismay on his face.
"Curl... what?"
"The prisoners... the ones our so... so called king was keeping." Curlew said, suddenly straightening and drawing a paw over his pace. His small paw shook as he rubbed it against the cut, but his eyes were filled with a resolve that was so unlike the young kit Linus had almost seen as his son.
"Curlew-"
"Wrong. So wrong what we've been doing here... and I've finally come to terms with the fact I... can't."
Linus's ears swiveled back as he heard paws behind him, and he turned to see the spotted tabby and another cat- it was a former prisoner who'd escaped a week ago, Towzer- had blocked his exit. They didn't move to attack; they were waiting for Curlew to say something.
Linus let out a small growl and looked to Curlew, who looked back at him with a mingled expression of regret, anger, fear- and Linus understood.
"You were waiting for this- you planned it."
Curlew gave him a small smile, that quickly dropped as he said. "Yes- a-and I don't regret it."
Linus looked back at the other two cats- he was beginning the recognize the spotted tabby from moons ago- Towzer's mother- the cat who would have been queen if she'd not separated from their king a his mate. He never thought he'd see her again.
As the she-cat took a step towards him, Curlew pushed past the still stunned Linus and said. "No- leave him alone, we've got what w-we came for. We're not gonna hurt anybody else."
The she-cat quickly withdrew with her son, shooting Linus a steely glare before heading after the prisoners. The fighting hadn't stopped- but the Treecats, their enemies, had clearly helped with this escape, for as Linus looked around he saw that besides these two and the prisoners, all the enemy were cats he knew from the Treecats- they were doing a good job at blocking all attacks aimed for the prisoners, who had already vanished outside the city limits.
Linus remained where he stood, letting his paws rest on the ground as the tree headed away. This time it was his turn to call after Curlew before it was too late.
"Curlew!"
The small tom stopped, and glanced back at his mentor, squinting from the pain of his injury.
"... Now... don't do anything rash, will you?"
Curlew could have cried then and there, but his face still kept it's composure. A small twitch of his whiskers as the only sign the old familiar comment stung.
He opened his mouth to reply with his usual remark, but stopped. Instead he turned away and stalked after his allies, into the forest. He wasn't going back.
