|
Post by Dreamgate on Apr 17, 2018 20:14:46 GMT
Mossypath watched as Leopardstrike crouched down to the tom-kit’s height and calmly questioned him. Nodding in approval at the gesture, she let him take over of the talking for a bit, hoping only to need to add in careful comments. However, though the silver spotted tom was careful about his words - and very fair - Dustykit just carried on watching the two with moon-shaped eyes.
This had brought great concern to the she-cat. She began thinking of the worst, that the kit had already gotten into danger and was now too shocked and fearful to even talk to his clanmates. But then she twitched her ears in disagreement with herself. If Dustykit had indeed met trouble, then why did he seem so calm when she saw her - but once he lay eyes on them, he turned into a paralysed rabbit.
Suddenly, her muscles tensed with her own fear. If he hadn’t met danger, if he seemed calm walking alone, and if he was scared of his own clanmates, could he have possibly wanted to run away? It would make some sense - he wasn’t ever too keen on making friends with the other kits, or any cat for that matter. But surely Dustykit understands the dangers and would’ve stayed until he’s old enough to deal with the wilderness on his own?
Mossypath relaxed her muscles so that the kit wouldn’t notice her thoughts disturbing her. Yes, Dustykit probably didn’t notice through his fear, but she knew that Leopardstrike - a great tracker and a full-grown cat - did notice.
The blue she-cat carefully stepped closer to Leopardstrike and shared her concerns.
“Leopardstrike - I don’t think he’ll answer anything you ask him, but I have an idea of what he might have been doing.” She glances back at Dustykit before looking back at Leopardstrike.
“What if he wanted to leave TreeClan? I know it sounds mouse-brained, but listen, when I found him he was strolling around and hiding in the bushes very calmly, almost playfully. When I come up to him he froze as if he got struck by lightning. At first I thought he was with an encounter with a fox or dog and he was just shaken by that, but thinking about - wouldn’t he have made a ruckus if that was the case? And if he got lost, wouldn’t he be grateful to be found?” Mossypath explained in a whisper.
|
|
|
Post by Greymuzzles on Apr 19, 2018 20:11:23 GMT
It was as calm and soft an approach as he could muster, and to his relief Mossypath quieted too, letting him talk: removing yet more of the ‘threat’ that might be presented by their frames. He wasn’t sure they could do much better than that to soothe the kit, under the circumstances, but as he waited for an explanation—for any answer at all—he began to wonder if the efforts were for nought. Dustykit wasn’t making any effort to respond. He was merely crouching there, staring at them with huge eyes, and it didn’t take long for Leopardstrike to realise that the kit was still scared.
It saddened him. He wasn’t used to being looked at like this, and he was at a loss as to what he should do; could think only of waiting the younger cat out and hoping for the best. He’d have to answer eventually, right? He just needed a little time…
‘Leopardstrike – I don’t think he’ll answer anything you ask him.’
The tom flicked an ear at those words; tilted his head to look, for a moment, up at the she-cat’s form. She seemed to tower above him in that moment, and with a jolt he realised that, for Dustykit, the effect must be even worse. Of course he was scared. He’d strayed far from camp and was likely expecting a thorough telling-off, and here was a big, muscular Boar standing over him; waiting sternly for his response. Leopardstrike knew she meant no harm, but would a frightened kit see that? Probably not.
That didn’t make the she-cat’s low theory any less troubling, though. It did, however, make him more inclined to doubt it, so though he frowned up at her he didn’t feel the same alarm he thought he could see within her; didn’t leap immediately to agreement or greater concern. Instead, after a moment, he murmured back a slow “he might not have realised he was lost…and who wouldn’t be scared coming face-to-face with an angry she-cat?” He turned his gaze back to Dustykit, then, studying him a moment before turning a secondary “get your tail down here. You look huge from this level.” Mossypath’s way.
|
|
|
Post by Dreamgate on Apr 20, 2018 15:29:36 GMT
Her theory was very unlikely to be true, but she had to say it out loud - what if it was true? Leopardstrike, however, didn't think that it could be true even the slightest. Instead, he believed that she was what frightened the small kit. For a moment she felt offended at that, after all, she loved kits and would never mean any harm to them. But at the same time, she understood the tom's point. Mossypath wasn't a small and petite she-cat, she was large, and to some, intimidating.
Flicking an ear towards Leopardstrike, she obediently fell onto her haunches. It wasn't usual for her to be told what to do - or told off - but she knew better than to argue, it was a fair point that Leopardstrike made.
"Do you really think I'm that scary?" She asked, glancing at the still trembling kit.
Dustykit seemed to have calmed down slightly, his fur was no longer on end and his trembling has also lessened. However, his eyes were still like moons and for a moment, Mossypath thought if she should leave the scene to not scare the poor thing anymore.
After a few heartbeats, and Mossypath beginning to lean over to Leopardstrike to tell him she's going to leave him to take care of this, Dustykit managed to open his jaw and let out a sound.
Just a sound. It didn't make any words or sense. It was just a quiet little murmur of nonsense. But for Mossypath, this sparked hope. What if he wanted to say something but got stuck on his words? She exchanged a glance with Leopardstrike, her eyes sparkling with hope.
Dustykit carried on attempting to say something, but this time his jaw moved in silence. His tail was twitching with nervousness and his fur was beginning to rise in frustration of his failed communication. Mossypath patiently waited for something useful to escape his mouth - and that patience paid off as the dusty-brown kit finally said something.
"I... Just wanted to be alone..." He murmured in a defeated, hushed voice.
|
|
|
Post by Greymuzzles on May 3, 2018 8:39:47 GMT
He didn’t know how she’d take it, but the ‘order’ was a necessary one; the only thing he could think of that might help to put the kit at ease. He only hoped that the she-cat would take it well—wouldn’t claw off his ears—for he doubted they’d make any progress until Dustykit felt secure; until what ‘threat’ they presented had faded from their forms. Thankfully, Mossypath seemed to grasp that, too. At any rate the she-cat did as she was bid and lowered herself to the forest floor, and at that he sent her an approving look, silently relieved. Argument had no place now. Angry words would do no good…
And Leopardstrike answered her murmured question with a half-teasing “very—when you’re angry,” that also happened to carry a grain of truth. Mossypath was no small cat. She was a good example of a Boar, and she had indeed unnerved him at certain times in the past, when he’d observed her from afar. Little wonder, then, that the kit should be so scared - particularly given that Leopardstrike himself was on the larger end of the scale. But now they were both crouched, both quiet, and it seemed, to him, that the tactic was already beginning to have the desired effect: that Dustykit was beginning to calm. That was good—and what was better was the tiny sound that finally escaped the kit’s smaller frame.
It had no meaning, no real form, but it was a start.
Leopardstrike flicked his ears further forwards at that single hopeful cue, remaining silent as the moments trickled by. It was obvious that the kit was trying to speak, so he smiled encouragingly and let the little tom take his time, pleased that the effort was being made; that Mossypath, too, seemed content to wait. As it turned out, it was a good choice. Though the silence drew out a little further it wasn’t too much longer before quiet words at last worked themselves free, and finally, they had the answer they’d needed.
But it wasn’t one he’d expected.
Was it normal for kits to want that? He wasn’t sure—he’d never really wanted solitude himself; had, in fact, always preferred company—so for a moment longer he merely stared at the little tom, at an even greater loss than before. But silence now was more an enemy than a friend, so with a quick glance at Mossypath—an unconscious request for help—he made an effort to find an appropriate response; settled, after a moment more, on a somewhat lame “there are places you could have gone to in camp, little one. Why not pick one of those?”
|
|
|
Post by Dreamgate on May 3, 2018 15:39:34 GMT
Mossypath flicked an ear at the tom, mumbling quietly in fake annoyance - holding a tone of humour. But she said no more of the matter, for there were more important things to focus on that literally sat beneath their whiskers; Dustykit. Though the golden-eyed kit seemed to have calmed down and even done so much as let words escape his tiny jaws, it wasn't an answer they anticipated, but she did understand the reasoning behind it. Though it was highly unusual for a young cat to not enjoy socialising, it was something the large she-cat could relate to. Often enjoying the lovely company of silence, she felt happy to have some privacy from time to time, though she did enjoy talking with others too.
As she gazed down at the dusty-brown figure with sympathetic eyes, Mossypath had unexpectedly noticed that Leopardstrike was looking right at her. At first she felt slightly unnerved, but she saw that he wasn't sure what to say back to Dustykit - either he didn't understand him or he was just lost for words.
The blue-grey she-cat had just opened her jaw to say something but Jaguarshine had already begun talking. But she didn't fuss, for that was a good reply - she just hoped it was good enough for Dustykit.
Dustykit had dropped his gaze and looked at the leaf-strewn floor. Had he heard? Was he ignoring what has been said? Those thoughts were quickly erased when Dustykit had took in a deep breath, as if preparing himself, and laid his golden gaze onto both Leopardstrike and Mossypath. "I'm... I can never be alone there..." He mumbled with a less shaky voice, yet his eyes still held the sparkling fear from before. To Mossypath's surprise, Dustykit continued. "No matter what... there's always someone..." His voice suddenly began to quieten and he started mumbling things now, too quiet to hear. Unsure if he was still talking to them, Mossypath decided to have a say.
"Look, little one, I understand that camp has quite a lot of cats, and not all places provide peace and quiet, but surely there are areas good enough?" She asked in a calm voice which gently rumbled in her throat. Waiting for several heartbeats, not reply had returned her, and so she continued. "Or is there something bothering you as well?" Mossypath gazed at Dustykit, he didn't look back at her. She didn't want to push him more than she had to, so she waited patiently as she let the kit think, or look for words.
|
|
|
Post by Greymuzzles on May 22, 2018 9:48:24 GMT
It seemed a reasonable enough response to him, even if it was a little awkward in nature, and he guessed that Mossypath thought it acceptable, too. At any rate the she-cat made no attempt to contradict nor even add to his words, and for a time silence was allowed to reign once more. That, he knew, was at once good and bad. It was very much a positive that the she-cat had seen no reason to correct him…but even so the silence weighed on him, for the object of their attention was staring at the floor, failing to answer once more.
What were they meant to do with a kit who wouldn’t talk?
He really didn’t know, and the barest frown began to wrinkle his brow as he waited; began to suspect that no response would come at all. Then, just as he gave up all hope—began fishing for new words—he heard the smaller tom take a deep, uneasy breath – and gave up on that same attempt anew. Unless he was much mistaken that breath meant that the kitten was working towards some late answer, and he wasn’t willing to cut over him with some impatient response: would much rather wait; see what came their way.
Yet again, it paid off. Yet again, the answer took him by surprise.
He was almost certain that kits shouldn’t want to be completely alone, even if they might sometimes want a little space, and that alone left him at a loss for words. Thankfully he wasn’t to tackle this problem by himself, for Mossypath was right there at his side – and this time it was turn to talk. This time she, and not he, seemed to know just what was to be done. And that was a relief, for it saved him the need to find the correct words on his own, buying him time to wrestle up a suitable response whilst the she-cat asked the asked the questions that, in truth, hadn’t even deigned to come to his mind. But at least they’d been asked. At least there was something to fill in his own startled pause; something to which to apply the faint rumble of agreement-come-concern that, somehow, was the only response that would come.
Ooc: Thanks for being so patient whilst I was abroad!
|
|
|
Post by Dreamgate on May 22, 2018 19:44:27 GMT
Dustykit seemed to pause at that question. At that Mossypath smiled, for this was a sure sign that something was indeed bothering the small kit, and enough to make him want to venture outside camp. Making a small glance at Leopardstrike, the large she-cat wondered what he thought of the situation; had he expected such a turn of events? Well, whatever he thought, she couldn't keep her focus on him. Mossypath turned her head back to Dustykit who looked as if he wasn't going to continue talking - which is not what they want. The blue-grey she-cat waited a few heartbeats, making sure that the kit doesn't want to add anything. "Dustykit, is there something wrong?" She asked calmly, hoping her voice would sooth Dustykit instead of scare him. However, this neither soothed nor scared the gold-eyed kit as he stayed silent, not making any eye contact. This concerned Mossypath, this behaviour wasn't going to get them anywhere, and at this point, she had no clue what to do next. Dismissing the event isn't an option for the most obvious reasons, but pushing Dustykit to talk more could completely ruin chances of him saying something.For this, the great she-cat sat back up and stayed sitting idly. If talking was going to have a negative affect on the kit, she'd rather stay silent and let Leopardstrike have a go. OOC: Sorry for this being short - and you're welcome! I didn't mind the wait
|
|
|
Post by Greymuzzles on Jun 1, 2018 16:07:44 GMT
Thankfully, Mossypath rouse to the challenge once more. There was another little pause, it was true—a gap, he suspected, meant to let the kit talk—but with a glance at his own silent, floundering form the she-cat seemed to understand that he was at a loss; that she was on her own. She grasped, too, the little cues that suggested that Dustkit wouldn’t be speaking any time soon—cues that Leopardstrike saw with his own eyes; that he frowned over anew—and a few moments later her voice stirred the quiet air once more. What she spoke was a calm question, a mild repetition of a suggestion she had offered only a few beats before, and what she got was more telling than the kit probably thought.
There was silence again; another long pause in which the young tom failed to talk. But this time the silence held information that it wasn’t so hard for Leopardstrike to read, for the answer, in truth, was written right into the little Boar’s frame: was set neatly before their eyes. They just needed to know how to read it, and the spotted tom, as a hunter, found it all too easy to see; all too simple to understand.
The answer, unless he was much mistaken, was a resounding yes.
He could see no other reason why the kit should stare so firmly at the ground in the face of that question, and he felt concern bubbling up within him anew at the realisation, for a cat so young shouldn’t have anything much to weight on his mind. It was true that the little tom had lived through dark times—was old enough to remember the Rogues—but even so he shouldn’t be like this. And Leopardstrike doubted, somehow, that it was that moons-old attack that was on his mind. He had, after all, specifically said that he wanted to be alone…
So was it, then, a clanmate who troubled him? Was this ‘something wrong’ another cat: someone specific whom he wanted to avoid? Leopardstrike couldn’t know, of course, but the suspicion put down its roots all the same, and at last it brought him words.
“Why do you want to be alone, Dustykit?” It was not the question he really wanted the answer to, not really, but it was the better way of approaching the topic. Might tell him more than those others ever could.
|
|
|
Post by Dreamgate on Jun 20, 2018 18:00:58 GMT
To her relief, Leopardstrike was quick to break the silence with another question for the kit. It wasn't something she would've picked, but Mossypath was sure that the tom had his reasons.
Patiently waiting for a response that felt like won't ever come, Mossypath swept her tail over her paws, wanting to hide the claws that dug into the soil with impatience. Lucky that the kit didn't see this, as to her relief, he spoke.
"Nothing. No reason." He responded bluntly. This response made Mossypath blink twice with confusion - did she hear him right? 'Nothing'? That response was a blatant lie, yet unlike most times, the lie didn't anger or upset her, but merely caused for the small hope she had to slowly fade away. An answer was inevitably not going to come, for Dustykit was trying his best to hide his troubles.
Looking to the floor and sadly shaking her head, Mossypath desperately glanced at Leopardstrike in defeat. She had nothing more to say, nothing more to add, nothing to help out. Leopardstrike was now on his own, for the large grey and blue she-cat had given up on finding an answer as to why the dusty-brown tom was alone in the woods.
|
|
|
Post by Greymuzzles on Jul 3, 2018 8:02:26 GMT
Ooc: Sorry for the delay. Been struggling to write with Leopard lately...
Bic: “No reason, huh?” The spotted tom stared levelly at the kit, making no effort to keep his scepticism out of his voice. It was obvious that the little tom’s answer was a lie, for he’d already betrayed himself on that front—wouldn’t, he was sure, have been so desperate for space for no reason—and Leopardstrike wanted to convey the fact that he’d already seen that point. That Dustykit was convincing no one with his attempt to withhold the truth. He hoped that his plain, simple doubt would be enough to get the real story from him – and soon.
“Most things have some reason behind them, Dustykit. I think it would be wise to share yours.” He glanced briefly at the Boar at his side, half-hoping she might have something more to add to the problem, but that one look quickly took that same hope from his mind. She looked defeated, perhaps a little impatient, and he was left with the uncomfortable sense that he was on his own. But he supposed he shouldn’t be so surprised—it perhaps wasn’t so smart to expect a Boar to be good with a matter like this.
“…We can’t help if you won’t share the problem.”
|
|
|
Post by Dreamgate on Jul 9, 2018 8:53:31 GMT
Ooc: That's completely fine; everyone wears out a bit eventually. You'll catch your drift again in no time!
Bic:
Mossypath felt guilt slowly trickling inside her mind. She had left Leopardstrike on his own, and she wasn't sure if it was for the better or worse. She assured herself that if she finds something to say, she will, but right now her mind her empty and mouth dry with the loss for words.
She looked at Dustykit and watched him intently as Leopardstrike asked another question. The kit seemed to bite his own tongue, forcing himself to keep quiet; worst possible scenario. But the brown kit released the hold and kept his golden gaze low/
"You can't help even if I tell you" He responded, almost angry. Dustykit seemed to be shaking, but not with fear nor sadness. He was angry, as his tone of voice previously gave away. What could be pestering Dustykit that made him so angry and so sure the neither her or Leopardstrike could help reduce or prevent the problem.
Mossypath looked at Leopardstrike; what could he possibly respond with? It's impossible to comfort Dustykit without him rejecting it - it's impossible trying to suggest solutions without him rejecting the idea. Dustykit is stubborn on not fixing whatever it is bothering him, or believing that running away is the only way to fix it.
|
|
|
Post by Greymuzzles on Jul 18, 2018 8:51:37 GMT
Ooc: Thanks for understanding!
Bic: ‘You can’t help even if I tell you.’
Leopardstrike was silent for a moment at that; taken aback by both the answer and the undercurrent of anger it held. He would not have expected a kit to respond to a warrior in such a manner—to be so sure that an adult couldn’t help with their problem—but he could also see that, at this point, there was little more he could do. The younger tom had clearly set his mind on the thought that his problem was unsolvable, and it was evident from his manner—his shaking—that he’d not tolerate much more questioning.
That made matters more difficult…
And in the end the spotted tom found himself forced to give in, for he didn’t want to alienate the kit even more. Instead he loosed a resigned sigh and shook his head at the dark cat’s words; switched questions for a simple statement of fact that, he was sure, would do no more good than his other attempts.
“Clanmates help each other, little one—but no one can even try to help if you won’t talk to anyone.” He shook his head, then, finally rising back to his paws. With a single glance at Mossypath he sought to communicate his own defeat—the thought that there was nothing more to do—then he looked again at the trembling, reticent kit. “As it is, we’re just going to have to take you back to camp. You’re much too young to be out here alone.”
|
|
|
Post by Dreamgate on Jul 19, 2018 18:35:04 GMT
Mossypath saw that Leopardstrike's reaction must've startled him as much as it did her, for the spotted tom let out a sigh. Defeat had caught hold of not only her, but Leopardstrike as well. With that said, helping Dustykit was near impossible, and the only thing left for them to do is simply take him back to camp.
'Clanmates help each other, little one—but no one can even try to help if you won’t talk to anyone.'
Mossypath sighed. She guessed a final attempt wouldn't hurt, but tone in Leopardstrike's defeated voice was enough to tell her that no further attempts to help Dustykit will occurr. The silver spotted tom turned his head towards her; Mossypath nodded to him, indicating that she understood that they had failed to convince the small brown tom to speak.
'As it is, we’re just going to have to take you back to camp. You’re much too young to be out here alone.'
Mossypath nodded curtly in agreement and stood up, shaking her fur while doing so. Giving a final glance at Dustykit, she turned to the way they came. "This way, we'll need to pick up the prey we left and bring that back too." She meowed, lifting her muzzle up and parting her jaws slightly to catch a drift of scent. "Maybe we'll catch something while coming back" she murmured half to herself.
|
|
|
Post by Greymuzzles on Jul 20, 2018 8:54:57 GMT
He had half-expected some sort of protest from Mossypath—some extra attempt to make the kit talk—but instead the she-cat seemed to accept his decision to let the matter go. That was a good thing, in reality, but it was also unexpected: and it was for that reason that he greeted her nod and words with a moment of surprise. However, there really was nothing else to be done, for any fool could see that Dustykit would give them no more; his silence in the face of Leopardstrike’s last semi-lecturing comment made that plain enough, and any further pushing would likely just make him close up still more. That was the last thing the spotted tom wanted, for a kit who would stray this far from camp did not need any further push from others of their clan; might stray straight into disaster if not handled with careful paws.
The kit’s unknown problem would still trouble him, oh yes, but at least they could ensure that Dustykit was returned safely to camp…and hope that some other cat might be more successful in getting him to talk. It was the best option they had, for now, so with a flick of an ear and a secondary nod to the she-cat Leopardstrike padded to the little Boar’s back, quietly setting himself at the rear. He leant down to nudge the kit, then, gently encouraging him his paws: silently communicating the fact that he’d not be allowed to lag nor stray from their sights. It was too easy for so small a cat to slip away, after all, and he had no wish to add ‘kit hunting’ into his day.
|
|
|
Post by Dreamgate on Oct 11, 2018 21:53:19 GMT
Mossypath continued to lead the way, often halting at moments to let Leopardstrike and Dustykit catch up. Giving a quick glance at her clanmates, she could tell how worried the little tom was at the idea of having to return to camp - after all, he’d have to explain himself to his mother, Amberfrost. The she-cat was a pretty warrior, having thick ginger-brown fur made her an excellent hunter and tracker as she’s able to camouflage herself with her surroundings. Mossypath respects the she-cat, for she is a valuable member of TreeClan. Sadly, she had to take up a mate; Ferntail. Mossypath shuddered, her neck fur rising slightly. Mates. What cat would want to set themselves up for a life of misery and distrust like that?
The large she-cat shook her head, clearing her thoughts. No, don’t think of it. It’ll do you no good.
Bringing her focus back to Dustykit and hunting, Mossypath recognised a pile of leaves and dirt - their prey. Padding up to the mound and uncovering their catches, Mossypath snatches everything up, the prey dangling from her jaws.
“Alriph, I fink thas it” Meowed Mossypath, her voice muffled by the prey.
|
|