Survival demands caution, but greatness requires daring
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧
He stole quick moments for himself. Dipping his snout into the creature's abdomen, ripping through the flesh there to reveal the sweet meats hidden within. Rich treats that went down his throat easily enough, buttered and sweet. Freshly caught prey was sublime, especially while still warmth enough to feel the patterings of its heart. Kosmo missed the silent exchange between mother and daughter, but glanced up at Gnome.
"Oh." Came his mew, a bit caught off guard by the question. But his shoulder rolled, experimentally as his chin followed the motion, an exaggerated attempt as he stole a wide glance around his surroundings. "I follow hawks and owls to their kills, mainly." Surely he sounded a bit daft by now, but he was a fighter, not a hunter... or erm, he was a healer. Finding, categorizing, and storing herbs took up a lot of his time. He didn't divulge the fact that sometimes he receieved prey as gifts for his services.
Cutting his odd eyed stare back towards Ghost, he nodded. "Precisely." She had taken the words directly from his mouth. Sick, poisoned, leaking fluids... "You're right... Strange tidings echo throughout their forest; from moorland to mire. A mystery that will soon unravel them if it hasn't already. Curious times..." Stealing a half hidden, wry glance at the two adventurous cats, his voice was soft, almost enticing. "Curious times."
A red streak colored his maw as he took another bite and swiped his tongue over his fangs. "Humans are strange. Unfortunately I've had nothing but bad experiences with them."
FROM RIVERCLAN:
Cottonbright, ♀ Anxious Warrior
Nettleplume, ♂ Cynical Medicine Cat
Merrypaw, ♀ Steadfast Apprentice
Otterwhisker, ♀ Adventurous Elder
FROM THUNDERCLAN:
Brindlespice, ♀ Selfish Warrior
Bravesong, ♂ Gracious Elder
Leopardrose, ♀ Striving Warrior
Wildcry, ♀ Fierce Elder
Rimekit, ♀ Rowdy kit
FROM WINDCLAN:
Cloudflare, ♂ Suave Warrior
Barleyswipe, ⚧ Ornery Elder
Heatherkit, ♀ Sweet Kit
FROM SHADOWCLAN:
Palestar, ♀ Stern Leader
Honeyglow, ♂ Reserved Elder
Emberdust, ♀ Artless Warrior
Duskpaw, ♂ Opportunistic Apprentice
FROM WHITEHART & BEYOND:
Ahryndae, ♀ Princess of Camelot
Lelouch Von Noon, ♂ Marquess of Noon Cattery
Kosmo, ♂ Visionary Feral
Montgomery (Monty), ♂ Sentimental Semi-Feral
"You follow-" Gnome laughed, not expecting that response. "And you aren't afraid to get picked off yourself?! You are braver and more cunning that I thought Kosmo. I'll venture onto the clan's territory any day, but no amount of mice nor prey would see me following a falcon around."
Well, if the prey of the clans was tainted in some way, perhaps there was also another opportunity! She was more than willing to bribe the cats of the clans with herbs... although if they knew about the relative safety of the barn then wouldn't that put herself and Ghost at risk? Hmm. Something to ponder over in a beam of sunlight later. But not now.
"We will be sure to avoid prey in those areas if we can. I for one have enough problems as it is. I do not need a rabbit with a bad case of worms or whatever is the issue making my life harder." She declared, stretching her shoulders as she sat up. "You be sure to heed his warning Ghost - no hunting outside the yard." Gnome didn't often enforce her 'technical leadership' over her daughter in meaningful ways - but reiterating something like that was probably for the best.
Characters:
Coldgaze: (M) Ruthless Riverclan Deputy
Lawn Gnome: (F) Motherly Semi-Feral Shecat
Redpaw: (M) Thoughtful Shadowclan Apprentice
Sootbounce: (M) Bubbly Shadowclan Warrior
Sturgeonpaw: (M) Altruistic Riverclan Apprentice
Sunstrike: (F) Anxious Thunderclan Queen
NPCs:
Quailcall: (F) Fierce Thunderclan Warrior
Ghost blinked at the idea of following hawks and owls. Her mother was predictably nervous about the idea, but she found it kind of exciting. Sneaking behind a predator, outsmarting them and stealing their prey when they least expected it. Badass. She made a note to watch the next owl that nested near the barn a little more closely.
She sighed as Gnome gave a motherly warning. She wasn't unused to that tone in her voice, but after so many months and years...it tended to get old. "Whenever I do, I get chased off, anyway. And I'm sure the prey in the farther fields and rock lands are fine, right Kosmo? You only said from mire to moor."
Survival demands caution, but greatness requires daring
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧
Kosmo gave a sagely nod. "Of course one must never chase after such a bird unheeded or without caution." He didn't quite fancy finding either of them half picked over by a hawk after revealing some of his habits, and even then, it wasn't the whole truth. He usually had an invitation, but there were times where the situation was compounded or confusing, so in those moments any bird could be dangerous.
He shuffled the bits of discarded skin and bone into a pile, peering at them thoughtfully before those odd eyes peered up at the less than spooked Ghost. "Moor to mire to be certain. And if what you say is true, then, this farm is free from the curse as well. I don't assume other places would be as well, but since the clans slighted it would make sense that only their territories are affected. Either way I would be cautious; make sure you study your prey and look for any signs of oddities or weakness. Should any of you suspect symptoms from eating foul prey, some of the herbs here could help."
He stretched himself forward, sliding on his front paws before giving his shoulder a few licks. "I should probably gather some just in case." A medicine cat's duties were never done, and he figured he'd take his leave shortly. "I appreciate the catch and your hospitality. Don't mind me if I'm out an about - "
FROM RIVERCLAN:
Cottonbright, ♀ Anxious Warrior
Nettleplume, ♂ Cynical Medicine Cat
Merrypaw, ♀ Steadfast Apprentice
Otterwhisker, ♀ Adventurous Elder
FROM THUNDERCLAN:
Brindlespice, ♀ Selfish Warrior
Bravesong, ♂ Gracious Elder
Leopardrose, ♀ Striving Warrior
Wildcry, ♀ Fierce Elder
Rimekit, ♀ Rowdy kit
FROM WINDCLAN:
Cloudflare, ♂ Suave Warrior
Barleyswipe, ⚧ Ornery Elder
Heatherkit, ♀ Sweet Kit
FROM SHADOWCLAN:
Palestar, ♀ Stern Leader
Honeyglow, ♂ Reserved Elder
Emberdust, ♀ Artless Warrior
Duskpaw, ♂ Opportunistic Apprentice
FROM WHITEHART & BEYOND:
Ahryndae, ♀ Princess of Camelot
Lelouch Von Noon, ♂ Marquess of Noon Cattery
Kosmo, ♂ Visionary Feral
Montgomery (Monty), ♂ Sentimental Semi-Feral
