Forest
Duskmantle, Ghost and whoever once conversations have been established
Discoveries
Northern Farm
25
Tiptoe through the murk and mire
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧
Duskmantle had waited a few days before moving. Duchess’ words had clung stubbornly to him, curling around his thoughts until no matter how he tried, they refused to release their hold.
The northern farm lay much closer than he expected, right across the Thunderpath at the tip of ShadowClan territory and above WindClans. He moved carefully each step chosen with purpose pausing often to draw in the scents of the warm, damp greenleaf air. Too many paws had stalked this land in recent moons and Duskmantle was in no rush to bare his throat to any murder rogue wandering loose.
The day itself was deceptively warm from the recent drizzle. Duskmantle slowed as the first wooden shape of the farm came into view. It rose against the horizon, weathered beams framed by swaying weeds weathered fence. His ears flicked back against his skull, and he sank lower into the grass to scan. Duskmantle narrowed his eyes, cornflower gaze sweeping every shadow of the farmstead. He would not walk blind into this. He needed more information, and he'd get it here.
FROM RIVERCLAN:
Cottonbright, ♀ Anxious Senior Warrior
Nettleplume, ♂ Cynical Medicine Cat
Merryaster, ♀ Insightful Warrior
Otterwhisker, ♀ Adventurous Elder
Tangleloon, ♂ Whimsical Elder
FROM THUNDERCLAN:
Bravesong, ♂ Gracious Elder
Leopardrose, ♀ Striving Warrior
Wildcry, ♀ Fierce Elder
Rimekit, ♀ Rowdy kit
FROM WINDCLAN:
Cloudflare, ♂ Suave Senior Warrior
Barleyswipe, ⚧ Ornery Elder
Heatherpaw, ♀ Sincere Apprentice
Smokekit , ♂ Assured Kit
FROM SHADOWCLAN:
Palestar, ♀ Stern Leader
Honeyglow, ♂ Reserved Elder
Emberdust, ♀ Artless Warrior
Duskmantle, ♂ Opportunistic Warrior
FROM WHITEHART & BEYOND:
Ahryndae, ♀ Princess of Camelot
Lelouch Von Noon, ♂ Marquess of Noon Cattery
Kosmo, ♂ Visionary Feral
Montgomery (Monty), ♂ Sentimental Semi-Feral
Tree
The warmth in the air felt like a pleasant blanket to Ghost. She lay on the porch of the farmstead, paws tucked underneath her. She watched the weeds in the breeze, resisting the urge to go out on the hunt for mice. She had just eaten, after all, and the taste of her last meal was still on her tongue, the bones and scraps scattered in the grass before her.
Her ears flicked at the sounds of movement, though. It was slight, and nothing she could very well discern the origin of, but it was there. Besides, there had been so many new cats hanging around the farmstead with her and her family that it was hardly surprising that one might be out wandering nearby. She kept an amber eye open, though, watching.
Forest
Tiptoe through the murk and mire
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧
Duskmantle sank lower belly brushing the cool stalks as he crept closer. The scents here were layered. More than one by the smell of it. His whiskers twitched. Duchess hadn’t lied then.
Duskmantle paused at the edge of the fence, nose lifting as he took in the porch and the pale figure sprawled upon it. He rose slowly to his full height still framed by tall weeds but no longer hiding, and let his voice carry low but clear across the space.
"Hello..." He said, tone level. His tail flicked once, his eyes catching faint amber through the shadowed porch slats as he leaped onto the rail. "I'm looking for a cat...red furred tom. Mismatched eyes. Might’ve passed through here or stayed."
A pause. "If you live here...." He added. "Then maybe you’ve seen him...?"
FROM RIVERCLAN:
Cottonbright, ♀ Anxious Senior Warrior
Nettleplume, ♂ Cynical Medicine Cat
Merryaster, ♀ Insightful Warrior
Otterwhisker, ♀ Adventurous Elder
Tangleloon, ♂ Whimsical Elder
FROM THUNDERCLAN:
Bravesong, ♂ Gracious Elder
Leopardrose, ♀ Striving Warrior
Wildcry, ♀ Fierce Elder
Rimekit, ♀ Rowdy kit
FROM WINDCLAN:
Cloudflare, ♂ Suave Senior Warrior
Barleyswipe, ⚧ Ornery Elder
Heatherpaw, ♀ Sincere Apprentice
Smokekit , ♂ Assured Kit
FROM SHADOWCLAN:
Palestar, ♀ Stern Leader
Honeyglow, ♂ Reserved Elder
Emberdust, ♀ Artless Warrior
Duskmantle, ♂ Opportunistic Warrior
FROM WHITEHART & BEYOND:
Ahryndae, ♀ Princess of Camelot
Lelouch Von Noon, ♂ Marquess of Noon Cattery
Kosmo, ♂ Visionary Feral
Montgomery (Monty), ♂ Sentimental Semi-Feral
Tree
Ghost’s whiskers twitched as the scent of a new cat floated over to her. Her fur immediately began to bristle at the new face, but the rules her mother had set for the barn kept her from letting out a hiss. Instead, she forced her hackles down, keeping her tone even as she listened to the tom’s question.
Red fur and mismatched eyes…yes, of course she’d seen him. And she had her opinions. But she quirked her head. “I do live here, yes. And we have a lot of cats pass through,” she replied. “What’s your business?”
Forest
Tiptoe through the murk and mire
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧
Duskmantle hesitated just for a heartbeat. The she-cat’s even tone caught him off guard - somewhere in between hostile and calm. That neutrality was almost more disarming than a snarl would’ve been.
His tail gave a small uncertain flick before he answered. "Business. Not the sort that’ll trouble your home, if that’s what you’re asking."
The smoke colored tom shifted his weight, glancing briefly toward the open fields before returning his gaze to her. "He's kin. Haven’t seen him in a long time."
A beat of silence passed. Duskmantle’s ears flicked back then forward again. "Duchess told me he might’ve passed this way. Thought I’d try my luck before heading further north."
He dipped his head slightly, a gesture caught somewhere between respect and apology. "Didn’t mean to intrude...I’ve just been told I’m not the most subtle visitor."
FROM RIVERCLAN:
Cottonbright, ♀ Anxious Senior Warrior
Nettleplume, ♂ Cynical Medicine Cat
Merryaster, ♀ Insightful Warrior
Otterwhisker, ♀ Adventurous Elder
Tangleloon, ♂ Whimsical Elder
FROM THUNDERCLAN:
Bravesong, ♂ Gracious Elder
Leopardrose, ♀ Striving Warrior
Wildcry, ♀ Fierce Elder
Rimekit, ♀ Rowdy kit
FROM WINDCLAN:
Cloudflare, ♂ Suave Senior Warrior
Barleyswipe, ⚧ Ornery Elder
Heatherpaw, ♀ Sincere Apprentice
Smokekit , ♂ Assured Kit
FROM SHADOWCLAN:
Palestar, ♀ Stern Leader
Honeyglow, ♂ Reserved Elder
Emberdust, ♀ Artless Warrior
Duskmantle, ♂ Opportunistic Warrior
FROM WHITEHART & BEYOND:
Ahryndae, ♀ Princess of Camelot
Lelouch Von Noon, ♂ Marquess of Noon Cattery
Kosmo, ♂ Visionary Feral
Montgomery (Monty), ♂ Sentimental Semi-Feral
Tree
Ghost flicked an ear at the tom’s less-than-detailed explanation. Still doubtful, she rose to her paws and carefully treaded her way over. Kosmo carried a mix of scents most of the time. That one grey she-cat he’d brought back has smelled of heather and the moors. This tom carried something mossy, like an old pine tree.
“Hmmm…you smell like one of those clan cats,” she noted, putting off answering his questions a bit longer. “Normally your kind don’t stay long. What sort of name do you have?”
Forest
Tiptoe through the murk and mire
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧
Duskmantle stiffened instinctively as she rose, muscles coiling under his smoke colored pelt. Her deliberate steps drew his gaze and though he held still his tail tip twitched once in wary rhythm. Her hay scent seemed subtle compared to his own, marshy musk.
Her comment made his whiskers flick. Clan cat. The words weren’t said cruelly, but they still pressed close to the bone. "I am." He mewed simply, relaxing a tad.
He didn’t flinch from her scrutiny. Instead he straightened his shoulders, voice coming out firm. "Duskmantle." The syllables carried weight now that he’d spoken them aloud. He was proud of his name and planned on keeping this one. A part of him wondered what it sounded like to other cats who lived beyond borders.
He watched her a moment longer noting the slight delay in her answers. "You’ve a habit of asking before telling. Fair enough, I suppose. But if you’re going to question a cat’s name, seems only right I know yours too." He added with a half smile.
FROM RIVERCLAN:
Cottonbright, ♀ Anxious Senior Warrior
Nettleplume, ♂ Cynical Medicine Cat
Merryaster, ♀ Insightful Warrior
Otterwhisker, ♀ Adventurous Elder
Tangleloon, ♂ Whimsical Elder
FROM THUNDERCLAN:
Bravesong, ♂ Gracious Elder
Leopardrose, ♀ Striving Warrior
Wildcry, ♀ Fierce Elder
Rimekit, ♀ Rowdy kit
FROM WINDCLAN:
Cloudflare, ♂ Suave Senior Warrior
Barleyswipe, ⚧ Ornery Elder
Heatherpaw, ♀ Sincere Apprentice
Smokekit , ♂ Assured Kit
FROM SHADOWCLAN:
Palestar, ♀ Stern Leader
Honeyglow, ♂ Reserved Elder
Emberdust, ♀ Artless Warrior
Duskmantle, ♂ Opportunistic Warrior
FROM WHITEHART & BEYOND:
Ahryndae, ♀ Princess of Camelot
Lelouch Von Noon, ♂ Marquess of Noon Cattery
Kosmo, ♂ Visionary Feral
Montgomery (Monty), ♂ Sentimental Semi-Feral
Tree
Ghost blinked, trying not to show her amusement at the name. That was certainly a new one. In the most polite tone she could muster, she responded, “Ghost.”
With a shrug, she continued. “This is my home here, I think if anyone’s got a right to ask the questions first, it’s me. I have seen your kin, by the way. Puzzling tom. Kind of irritating.” She gave one her paws a few brief licks, swiping it over her ear.
Forest
Tiptoe through the murk and mire
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧
Duskmantle’s ears pricked faintly at her name. It sounded almost like something out of an elder’s tale...Reminded him of Morgan's likeness in the same foreign way.
At the mention of Kosmo his gaze sharpened with interest and the stillness that followed carried weight. He never knew his sire to be irritating, but he wouldn't put it passed him to leave impressions.
Duskmantle’s whiskers twitched as he pondered his response. It wasn't long. "How long ago, do you think? Does he frequent here often?" He didn't want to overwhelm the white she-cat with questions, but added one more. "What did he do to earn your ire?"
FROM RIVERCLAN:
Cottonbright, ♀ Anxious Senior Warrior
Nettleplume, ♂ Cynical Medicine Cat
Merryaster, ♀ Insightful Warrior
Otterwhisker, ♀ Adventurous Elder
Tangleloon, ♂ Whimsical Elder
FROM THUNDERCLAN:
Bravesong, ♂ Gracious Elder
Leopardrose, ♀ Striving Warrior
Wildcry, ♀ Fierce Elder
Rimekit, ♀ Rowdy kit
FROM WINDCLAN:
Cloudflare, ♂ Suave Senior Warrior
Barleyswipe, ⚧ Ornery Elder
Heatherpaw, ♀ Sincere Apprentice
Smokekit , ♂ Assured Kit
FROM SHADOWCLAN:
Palestar, ♀ Stern Leader
Honeyglow, ♂ Reserved Elder
Emberdust, ♀ Artless Warrior
Duskmantle, ♂ Opportunistic Warrior
FROM WHITEHART & BEYOND:
Ahryndae, ♀ Princess of Camelot
Lelouch Von Noon, ♂ Marquess of Noon Cattery
Kosmo, ♂ Visionary Feral
Montgomery (Monty), ♂ Sentimental Semi-Feral
Tree
Ghost shrugged again. “He comes and goes, but usually he stays a few days at a time.” She thought back to the last time she'd chatted with the odd-eyed tom whom she knew as Kosmo. He'd traveling again, and maybe it was her own disinterest or something in his mannerisms, but he seemed a bit more…aloof, lately. Like he might have something on his mind. “He's been wandering a bit more, recently. Don't really know where. I don't even know if he's here right now.”
She almost snickered at Duskmantle’s next question. It was fair, and didn't really have a clear answer, she could admit. “Nothing in particular, I suppose,” she replied. “Just the way he talks, the way he holds himself. Like he's somehow different.” She emphasized the last word with sarcasm. She didn’t fully know the way Kosmo perceived himself, or what he thought he was supposed to do with his life, but she could tell he definitely had something planned. And she was betting that it wasn’t at all worthwhile in her opinion.
Forest
Tiptoe through the murk and mire
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧
Duskmantle sighed deep as he listened. His sire was ever moving... restless as he had known him during the briefness of his kithood. Neither disappointed, but not reassuring either... A cat not pinned to one specific place would be hard to hunt down. Especially if Kosmo didn't want to be found.
He shook his head as his tail laxed at his side. "Sounds like him." Was all he said, not choosing to elaborate further since as a kit he didn't quite remember much of him. He may be a different sort of cat, but that didn't excuse him of leaving his kin with the clans - even if it may have been their best chance at success. The blue smoky tom knew nothing of Kosmo's machinations and he wasn't sure if he cared to.
A softness flashed in his cornflower eyes, his stance drooping a tad as the heaviness of his travels weighed on him suddenly. "If he comes back... tell him someone’s from ShadowClan is looking for him... and that if he should want to meet me, he can come to the tunnel under the ThunderPath on the claw-moon"
FROM RIVERCLAN:
Cottonbright, ♀ Anxious Senior Warrior
Nettleplume, ♂ Cynical Medicine Cat
Merryaster, ♀ Insightful Warrior
Otterwhisker, ♀ Adventurous Elder
Tangleloon, ♂ Whimsical Elder
FROM THUNDERCLAN:
Bravesong, ♂ Gracious Elder
Leopardrose, ♀ Striving Warrior
Wildcry, ♀ Fierce Elder
Rimekit, ♀ Rowdy kit
FROM WINDCLAN:
Cloudflare, ♂ Suave Senior Warrior
Barleyswipe, ⚧ Ornery Elder
Heatherpaw, ♀ Sincere Apprentice
Smokekit , ♂ Assured Kit
FROM SHADOWCLAN:
Palestar, ♀ Stern Leader
Honeyglow, ♂ Reserved Elder
Emberdust, ♀ Artless Warrior
Duskmantle, ♂ Opportunistic Warrior
FROM WHITEHART & BEYOND:
Ahryndae, ♀ Princess of Camelot
Lelouch Von Noon, ♂ Marquess of Noon Cattery
Kosmo, ♂ Visionary Feral
Montgomery (Monty), ♂ Sentimental Semi-Feral
Tree
Ghost tilted her head at the stranger. If he was a clan cat who had traveled so far to find someone, why just tell her to pass on a message? If Lawn Gnome had been the one to greet him instead of Ghost, he might’ve been offered a tour. Or something, Ghost thought.
“I will if I remember,” she gave him with a resigned tone. “You’re free to hang around the barn too, if you’d like to search here for him. No one really minds. He’s even got a spot where he sleeps.”
Forest
Tiptoe through the murk and mire
✧ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ♖ ⭒ ♦ ⭒ ✧
Despite her indifference, Duskmantle was grateful for her aide. He was a stranger here, and that did warrant her suspicion, but there was some trust in her words and that caught his attention. If Kosmo had a regular place he returned to, then maybe it would be useful to see it. If only to learn a bit about him.
"Would you...show me?" He asked with a ghost of a flicker of hope in his tone. Duty...and something a bit more personal.
FROM RIVERCLAN:
Cottonbright, ♀ Anxious Senior Warrior
Nettleplume, ♂ Cynical Medicine Cat
Merryaster, ♀ Insightful Warrior
Otterwhisker, ♀ Adventurous Elder
Tangleloon, ♂ Whimsical Elder
FROM THUNDERCLAN:
Bravesong, ♂ Gracious Elder
Leopardrose, ♀ Striving Warrior
Wildcry, ♀ Fierce Elder
Rimekit, ♀ Rowdy kit
FROM WINDCLAN:
Cloudflare, ♂ Suave Senior Warrior
Barleyswipe, ⚧ Ornery Elder
Heatherpaw, ♀ Sincere Apprentice
Smokekit , ♂ Assured Kit
FROM SHADOWCLAN:
Palestar, ♀ Stern Leader
Honeyglow, ♂ Reserved Elder
Emberdust, ♀ Artless Warrior
Duskmantle, ♂ Opportunistic Warrior
FROM WHITEHART & BEYOND:
Ahryndae, ♀ Princess of Camelot
Lelouch Von Noon, ♂ Marquess of Noon Cattery
Kosmo, ♂ Visionary Feral
Montgomery (Monty), ♂ Sentimental Semi-Feral
