Survival demands caution, but greatness requires daring
⋆。°✩ ⭒ ──● 𓄿 ●── ⭒ ⋆。°✩
The northern farm loomed ahead, its old wooden beams and thatched roof dusted with a fine layer of fresh snow. The cold, biting wind tugged at Kosmo’s fur as he padded through the field, paws crunching softly in the thin layer of frost that had begun to blanket the ground. He could feel the chill creeping into his bones, but the familiar sight of the farmstead distracted him.
He hadn’t been here in some time. Life had pulled him in all directions lately, but there some precedent that drew him back to this place. It wasn’t just the shelter it offered from the elements, nor the attic where he stored some of his herbs. It was the cats who lived here - Gnome, the matron of the house, and her daughter, Ghost.
Kosmo carried a grape leaf between his teeth, carefully wrapped around a bundle of coriander seeds - a small gift for Gnome, a token of his appreciation for her generosity. It wasn’t much, but he hoped it would bring a smile to her face to ease her joints in the cold.
The farmhouse was quiet as he approached, his eyes scanning the windows and doors for any sign of movement. His breath came in soft puffs of steam as he crossed the threshold into the yard, the snow crunching beneath his paws.
He made his way toward the door, where a loose board served as his usual entry point. Kosmo slipped through with practiced ease, shaking off the light dusting of snow that had collected on his pelt.
Kosmo placed the grape leaf delicately at the foot of the old wooden staircase that led up to the second floor, and then the attic. “Gnome? Ghost?” His ears flicked, awaiting a response, and after a moment, picked up his package and padded slowly up the staircase. It was good to be back, and he wondered how much had changed in his absence.
25
Kosmo, Aurelius, Gnome & her family
Delivery & catching up
Northern Farm
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
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
Ghost flicked her ears at the sounds of an approaching cat. Who was out there traveling about in that cold weather? The moment she heard the voice, she almost rolled her eyes. Of course it was Kosmo.
She stood up from the nest she'd made in the remnants of one of the barnhouse's loveseats. Stretching her legs, she paused to yawn widely before making her way to greet their guest. "Well, look who it is," she commented as she found him. "I thought you'd be smarter than to go about walking around in the snow."
'My return to glory is near'
✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧
Aurelius followed behind Kosmo, breath coming out in frosty puffs. His thick, long fur protected him from the chill, but the furless parts of his body still experienced its icy talons. A few moons had passed since Aurelius had run into Kosmo after having though all remains of his past had been buried, but he came back, both shocked to see each other. Kosmo came in and out of Aurelius' territory, a welcomed guest, a member really, but the cinnamon tom had other plans, other things he was busy with in which he let Aurelius and his mother be.
It was today that Kosmo has invited him out to meet the barncats, a family that Aurelius had heard of, but never took the opportunity to meet. Frankly, he couldn't care less about them, but if Kosmo appreciated them, Aurelius knew his opinion would likely change. His golden gaze observed the decrepit farmhouse, curious but slightly unimpressed. A home to these cats, but never for him that was for sure. He stayed silent, waiting for the arrival of 'Ghost' and 'Gnome', to which a stark white she-cat made an appearance. He flicked an ear towards her, but stayed silent, a looming, muscular presence behind the already tall Komso.
I play...
From WindClan
Aspenberry (F) an affectionate deputy
From ShadowClan
Dazzlepaw (M) a curious apprentice
Flutterdream (F) a friendly medicine cat
Specklenose (NB) a troublesome warrior
Pebbleshine (F) an insecure elder
From ThunderClan
Larchsong (F) a chatty warrior
Coyotepaw (F) an anxious apprentice
Cherrytree (F) a loving elder
From RiverClan
Bloomfire (F) a snarky warrior
Ebonyflare (M) a candid elder
From beyond the clans
Aurelius (M) a self-concerned feral
Potato (M) a laid-back semi-feral
Sarafina (F) a skittish housecat
The cold was affecting Gnome more than she cared to admit, so when the resident healer announced himself at their home Gnome was more relieved than she let on. She had taken up a spot on the back of the loveseat to stretch her limbs out.
"Kosmo!" She purred as she pulled her limbs underneath her, and slunk down the seat to great her new guests. "I was wondering where you had gone. With the cold weather, its good to see you are keeping warm!" Her eyes fell on the grape leaf he was carrying - See! She could identify it now! Only now, that they were all shrivelled and dead.
" Are you eating - and not just prey from birds?" She tilted her head, just now taking in Kosmo's new friend. He was bigger, a long-haired tom. Curious, had she seen him before? "And you brought a friend! Hello, dear!" She purred, folding her paws in. "Welcome to our home."
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
Survival demands caution, but greatness requires daring
⋆。°✩ ⭒ ──● 𓄿 ●── ⭒ ⋆。°✩
Kosmo’s ears twitched at Ghost’s playful scolding, a soft smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he approached. “Smarter? Maybe. But I like to think I’m too stubborn to let a little snow slow me down.” His voice was light, teasing, as he dipped his head in greeting, mismatched eyes gleaming with warmth despite the cold air.
The weight of another’s presence behind him reminded him that he wasn’t alone on this visit. Aurelius had joined him today, and Kosmo glanced back at his companion before returning his gaze to Ghost. “Besides, I wanted to check up on you two.” His voice was soft.
When Gnome herself appeared, her familiar purr filled the room, and Kosmo’s smile broadened. He carefully set the grape leaf bundle on the loveseat. “I brought you something. Coriander seeds. Thought they might help your joints in the cold. You can take one to improve your sleep.”
At her question about his eating habits, Kosmo let out a soft chuckle. “I’m eating plenty, don’t worry.” He gave a playful shake of his head.
His gaze then shifted to Aurelius, standing tall and silent behind him. “Ah, yes. This is Aurelius. A friend and quite the reliable one, at that. He’s been keeping me company lately.”He glanced back at Aurelius and stepped aside slightly, allowing Aurelius more space to introduce himself. “Aurelius, Gnome is the Madam of the House and Ghost is one of her daughter."
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
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
Ghost glanced at Aurelius, sitting herself down on the old, tattered rug. She was no longer surprised by Kosmo bringing strangers around, and honestly it was a bit of a relief. Something exciting to happen in the days of winter when she preferred to keep her wanderings to a minimum. Much too cold out there for bare paws.
She simply nodded as her mother welcomed the new tom, trying her best to seem polite through her rather apathetic expression.
'My return to glory is near'
✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧
These cats were interesting, that was for sure. Aurelius was appropriately introduced, and with that his attention was drawn to Gnome. Ghost was... there. He didn't think much of her, but he was grateful as her welcoming nod, flicking an ear in return. Gnome on the other paw was a start difference from his mother, who would have squawked the instant anyone entered her home unannounced and uninvited. 'Thank you for being so welcoming, Kosmo is an old friend of mine who I recently reconciled with. He's been showing me a few places, and I've been doing the same. It's a pleasure to meet you both' His words might not have been overly truthful, but he sounded genuine nonetheless. Hiding a smirk, Aurelius reached out a paw, taking a bow like action. Unnecessary, but he liked to greet others with respect. He went to go begin to investigate the house, though his attention was quickly drawn to a third new scent, one of an unknown tom. Not long after first scenting this third cat, a whiteish-red tom made his way into the room, taking a big stretch before surveying the scene with an unimpressed gaze.
'It is me! The one and only Chimera!'
✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧
'Welcome to our beloved abode! It seems as though this unfortunate weather has dragged in the rags from outside.' Potato made his way to the middle of the group, fur neatly groomed despite the fact he had been asleep in the next room a moment before. Seeing as they were inside his home, the two toms were probably cats his mother and sister knew, but it was still a little bit of a shock to wake up to. 'One has likely heard of you before, but please do share your titles. I go by Chimera, and the two lovely ladies before you are my mother and sister.' He eyed the two cats, giving them a curious look before a large yawn escaped from his mouth, in which he leapt up onto the loveseat, circling a few times before flopping down, letting his head rest on his paws as he watched whatever this weird interaction was.
I play...
From WindClan
Aspenberry (F) an affectionate deputy
From ShadowClan
Dazzlepaw (M) a curious apprentice
Flutterdream (F) a friendly medicine cat
Specklenose (NB) a troublesome warrior
Pebbleshine (F) an insecure elder
From ThunderClan
Larchsong (F) a chatty warrior
Coyotepaw (F) an anxious apprentice
Cherrytree (F) a loving elder
From RiverClan
Bloomfire (F) a snarky warrior
Ebonyflare (M) a candid elder
From beyond the clans
Aurelius (M) a self-concerned feral
Potato (M) a laid-back semi-feral
Sarafina (F) a skittish housecat
"Po- Chimera!" Gnome scolded. "Do not refer to our guests as rags. They brought herbs, and more paws make light work." She has always tried to instill a sense of hospitality in her son but he took after his sire. Standoffish and protective. Not that those were necessarily bad traits but it paid to have friends in low places.
As revenge, she took to cleaning Potato's ears. Not so scary when your mom spotted dirt behind them!
Her gaze fell on the seeds. They looked like any old plant to her but at this point she was willing to try anything. Kosmo was right in assuming the winter wasn't treating her sleep schedule well. Between the wind and her joints it was a miracle she slept at all!
"Aurelius, welcome. Kosmo has a space upstairs - you are welcome to it as well. Provides you could spare some time helping us as well." That was the arrangement after all. Give and take - a pristene hunting ground, untouched garden, and neutral ground shelter in exchange for prey, herbs - any useful service really.
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
Survival demands caution, but greatness requires daring
⋆。°✩ ⭒ ──● 𓄿 ●── ⭒ ⋆。°✩
He watched as the elder she-cat swiftly put her son in his place with the motherly act of grooming his ears. Kosmo smiled softly, but the act seemed as cold as the snow outside in the midst of this odd little gathering.
"Thank you, Gnome..." His head dipped graciously. "I’ll make sure Aurelius knows the arrangements. He’s as capable as he is reliable. We’re happy to lend paws where needed." His gaze flicked to Aurelius who had moved to investigate the space.
Kosmo turned to the tomcat named Chimera, his smile turning wry. "Hm. Titles..." His voice was warm but teasing, eyes gleaming with that same playful mirth as before. "Do you have dirt in your ears? As your mother has said - I'm Kosmo. A simple wanderer with a knack for finding herbs and finding all sorts of cats along the way. Like the fallen leaves of Leaf-fall... Though I admit, if I ever had a proper title, I'd like to be named after a bird."
He padded closer to the love seat where Chimera had settled, mismatched eyes studying him for a moment. "You’ve got a good setup here. Can’t say I blame you for being protective of it."
With that, he glanced back toward the bundle of coriander seeds he’d brought. "Gnome. We can start with one seed tonight and see how it eases your rest. If there’s anything else troubling you, I can keep an eye out for more remedies." His voice softened as he offered his assistance, genuinely wanting to ease the elder’s discomfort through the harsh season.
Finally, he turned to Aurelius, nodding towards the upper floors where they’d been invited to stay. "What do you think, Aurelius? Think you’ll manage to share the space tonight?" He kept his tone light, trusting that the large furred cat would handle himself just fine.
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
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
Ghost flicked her tail at her brother, rolling her eyes. There was no need to be introduced. "He knows who we are," she sneered as their mother began to wash him. She couldn't suppress a satisfied smirk as he got a good cleaning right in front of some strangers. Serves him right.
She glances up to Aurelius and Kosmo, raising a brow between the two of them. "So, you two are old friends? Would this have anything to do with all the herbs you seem to study? Do you share the same weird and mysterious origins, perhaps?" This new tom certainly seemed to have a pompous air about him, similar to how Kosmo presented at first. But if the two were anything alike, soon Aurelius would be admitting he also didn't hunt exactly, but rather stole prey from other predators. Which was fine, if it worked, but Ghost found it much easier to just kill a mouse herself.
'It is me! The one and only Chimera!'
✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧
'Hey, hey, hey! I am perfectly capable of doing that myself!' Potato spat, attempting to squirm out of his mothers grasp. While he was irritated, his tone was not too harsh, almost with a hint of fondness laced beneath it. 'I can bring you herbs! We don't need these guys..' he grumbled turning his gaze away from the two newcomers with clear distaste. Out in the open Potato wasn't too hostile, but within his own home, less meant more. These two random rouges appearing was not exactly how he had planned his morning.
'Buzz of, Ghost' he hissed, shooting his sister a sharped eyed glare before turning back to Kosmo and Aurelius, switching up his demeanor instantly. 'One apologises for such inconsiderate behaviour. Next time I will make the effort to be more accommodating.' He still felt uncomfortable, but he had settled back down into the seat again, his pale blue gaze watching intently.
'My return to glory is near'
✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧
This family was amusing, that was for sure. Aurelius watched the scene unfold, the newest arrival clearly at the bottom rung compared to the two she-cats of the den. If he wanted to use this space, he would have to provide something back. A fair trade in which Aurelius respected.
He looked over to Ghost, golden eyes analysing her curiously. She actually seemed interested in the two of them. 'You would be correct. I watched Kosmo grow up, but we separated paths. It was only recently we found each other again, and while we still do out own things, he has free reign within my territory, and he has been teaching me a thing or two about herbs. I already knew a little, but nothing much. If you are questioning about hunting though, I can happily say I stick to more conventional techniques' he added with a wink. There was much more depth to their relationship. At least from Aurelius' point of view there was, but their past was far too complicated to go into right now, especially when Aurelius was sure that he and his mother were the only ones left alive who knew about it.
I play...
From WindClan
Aspenberry (F) an affectionate deputy
From ShadowClan
Dazzlepaw (M) a curious apprentice
Flutterdream (F) a friendly medicine cat
Specklenose (NB) a troublesome warrior
Pebbleshine (F) an insecure elder
From ThunderClan
Larchsong (F) a chatty warrior
Coyotepaw (F) an anxious apprentice
Cherrytree (F) a loving elder
From RiverClan
Bloomfire (F) a snarky warrior
Ebonyflare (M) a candid elder
From beyond the clans
Aurelius (M) a self-concerned feral
Potato (M) a laid-back semi-feral
Sarafina (F) a skittish housecat
*permission to skip Gnome - im super busy sorry
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
Survival demands caution, but greatness requires daring
⋆。°✩ ⭒ ──● 𓄿 ●── ⭒ ⋆。°✩
Turning his attention to Ghost, he inclined his head in acknowledgment. “Yes, Aurelius and I go way back. Our paths diverged, but fate has a way of bringing old friends back together.”
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
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
Ghost couldn't help but smile with amusement as Kosmo informed her brother about herb safety. She flicked her tail, pleased that his attempt to impress the new strangers had so evidently failed.
She looked again between the two toms. Thy obviously had some sort of history, and it wasn't any of her business, but she couldn't help but want to be a little nosey. But instead, she nodded as Aurelius spoke of hunting. "Ah, so no chasing down hawks to steal their prey? Glad to hear it. Kosmo brought in some poor cat once after he'd roped her into doing that very thing. Luckily, she wasn't the one who got hurt."
'It is me! The one and only Chimera!'
✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧
Potato flicked a dismissive ear at Kosmo, doing his best to keep the scorn off his face. He didn't want to argue anymore, and his mother and sister clearly didn't mind the two rogues staying here. Maybe one day the silvery red tom would get his way, but for now he just curled up in the couch, back facing the cats.
'My return to glory is near'
✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧ ⭒ ✧
'Ah that clan cat?' Aurelius asked, shooting Kosmo a brief glance. He had mentioned meeting a clan cat once or twice, but Aurelius knew little more. Surely it had to be someone different though, for Kosmo to warm up to a cat hailing from a clan was something Aurelius would never expect, and something that would never happen to him. His feelings towards the clans were complicated. He knew little about them, yet they were similar to his old home. They were just trying to survive yet they caused destruction and death where ever they walked. A factor that needed to be eliminated.
Aurelius nodded his head respectfully at the three barn cats before following Kosmo up the stairs. He didn't want to linger around those he didn't know all too well, preferring to stick to Kosmo's side.
I play...
From WindClan
Aspenberry (F) an affectionate deputy
From ShadowClan
Dazzlepaw (M) a curious apprentice
Flutterdream (F) a friendly medicine cat
Specklenose (NB) a troublesome warrior
Pebbleshine (F) an insecure elder
From ThunderClan
Larchsong (F) a chatty warrior
Coyotepaw (F) an anxious apprentice
Cherrytree (F) a loving elder
From RiverClan
Bloomfire (F) a snarky warrior
Ebonyflare (M) a candid elder
From beyond the clans
Aurelius (M) a self-concerned feral
Potato (M) a laid-back semi-feral
Sarafina (F) a skittish housecat