Survival demands caution, but greatness requires daring
⋆｡°✩ ⭒ ──● 𓄿 ●── ⭒ ⋆｡°✩
The air was crisp, each breath forming soft plumes of vapor as Kosmo padded quietly through the snow-dusted undergrowth of RiverClan’s territory. The snowfall had been moderate, but enough to blanket the ground in a delicate couple layers of white, muffling the sounds of his pawsteps. A biting chill hung in the air but the air was still.
Kosmo’s mismatched eyes scanned the area carefully, his focus on the tall alder trees that stood sentinel by the farmhouse's edge. Their dark, gnarled trunks stood out against the pale snow, their branches mostly bare except for a few clusters of leaves that had clung on. He was looking for alder leaves, their medicinal properties valuable for easing toothaches and infections, but the season made it a challenge.
The river nearby gurgled softly, its surface partially frozen but still moving under the layer of ice. Kosmo’s ears flicked as the familiar sound of the current mingled with the occasional creak of branches above. Despite the cold, there was a certain peace in the quiet of the forest. Here, it felt like he could lose himself in the rhythm of nature.
Kosmo wasn’t sure how long he had been moving through RiverClan’s territory today, but he had made a habit of staying alert, even on familiar ground. RiverClan cats were territorial, and while he’d managed to slip through unnoticed before, there was always a chance he’d encounter a patrol. He’d deal with it if it happened, but for now, his focus was on his task even as his senses were aware of the world around him. Besides, a black shadow circled above him, keeping watch.
27
Coldgaze & Kosmo
Meeting a different kind of Deputy
Tree clump by the lower west bank of Riverclan territory
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
It was always SOMETHING.
Coldgaze had been hiding in the bushes for a few minutes, stalking this cat as he intruded on their territory. He let a breath out slowly, controlling his breathing so the plumes of fog wouldn't give away his position.
He waited... until the tom was backed against the tree he seemed so earnestly interested in before cornering him, revealing himself in a flash of fur and rage. The first strike was intended to be more of a warning blow, but his claws weren't sheathed. He wanted startle the intruder rather than harm him - if it was a kittypet that was usually more than enough to send them running.
Coldgaze aimed for the hind legs, expecting a short scuffle.
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 had been so focused on inspecting the alder trees that the sudden flash of fur and claws caught him completely off guard. A sharp sting ran through his hind legs as the unsheathed claws of his attacker grazed him. He let out a startled hiss, leaping back against the base of the tree, his heart racing as he quickly spun to face the threat.
Mismatched eyes locked onto the form of a large, bristling tom - one that radiated hostility and rage. Kosmo’s muscles tensed, his tail lashing behind him as he sized up his opponent. The tom’s attack had been a warning, Kosmo realized, not an attempt to fully wound him. This wasn’t a mindless ambush. He didn’t want to fight, especially not over a misunderstanding.
But Kosmo wasn't about to let this tom off the hook so easily.
"Easy!" Kosmo growled, lowering his body in a defensive stance, his growl nearly full of mirth. “I’m not here to bother your RiverClan. I’m just looking for alder leaves - paultry at best.” His breath came in quick bursts of vapor, the adrenaline pumping through him from the unexpected strike. He flicked his ear towards the trees as if to emphasize his point.
A part of him hoped that his explanation would be recognized as something akin to a medicine cat, even if he didn't outright speak it. Attacking one was grounds for punishment from Starclan; the clans wouldn't do well to be cursed again - not so in Leafbare. There was no inexperience in his mismatched eyes, and stared down Coldgaze directly. He'd wait for an attack, and then he'd counter.
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
A defensive stance, so he wasn't a kittypet. Coldgaze made sure to keep the intruder pinned against the tree, hissing at his words.
He heard them, of course. Only medicine cats collected Alder - not even he was sure what they were used for. "If you know herbs, you would know Clan cats aren't keen on sharing, stranger." Coldgaze's tone was decidedly less jovial than Kosmo's, turning to a snarl at the end. "Who are you. Thunderclan? Windclan?" He was sure he had met all the other clan's older apprentices, but maybe he has missed one. Maybe he forgot. Perhaps he simply hadn't cared to know. Who could tell at this point?
He lashed out with a forepaw, more of a test than an attempt to land a blow - he wanted to know if this tom had any fighting skill to back up his defensive posturing. Which would make him - decidedly - a strange medicine cat if he was from the clans.
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 mismatched eyes remained locked on Coldgaze as the bristling tom spat his challenge. The healer's mind whirred like clockwork assessing the situation with the precision of someone who had dealt with both sickness and injury - his own and others. Coldgaze's stance revealed an opening; he had more confidence in his size than in technique. It was a mistake Kosmo wouldn't make.
"Not Clan. And don't lump me in with ThunderClan." Kosmo muttered, his breath steadying. His heart still raced but his thoughts were cold and calculated. Coldgaze’s test swipe came next, and Kosmo could see that the tom was probing. Not fully committed. That gave him time. Always thinking like a healer, even in battle.
Kosmo's instincts kicked in. His sharp eye caught Coldgaze’s vulnerable positioning; a stiffened neck, too much weight shifted on the forelegs, a bristling tail revealing that the tom was more eager than controlled. Kosmo could use this.
Without warning, Kosmo launched himself forward, executing a precise double strike. His right and left paws swung high, targeting Coldgaze’s head. The move wasn’t just meant to land a hit - it was meant to throw his opponent off balance. Force the head to tilt, and the body will follow.
His mind raced with possible next moves - pinning him, twisting his paws, disabling the cat without causing lasting injury. His experience with bones and pressure points told him where to aim.
But Kosmo hesitated, giving Coldgaze one last chance to back down. He wasn't here to fight, and as a healer by heart, violence wasn’t his first solution. But he would defend himself - and more importantly, he would win. "I don’t want this fight..." Kosmo growled, mismatched eyes fierce but steady. “But I won’t let you win it either.”
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
Despite the loner's warnings, Coldgaze knew that he has a responsibility to his clan to keep the land free of intruders. Even if this cat was bigger than him. Even if he was trained.
The double strike wasn't unexpected, and Coldgaze could feel his body movimg with the claws in an attempt to mitigate the damage. But if he did that - he grit his teeth, feeling the sharp talons slice through the skin above his eye, and along the top of his skull.
"If you aren't a clan cat, then the code doesn't apply to you! Healer or no." He snarled, before following up on his threat.
At least he he wasn't unbalanced. Taking the chance, he slammed into the unknown tom, hoping to pin him agains the tree or at least knock the wind out of him. For not the first time in his life, he waa fighting an opponent larger than himself and was stuck with the disadvantage that forced on him.
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 felt his claws catch, the impact jarring through his paws as they connected with Coldgaze’s skull. The sharp scrape of claws against flesh was undeniable, though Coldgaze had moved enough to lessen the blow. His warning clearly wasn’t going to be enough.
Before he could fully retract, the bristling deputy slammed into him, a solid mass of muscle and force despite his size that knocked the breath from Kosmo’s lungs.
Cold eyes flashing, Kosmo could tell this wasn’t a battle the tom was willing to walk away from. He wasn't just defending territory anymore - it was a test of strength and will.
"Fine." Kosmo’s voice was a low growl, his body tensing as he pushed back against Coldgaze’s attempt to pin him fully. He shifted his weight, half spinning with a shift of his shoulders to return the blow as he ducked low, targeting his forelegs to knock him off balance before he'd attempt to rock him to the ground in a partial pin.
If this battle was to be won, it would be on his terms, with precision rather than brute force.
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
