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Post by jackel on Jun 6, 2011 0:51:15 GMT -5
This territory is small, well hidden, and nestled in a mountain with the 'starshine' creek passing at the edge of the west border. The trees are new and the growth is young, being as how there was a forest fire that wiped out everything only 24 moons ago. The camp is nothing more than a massive rock with a cave dug out from under it. The inside is very roomy and comfortable, with light that filters through the entrance and glitters off the stone walls from flecks of quarts crystal embedded in the rock. A clearing, complete with lush grasses and a ring of young trees lies about two hundred fox lengths from the camp and towards the south border. Prey is plentiful and dangers are few... aside from the cats who live here that is...
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Kermdoepaw soon arrived along the western border, pulling himself from the starshine creek as he and Mau neared the middle of their claimed territory. Kermodepaw has completely changed back to his original form , and the wounds that had not healed were burning as he felt the full pain from the attacks. He was exhausted, and the water in his long pelt seemed to pull him down with every step; the fact that he still had the young Kit from brambleclan in his jaws was no help; as it made it just a bit more difficult to inhale.
Mau looked at his partner as he to, pulled himself from the water. His wounds weren't as many as kermodepaw's, but they were deeper and placed better. Not to mention he didn't have any sort of healing ability. Kermodepaw knew that if he didn't rest now; Mau could very well be dead by morning. "Kermodepaw..." Mau meowed, eying the kit. "Pass him over, He's mine right?" he meowed, reaching a paw to bat at the kit like an apprentice might toy with a piece of prey.
Kermdoepaw pulled away. "No, not now." he meowed through Coalkit's fur. Being as he was now, Kermodepaw knew Mau would only kill the kit. Maybe that was ok with him wile he was in his cursed state... but never wile he was in his right mind. "Go back to camp and rest, or you'll die." he stated bluntly. He was surprised when Mau nodded and padded off without arguing...
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Post by Lionblaze on Jun 7, 2011 15:41:14 GMT -5
Coalkit could swear he heard his mother's distant wailing, as he hng limply in the cat's jaws. He'd all but given up on struggling. If they dropped him, he'd drown for sure, he didn't have the first clue on how to swim. If not, they'd be more likely to kill him themselves. As if the one that first attacked him hadn't tried. Did a good enough job beating him up, leaving him bruised and hurt, his dark fur stained with blood, his own as well as that of the two rogue's. They'd bled plenty for some of it to get on him. Now that he was away from his clan and mother, the young tom let what was left of his courage fade, though not completely, allowing fear to take it's place, leaving him shivering. He only managed a half-hearted swipe at Mau's paw with his own when the cat batted at him, making his body swing in the other's jaws. He was aware that they were carrying him through water. That was about it. He'd kept his eyes closed to little more than slits since they'd left his territory. If Mau knocked him from Kermodepaw's grasp and into the water, he doubted he'd ever come back up again. Maybe because he wouldn't be able to break above the surface of the water. . . Maybe because he'd let himself drown to escape these rogues. He was actually scared now. Back at camp, he'd been too shocked and angry to be scared. But now that the fighting was over. Now that he was alone with these rogues, that he knew very well could kill him without even trying. He was terrified. He dreaded the answer to what he was to ask, but he didn't wanna go on not knowing, and he managed to ask quietly. "W-what're you gonna d-do to me?" He stuttered, his own body's shivering affecting his already scared voice. He flinched, momentarily stopping the shivering, once he'd finished speaking, expecting to be hit or clawed, just for voicing his thoughts.
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Post by jackel on Jun 7, 2011 20:53:12 GMT -5
After Mau dissappeared from Kermodepaw's sight he gently let the kit down. "What are we going to do to you?" he repeated the kits question. His ears folded back and his eyes reflected guilt. This had never happened before now, and seeing just what he had been doing to cats for moons seemed to hit him in the face like a warriors blow. He didn't respond, and rather bent over the kit hesitantly before starting to lick the blood from the wounds Mau had inflicted on the young tom. After a moment he found words. "Mau... My partner. He wants to kill you." he meowed, deciding to be blunt. "But he couldn't do it within your clans borders, that why we brought you here. Your clanmates would have killed us otherwise..." He admitted between licks. "Come, on, Theres a shallow water pool downstream, It'll clean you off better than I can..." he meowed, averting his eyes from the injured kit. His heart clenched inside his chest, but the impulse to kill kept bubbling up no matter how he tried to force it down. damn curse... he thought bitterly. "I'll carry you if you like... unless you would rather walk on your own." he old the kit. Softening his expression he looked at the tom. "I won't let Mau hurt you, I promise. To the best of my ability..." he told him. "I'm Kermodepaw by the way..." he said, flicking an ear...
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Post by Lionblaze on Jun 7, 2011 21:59:54 GMT -5
Coalkit would've bolted for home hen his paws touched the ground, if the flowing water didn't stand in his path. He'd never make it past on his own. He could search for an easier way around or across it, but that'd take to long. One of the rogues would catch him. Now that he was in their territory. . . he feared there would be even more of them. He wanted to fight back. He wanted to claw and bite and hurt this rogue. He even parted his teeth to bite the cat's muzzle when he'd begun cleaning his fur, the rough tongue on his fresh wounds making him wince. But before he could bite down above his nose, he noticed it was a different cat, and his maw hung open a few moments longer. He couldn't even bring himself to speak, at least until the cat had finished licking him clean the best he could. He hesitated at the question, however great being carried sounded right now. His muscles ached, his teeth hurt, and his claws felt like they'd been half torn from his paws, likely having caught them on something when trying to pull away in the beginning. "I.. I can walk." He lied, hoping he could stay true to his own words, and not collapse halfway through. What the new rogue said next though, threw him off guard, not to mention completely confused him. "Protecting him? There was no way it was the cat from before. He must've passed out when the two of them switched. "How come you have a clan name?" He asked, suddenly feeling alot more comfortable than he had before. Even if he was still terrified death was waiting around every corner. "Aren't you a rogue?" He paused, hoping something like that wouldn't offend the cat. "And, I'm Coalkit. But if your not used to clan names, you can just call me Coal.. I guess."
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Post by jackel on Jun 7, 2011 22:23:02 GMT -5
Kermodepaw shook his head. "No, Coalkit is fine. It suits you." he meowed with a halfhearted smile, turning to make towards the shallow pool in the stream. "I am a rouge now, But I was part of a clan once." he admitted. He didn't mind sharing so much. Just having some cat to talk to for real... was a luxury he hadn't had in a long time. "I left to look for two cats... and traveled a long way and still haven't found either of them. I have no idea how to get home, even If I did, I doubt they would let me back..." he trailed off, realizing he was beginning to ramble. Kermodepaw sighed and let his tail droop a bit, suddenly realizing that the kit most likely didn't recognize him as the cat who took him from his clan. Should I tell him? he wondered, beginning to stare into space as he padded along the shore...
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Post by Lionblaze on Jun 7, 2011 22:54:36 GMT -5
Coalkit's first thought, of course, had been simply to try and befriend the cat, convince him to let him go home to his clan. But he couldn't help feeling sorry for him, even with how bad his own situation was, when he began to pour his heart out to him. If he truly was a member of these rogues, he was either the calmest of the three he'd seen, or he idn't belong here at all. "I see you being a rogue and all now, but why are you here, with these other two cats? I mean, I guess there must be more somewhere, but you don't seem like the type to be part of a group of killers." Though they hadn't actually killed anyone, Coalkit was sure that they would've if given the chance. He limped hurriedly after kermodepaw to keep up with the older tom. Though eachof his paws ached, he kept his right forepaw almost completely off the ground. Still wobbling beside him, he cocked his head to one side when he didn't answer, looking to be staring at nothing. "Are you okay?"
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Post by jackel on Jun 7, 2011 23:21:04 GMT -5
Kermodepaw shook his head. "Its... It's just me and Mau..." he admitted, deciding the truth would be better for the kit at this point. He had a right to know the dangers he faced here; especially if he was going to have any chance of living at all. "I have... some issues with controlling myself..." he said. talk about an understatement... he thought biting his lip as they neared the shallow pool he had mentioned. Wading into the water he submerged himself; letting the cold of the water numb the pain from his scratches that had yet to heal before slipping his eyes and nose back above the surface, crouching down to keep the rest of him beneith the water...
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Post by Lionblaze on Jun 7, 2011 23:36:13 GMT -5
Coalkit stopped in his unsteady tracks, and couldn't help the slightest of grins as he blinked after the cat. At least he had the decency to joke around with him. Actually treat him like a kit, and not a piece of prey as the other two had. When he started up his limping again, he found himself wishing that they'd both been born to his clan. He'd place his whiskers on them having been great griends, if that scenario were ever to occur. "Is Mau your friend?" He asked suddenly, testing a paw in the water. He decided not to mention the other one yet. Humor the tom for a while, since he seemed to be trying to be nice to him, which was more of a relief than he let on after what'd just happened. "Does he. . Really wanna kill me?" He asked, this time a little more hesitantly, eyes darting to the sides, paranoid that the other rogue might be watching as he began to lower himself into the water, the cool liquid feeling quite soothing on his wounds and bruises.
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Post by jackel on Jun 7, 2011 23:46:35 GMT -5
Kermodepaw blew a couple bubbles in thew water through his teeth before raising the rest of his head above the watter. "Yes... he does...." he meowed, noticing the kit looking around. "If you wander off alone He'll have no reason not to make a move for you." he told Coalkit, his eyes serious. "I"ll stop him if I see it... but I won't always be there to help you." He meowed, waving his tail through the water. "However, yes, Mau is a friend and I'm about the only cat he'll listen to. Not to mention, his ability's are an asset to me and he doesn't mind travel. We make a really good pair despite our differences..." Kermodepaw explained...
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Post by Lionblaze on Jun 7, 2011 23:57:44 GMT -5
Coalkit reached out a paw to pop one of the bubbles, giggling a little at how much Kermodepaw seemed to resemble a frog in the water. He'd seen one, once before in a swamp. Got filthy trying to catch it. "But. . Why?" He prodded, his look becoming a bit more defensive, claws sliding into the soft mud at the bottom of the water. "I didn't do anything to him. I hardly even got a chace to fight back!" He found himself growling, and he let it die in his throat. He didn't mean to take out his anger on Kermodepaw. He hadn't done anything to him. . . Yet, at least, He was still weary that this was all an act to get him to trust him. "How can you be friends with someone like that?" He continued, sliding further into the water, about as deep as Kermodepaw had one so only his muzzle, nose and eyes were above the water. Not that he thought about it.. why did he say it like that? I won't always be there to help you. Was he gonna leave him alone to try and fend of Mau by himself? It was all so confusing. This rogue seemed to call Mau his friend, yet his 'friend' wanted him dead, and yet he was gonna try to protect him? And only sometimes? He didn't notice the groan that slipped from his maw at the headache his whirling thoughts brought.
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Post by jackel on Jun 8, 2011 0:05:57 GMT -5
Kermodepaw sighed, "It's a long story, I guess Mau and I have a special bond is all..." he meowed. " As for why he attacked you... its his... passion to hurt others." he meowed. "I sometimes feel like I've known him a long time you know? Like we met in a past life or something..." he laughed a bit. "Considering how he was tossing you around like that... I'm surprised you made it through, you're a tough one kit. You would have made a great warrior some day..."
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Post by Lionblaze on Jun 8, 2011 0:14:48 GMT -5
Coalkit was just beginning to like the compliment, when the second half shattered the little confidence he had left. Would? He'd already guessed they had no intentions of letting him go back home. But hearing it said to him.. to be told he wouldn't ever go back home again. But what did they mean to do with him? Keep him trapped forever? He thought he could fend off Mau and the other cat once he was warrior sized. Even without the proper training, he could at least get away without too deadly of injuries, right? But that was assuming he was here for several moons. If Mau didn't kill him in that time. "Your. ." The kit had decided to confirm his thoughts, but he couldn't bare to see some look of sympathy on Kermodepaw's face when he answered. If he really cared, he wouldn't kee him here, so it'd just be false pity. Instead, he stared down at his reflection in the water. "Your not gonna let me go home... Are you?"
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Post by jackel on Jun 8, 2011 0:30:58 GMT -5
Kermodepaw didn't answer for a moment; not having realized were the Kit had been going with what he heard and his question was like a strike accross the face. "No... you won't be going back..." he hated to tell the kit that, but he wasn't sure he could go back without being attacked, and he knew that if he was then he would risk killing Coalkits clanmates... and Mau would defiantly cause more trouble on top of that. "But..." he started hesitantly. "If you like... I can train you wile you're here..." he suggested. It would give both him and I somthing to do wile we recover... he thought....
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Post by Lionblaze on Jun 8, 2011 0:42:32 GMT -5
"But I'm not even supposed to start training for another moon. . ." Coalkit answered a bit dully, little emotion audible in his voice. Though to be honest, having his thouhts confirmed upset him more than he would've thought possible. So, he'd never see his clanmates again. Never have another friend. Never even see his mother again. . . No, he wouldn't break down in front of ths rogue, so he'd decided, for now at least, to try and strip himself of all emotion, until, at the very leat, he knew showing how he felt wouldn't end in him crying. "If you want too, I guess. Though unless it'll help me beat Mau, I don't see what good it'll do." He answered in what would've sounded like a mutinous voice, if he'd allowed any anger to seep into his voice. He would've honestly preferred to be alone now. But he wouldn't risk it with Mau waiting for his chance to take his life.
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Post by jackel on Jun 8, 2011 0:52:02 GMT -5
Kermodepaw sighed, seeing how he had hurt the kit. "I'm sorry, But I can't do anything at this point." he admitted, pulling himself out of the water. "And honestly training wont keep Mau away; not by any means." he meowed, shaking his pelt like a fox would, sending water droplets everywhere. "However, being as how you have ... a lot less cats around to look after you, You'll need to learn to protect yourself from Raccoons, foxes, badgers.. and other rouges..." he meowed, flicking the last of the water from his ears and tail. "And who knows..." he trailed off, trying to give Coalkit some encouragement. "Maybe if you do well enough, You'll be able to make it back to your clan one day on your own, wile we aren't paying attention." he meowed with a smile...
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Post by Lionblaze on Jun 8, 2011 17:15:20 GMT -5
Though the idea of escaping didn't seem likely to him, Coalkit had a feeling he'd be trying it sooner rather than later. He'd stayed wading in the water, not in any hurry to follow Kermodepaw out. "Other rogues? I thought you said it was just you and the other one." He countered, lifting a paw to splash his reflection away. "You arent afraid I'll grow up to be strong? That when I'm older, I'll kill Mau myself?" He threatened, though it was mostly just to scare the other tom, even if he did want Mau dead.
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Post by jackel on Jun 8, 2011 17:52:01 GMT -5
Kermodepaw suppressed a retort. "Sure sure, whatever." Kermodepaw meowed, noticing the kits quick change in tone. "There are always rogues were ever you go; weather your part of a clan , or a rogue yourself. unknown cats are always a danger." he meowed, settling himself in the grass and closing his eyes, turning his head to face the sun. "And you're still a bit young to be voicing such ambitions Coalkit. Think about what you're saying will you?" he didn't mean to sound harsh, but it sure seemed that way after he had finished...
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Post by Lionblaze on Jun 8, 2011 19:35:13 GMT -5
Coalkit took a tentative step forward, to the point where he had to stretch his neck just to keep his head above the water. Maybe if he could teach himself how to swim. . . "I know what I'm saying!" He snapped back, the dropping of his emotions already forgotten. "I'm never going to be 'okay' with being here. And I'll never be 'okay' with Mau. I wanna go home, and I wouldn't mind him being dead one bit. I know I can't kill him, but after what he did, I certainly wouldn't mind trying. So, forgive me if I sound a little irrational." He stepped back onto the wet sand beneath the water, and dipped his head under, hoping a wet face would help hide his watering ees. That, and he wouldn't be able to hear too well with his ears under the water.
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Post by jackel on Jun 8, 2011 20:14:01 GMT -5
Kermodepaw flicked an ear in slight annoyance. kits will be kits... he reminded himself. He kept a carful eye out for the kit as he waded deeper into the water and an ear out for Mau. "I'm never going to be 'okay' with being here..." The kits words ran through his mind and he swished his tail back and forth. "Heh... we've sure messed things up..." he meowed softly, mostly to himself. After Coalkit had been under the water for a bit he began to wonder if he was trying to ignore him. "I'm Going to the camp, are you going to come along?" he meowed, getting to his paws and stretching...
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Post by Lionblaze on Jun 8, 2011 21:00:55 GMT -5
With his ears folded beneath the water, Coalkit hadn't caught the first thing Kermodepaw said, and it was difficult to understand what he'd said afterwards. Something about a camp? Breaking the surface of the water, the young tom crawled out of the small pool, shaking out his dark fur and effectively scattering droplets of water everywhere. If nothing else, the water'd helped to calm him down a bit. "Camp?" He echoed, giving him a bit of a sideways glare. "I'm guessing you don't mean mine. But you can't really have a camp with just two cats. Three, if you count me, but I don't wanna be a part of it." He flicked his tail behind him, then started off ahead of the rogue, figuring he'd catch up to lead him in the right direction.
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