|
Post by jackel on Jun 8, 2011 21:22:12 GMT -5
Kermodepaw rolled his eyes and turned to walk another direction, taking a diffrent path through the trees than Coalkit. "This way kit." he meowed, flicking his tail for Coalkit to follow him. The camp... it honestly wasn't much; it was originally picked out by Mau and himself because they never expected to have other cats with them... Though I'm sure Mau has no intention to keep this one here for long... he thought bitterly, clenching his teeth slightly. Hearing the kit refer to his own camp made him feel even worse. It was his cursed alter ego who had stolen the kit not him! so why was he having to deal with this? Seemed a little unfair... not that he was in any position to complain. "You coming?" he called back, pivoting to look over his shoulder at Coalkit...
|
|
|
Post by Lionblaze on Jun 8, 2011 22:35:33 GMT -5
Coalkit flicked his ears, spinning around to face the rogue again. "Oh. 'Kay." He answered plainly, limping off after him again. For awhile he stayed quiet, but eventually the silence proved to unnerving for him, and he spoke up. "My clan will come looking for me, you know." He said, making an attempt to keep his voice as nonchalant as possible. "The leader is my mother, and she's not going to rest until she gets me back." He added. I hope so at least. . . She wouldn't leave me here, would she? Thinking back on it now, he remembered hearing the distant wails of his mother when the rogues had taken him away. What if she thinks I'm already dead...
|
|
|
Post by jackel on Jun 8, 2011 22:44:56 GMT -5
Kermodepaw let out a low laugh. "They wont find us, they can search as much as they like." he meowed. "We took the river for a reason, it washed all our scent away and none of the cats were close enough behind us to see were we went..." he meowed. "I guess that's something you'll learn... if you want to. How to hide your scent that is." Kermodepaw meowed as padded along. He was trying to distract the kit from what had happened, although he knew his attempts were in vain. He supposed he hadn't given up on thoughts of his own clan until long after he had gone... "If you know any medical herbs, feel free to collect some on your way. Mau and I.. we're about the farthest thing from medicinecats. The extent of our knowledge doesn't go past poppy seeds." he admitted. He honestly wished he knew a bit more than that. A couple moons ago an injury of his had gotten badly infected; if it hadn't been for his accelerated healing in his cursed form, it could have very well taken his entire forearm. "Wouldn't want those wounds getting worse than they already are..." he added...
|
|
|
Post by Lionblaze on Jun 8, 2011 23:27:48 GMT -5
Coalkit wondered for a moment if what the rogue said last was a threat, but this time didn't voice his thoughts. At least, not on that subject. "I only know a couple. . Like that Yarrow leaves make you sick." Which he only knew from experience, having gotten into the medicine den when he was only a couple moons old. "And I think marrigold helps with wounds. I can't remember exactly what it does, I've just seen our medicine cat use it alot." He added, scuffing a paw on the ground in front of him. He'd only answered to avoid the silence, but now another thought drifted to mind, and he seemed unable to push it away. "Why do you wanna protect me?" He stopped in his tracks, waiting for Kermodepaw to do the same before he continued. "Your friend brought me here to kill me after all, didn't he? Why don't you let 'im?"
|
|
|
Post by jackel on Jun 8, 2011 23:46:45 GMT -5
Kermodepaw stopped a few pawsteps ahead of the kit, turning to look back at him. "Alright, I'll be straight up with you." he meowed, looking at the young tom. "I don't really expect you to understand it all, It's pretty complicated..." He took a deep breath before continuing. He had never told anyone about his past before and he was hoping this wasn't going to wind up as some sort of regret down the road. "After I left my clan to look for said cats, I came across many clans. I was very young and I had only just started my apprenticeship and Clans would often take me in and look after me..." Kermodepaw trailed off a bit, not wanting to bring up those memory's. "one by one, I destroyed them all without help." he meowed, flicking his tail. "I didn't leave a cat behind that I could catch; all that are left of those clans, are destroyed territory's and Bloodied camps. I never realized quite what I had done until after it was all over. All I knew was that every few sunrises I would feel an uncontrollable urge to kill, and I would either have to leave to find other cats I didn't know... or wind up slaughtering the cats who watched over me. It wasn't until many moons alter, that Two cats appeared to me in my dreams. They tolled me that I was cursed, that is was a genetic trait that would befall one of four kits in a littler- born to two parents with an identical condition." Kermodepaw growled at the thought of Daisytail and Dusktail as they appeared in his dreams. "These cats in my visions were, in fact my parents, and told me that there was a way to rid myself of the curse... though I never did find out how..." he concluded. "The reason I protect you, is because... I was that cat in your camp. When I'm in my cursed form My appearance changes dramatically... that's why you don't recognize me." he explained. "I don't kill you, because my need to kill is involuntary, unlike Mau's. When i'm not like... that I'm as plain as any old Clan cat, the thought of standing by and letting a kit die is disgusting..." Kermodepaw frowned, hoping he hadn't scared Coalkit...
|
|
|
Post by Lionblaze on Jun 9, 2011 0:04:27 GMT -5
Coalkit wanted to believe, again, that this cat was joking with him. That Kermodepaw was making a vein attempt to cheer him up a little. But. . the way he'd said it, he knew it was no lie. No joke. One killer wanted to protect him, while the other wanted him dead. If they ended up fighting over him, he feared only one would come out of it alive. That could be either good or bad for him . . depending on how he looked at it, and on exactly what happened if the two rogues fought. If Kermodepaw went through this change he'd spoken of, he'd surely slaughter Mau as easily as he had other clan cats, and then he'd turn his claws to him. He hoped if that were the case, that his killing instinct would bring about a swift death. In the case that Mau one, more likely if Kermodepaw remained like he was now, or the less likely scenario he beat him once he'd changed, he feared this would be the worst outcome. Mau would torture him, for how long he didn't know, for bringing about the death of his friend, even though Mau himself would've been the one to kill him. He was only making guesses of course, but he doubted Mau would take his life then, until he was begging for it. There was only one way the outcome could be good for him, and that was only a maybe. If Kermodepaw didn't go through this change, and he still somehow beat Mau to protect him. In the odd chance of that happening, he might even let him go home. At worst, he assumed he'd go on with his life living with the rogue, unless he decided to leave him alone. All the thoughts of death and abandonment suddenly made him dizzy, and the kit swayed unsteadily on his sore paws, barely catching himself before he collapsed entirely. He hadn't even realized just how long he'd been silent, only thinking. But he didn't hesitate in the question he needed to ask. The one that would decide if that last scenario were even a slight possibility. "Would you kill Mau to protect me?"
|
|
|
Post by jackel on Jun 9, 2011 0:21:45 GMT -5
Kermodepaw was slightly taken aback by the questiong and became extremly reluctant to respond as the answer came to him. "Of course I would..." he Lied with a forsed smile. "Now ..." he suddenly didn't know were he was going, wishing the kit hadn't asked the question. Now he felt like anything he tried would just wind up being a waist of time. "Do you want to go to my camp, or do you want to start training." he asked suddenly. He realized that Mau could very well be at the camp, and after addressing the problem verbally... he wasn't so sure if he was ready to face the problem physically quite yet. He decided to leave it up to the kit...
|
|
|
Post by Lionblaze on Jun 9, 2011 0:38:04 GMT -5
Coalkit returned the rogue's smile, but only slightly. At least that gave him a shred of hope, if it came down to the two of them fighting. "Well.." Testing his injured paw on the ground, he found it still wouldn't take his full weight, though it would take more than it had earlier before it began to really hurt. "I think I could do with some rest before training.." He admitted slowly, reluctant to show signs of weakness around him. But he knew training now would only be painful, and that it'd make his wounds worse before he could try and find something to treat them with. Hopefully he was right about the marrigold, and it'd help if he could find some. "I'm just really sore still." He added, hoping to give a valid excuse for turning down the training session. "And your still wounded too, aren't you? Neither of us would do very good training now."
|
|
|
Post by jackel on Jun 9, 2011 0:50:04 GMT -5
Kermodepaw hesitated before nodding. "Alright, we're close to the camp nho wanyway, its jusr up ahead." he meowed, getting back to his paws and cntinueing along the path they were on. SOon enough,after traveling through the lodgpole pine forests that covered most of the territory, Kermodepaw arrived in a small clearing. Tall grass rimmed the edge, and it was well hidden, though loosely protected from the outside. The crass within the clearing was short from the scattered herds of deer that sometimes passed through, and in the middle of it all was a large rock. Kermodepaw padded towards it, tasting the air for any signs of Mau; his scent was strong so he kept his guard up. "The earth is hallowed out beneath the rock, the entrance is just on the other side." he told Coalkit over his shoulder as he leaped up onto the large rock, splaying himself across its surface. After the cold of the water the suns warm rays on his pelt felt rejuvenating...
|
|
|
Post by Lionblaze on Jun 9, 2011 0:57:48 GMT -5
Coalkit followed a few tail-lengths behind the rogue the whole time, still limping, but not as bad as he'd been earlier, when he first arrived. He hadn't realized just how exhausted he was until the idea of rest and sleeping came to mind, and his eyelids were feeling heavy by the time he'd arrived at the camp with Kermodepaw. He took in the most basic details of the area, but that was all. He'd have time to check it out more thoroughly in the morning. "'Kay." He managed to answer the the cat that now stood atop of the rock. He only lifted his paw to pull a piece of grass that's stuck to his claw before padding around to the opposite side of the stone, eyes already half-closed as he made his way inside.
|
|
|
Post by jackel on Jun 9, 2011 10:16:10 GMT -5
Mau sighed, picking through the mass of feathers heaped in front of him to try and get at the rest of the hawk he had brought down when he heard scuffling noised just outside the den. "Kermodepaw , is that you?" He meowed, flicking his ear and raising his head above his freshkill. His tone sounded worried as Mau got to his paws, stretching in the area under the rock that Kermodepaw and himself called their camp. The glittering interior of the minerature cave made Mau's pelt seem to sparkle, the pale purple suddenly lighting up as it was hit with light. He was caught off guard when Coalkit walked inside instead of his partner. "Oh... it's you" he meowed, his ear folding back. "Is kermodepaw out there?" he asked, tapping his claws on the floor of the cave. Mau's eyes were wild as if there was a fox right on his tail, though the rest of him displayed a very calm demenor. "Well?" Mau demanded as he scented the air. He was to lazy to go up looking for Kermodepaw, and the entire den wreaked of half eaten freshkill. "Never mind..." he growled, pushing past the kit before emerging above ground, taking a look around and a strong inhale to clear his head...
|
|
|
Post by Lionblaze on Jun 10, 2011 19:28:07 GMT -5
Coalkit froze at the sound of the rogue's voice, shiver's coarsing through his body at the concealed hostility of it. His eyes darted down to those tapping claws, ready to jump and run if they came any closer to himself. He meant to answer. He didn't want to anger this rogue any more than he already was. He may have been badly injured, but he knew it would take little more than a few moments for him to slit his throat with those very claws. He was alone with the cat that wanted him dead, and Kermodepaw was likely to far away, atop of the rock above them, to do anything to stop Mau before it was too late, if he tried something that is. Terrified thoughts racing through his inexperienced mind, the kit didn't notice when the tom rose to his paws, until he fliched away when Mau pushed past him, This time, he shivered involuntarily, suppresing a whimper that fought to rise in his throat. He wouldn't cry, not with these rogues around. If he were alone, he'd little doubt he'd break down on the spot, but with others around, he wouldn't allow himself to show weakness. Otherwise they'd walk all over him, even if they'd already done plenty worse than that, he wouldn't let it happen again. He might still be a kit, but being the leader's son came with it's advantages. He cast a glare up the tunnel at the rogue, but turned away before he could get a chance to notice. Instead of making some snide remark that'd shorten his life, he made his way to the back of the den, curling up in the very corner, figuring it would be the farthest out of the way of Kermodepaw and Mau. He couldn't find his way to sleep, though. Not until the other two came back in, and he could be sure Mau didn't murder him while he slept.
|
|
|
Post by jackel on Jun 11, 2011 23:41:26 GMT -5
kermodepaw caught Mau's scent peak suddenly, and a flash of fur in the corner of his eye drew his attention as Mau emerged from the den. At first he was worried, though he couldn't put a paw on the reason. It was only a moment after that he remembered Coalkit. He didn't show any signs of it though and he reluctantly pulled himself back to his paws, ghracfully leapping back off the rock to confront Mau. "What is it?" Kermodepaw asked, flicking an ear.
Mau flicked his ears. "Their back... them... you know... !" Mau flinched, pulling his ears back and tucking his tail between his legs, crouching down as if a pack of starved wolves stood over him. "I can feel them... their watching me..." Mau's claws clicked franticaly against one another, and the dull rattling echoed faintly off the edges of the clearing.
Kermodepaw flicked his ears. Mau usualy got like this after an attack... worried and fretful. Kermodepaw sometimes wondered if it was some kind of guilt or regret that made him like this... but after a long wile Kermodepaw had concluded that Mau was simply out of his head- Insane. "Mau I didn't see any cat, but..." he nodded towards the water. "If they really are after you, you could go back to the river and wash your wounds; they might be following your blood scent." He meowed, indicating Mau's blood stained fur with a flick of his tail. "And If they take the kit wile I'm gone?? then what! that whole feat would have been a complete waste!" Mau hissed, his eyes darting around as if he expected to be attacked. Kermodepaw sighed. "I'll watch the kit. I wouldn't want anyone to take him from us as much as you do." He meowed; supposing it was , sort of true. "And I would leave your claws off him a wile, wait until your both healed up." Kermodepaw added, taking advantage of the topic.
Mau bit back a hiss. "Whatever Kermodepaw." He meowed before suddenly turning tail and taking off towards the river. I can't let them catch me! He though frantically, nearly forgetting everything Kermodepaw had said to him only moments ago. He could distinctly hear heavy pawsteps behind him... in front of him. their closing in!! He realized. His heart pounded in his chest and his own paws thundered against he dirt as he ran. He could see he water extending ahead; but the pawsteps behind him were growing louder. He could feel breath on the nape of his neck and hear whispers. "Leave me alone!" He wailed. Mau's pupils had been reduced to specks and his fur bristled; is face one of terror before he finaly plunged into the water. " the blood...they can smell my blood! He thought, diving below the water and rubbing himself along the rocky bottom. The water around him began to run red as the dried blood of the clan cats came loose from his thick silver pelt. no... they can't find me... ha! my scent will be washed away!...
Kermodepaw watched as Mau disappeared into the brush with a sigh as he listened to Mau's distressed wails echo into the woods; Like he really was being chased by a thousand warriors. "Coalkit..." Kermodepaw meowed, poking his head through the entrance. "Mau won't be back until just before sunhigh..." he meowed. "If you like, I'll sleep outside and keep watch for you..." his expression was soft. another wail broke the chirping of crickets as the sun began to set; turning he sky a brilliant orange and Kermodepaw flicked his ears, as if to reassure Coalkit that Mau wasn't there anymore...
|
|
|
Post by Lionblaze on Jun 12, 2011 0:22:58 GMT -5
Coalkit tentatively lifted his head from what had been a vain attempt at trying to sleep, his body still shivering a little even, rom his encountered only moments ago, his wailing having revived it when it echoed into the den. "Y-yeah . . thanks." He answered quietly, huddling closer into the corner, curled up so he could watch the den, though tail curled ove his front paws and bottom half of his face to try and make himself look asleep. Great. . A killer cat's gone insane now? He silently begged for Starclan to help him, to wake him up from this nightmare. "Would you. . be upset if I died, Kermodepaw?" He rose his voice to be heard outside the den, but he did hi best to sound nonchalant, curious even.
|
|
|
Post by jackel on Jun 12, 2011 0:49:55 GMT -5
Kermodepaw let the question hang, waiting a moment before answering. "Yes." he replied simply, pulling his head from the den and settling just at the edge of the entrance so he could still hear and respond to the kit. The only sign he was still there was his steady breathing and a wisp of white fur that could be seen just around the edge of the rock. Tucking his fore paws under his chest, Kermodepaw rested his head on the ground, letting his eyes close; though he didn't fall asleep, listening to the night animals in the forest...
|
|
|
Post by Lionblaze on Jun 12, 2011 1:35:45 GMT -5
Coalkit smiled a little, though the question had been simple. He wasn't really sure why he'd asked the question in the first place. Maybe just to know there was still someone that cared about him. He guessed his clan would've thought him dead and forgotten about him already. The thought made him realize how cold he felt. . . Both inside and out. He shivered again, though this time not really from fear. He almost asked for Kermodepaw again, but managed to keep himself quiet as he pulled himself to his paws and padded silently from the den. He looked around a moment for his protector and captor, and found him laying atop of the rock. He actually looked pretty peaceful. . Maybe cuz he looked asleep... Asleep? If he wasn't watching, maybe he could make a break for it. Make his way around the river and back to his clan, back to his mother. . . The thought died almost as quick as it'd been born. He was far too exhausted to do anything of the sort, and he'd not the first clue how to get home. Breathing out a sigh, the kit made his own way up the rock, dong his best to make his way up without a sound, but ending up making a few scratching noises along the way. He cringed at each one, expecting the bigger tom to nitce him, but he didn't seem to be spotted yet, so he continued over to the space where Kermodepaw lay, in his own green eyes, looking to be asleep. He knew he'd probably lose an eye for what he meant to do, but he didn't much care. Next to being kidnapped, and having a psycho cat wanting him dead, sleeping alone was the worst thing out here. For him anyways. He'd been used to sleeping in a den filled with other kits and their mothers. He'd had his own mother in there, too, until he'd finished nursing. But even after that he'd had the warmth of his clanmates to surround him. Now he was cold and alone, only a couple rogues for company. But Kermodepaw was better than nothing. In a swift movement, Coalkit slid over beside the white tom, laying in a similar position that the rogue had going, then changing it by pushing his muzzle in between the white cat's paw and chin, leaning against his side in the hopes of a few seconds warmth before he awoke and knocked him off the rock.
|
|
|
Post by jackel on Jun 12, 2011 23:28:16 GMT -5
Kermodepaw inhaled deeply, opening one fogy red eye. "Hey, since when do you get off doing things like that?" He demanded, though there was a joking tone in his voice and he smiled slightly to show he wasn't angry. "We can start your training in the morning, and I'd like to leave before Mau comes back." he yawned, closing his eye again. And curling his tail around him. "Be ready to go by sunrise..." he trailed off a bit. He supposed it was a bit weird how he had so quickly taken to Coalkit; and involuntarily a purr began to rumble deep in his chest. It had been so long since he had been around another normal cat... Not that he was normal at all... but someone who was in his right mind and he could communicate with. For a moment he felt almost as if he were back in his birth-clan; surrounded by cats who he loved, and who loved him... but it hit him like a warriors blow at the thought that there was no way Coalkit would ever love him like a clan-mate. HE was just his captor. The one holding him away from everything he had. His enemy Kermodepaw's purr died and he shuffled slightly. As much as the though didn't appeal to him, he was still glad that kit seemed to feel safer around him than to be alone. That thought at least gave him some comfort...
|
|
|
Post by Lionblaze on Jun 13, 2011 0:06:06 GMT -5
Coalkit folded his ears back against his head, and almost got up to scramble away from him until he realized that the other tom was joking. "S-sorry. . It's lonely in there." He admitted, hoping the rogue might find it a proper excuse, when he'd honestly never slept a night in his life that he wasn't surrounded by his clan-mates. He glanced to his side when that tail wrapped around him, blinking a bit at it before shrugging his shoulders. He probably just wantedto make him feel comfortable so he wouldn't try and run away. He didn't respond to the mention of training. He had a feeling it was the kind of training that the cats from Bloodclan might go through, having heard of the ruthless killers from nursery stories made to scare him into behaving."I can go by sunrise. . but do you mind if I sleep her awhile?" He asked quietly, fully expecting the answer to be no, but nestling into the older cat's fur regardless, blinking his green eyes a bit at the sudden purring. Weird cat. . . First he kidnaps me, now he's purring as I lay beside him? He sighed softly, deciding not to ponder on it too much, pressing against the white cat instead for warmth. His eyes had begun to close at the rythym of Kermodepaw's purring, then opened up wider again when it died abruptly. "Is.. something wrong?" He asked carefully, muscles tensed again to jump away if he needed to get away from claws and teeth.
|
|
|
Post by jackel on Jun 13, 2011 0:12:09 GMT -5
"No I'm fine..." Kermodepaw meowed, flicking an ear, slightly confused by the question. He was a bit curious why the kit had asked before he realized he must have heard his purring. "And no... I don't mind at all. You can stay out here with me however long you like." Kermodepaw told Coalkit, the end of his sentence slightly distorted as he broke into another huge yawn. Mau's yowls int he dark were beginning to fade into the background, the noise shrouded by crickets and the flapping of bat wings as they fluttered int he trees...
|
|
|
Post by Lionblaze on Jun 13, 2011 0:31:16 GMT -5
Coalkit had fallen asleep just a few moments later to the sounds of the forest, and Kermodepaw's steady breathing, and awoke to find himself beneath the rogue's paw. Not alarmed though, he figured he must've pushed his way under it in his sleep, trying to get to the cat's chest, the spot where his mother's purring had always been strongest, a sound he was quite used to being lulled to sleep by. He wasn't quite sure if the other tom had awoken yet though. So, while he kept his eyes opened, he remained still, weary of waking the white cat if he wanted to sleep longer.
|
|