start [S T A T I C]!

[Eagleh]

halak!

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The forest loomed up over him, the trees blocking the sun and shielding the young tomcat from the light. He was scared, but beyond that, his dappled gold and white pelt prickled with excitement. Sure, he was nervous and anxious, but this was his chance to run. To be free. He had only been a small kit when he had left his mother. The tom had spent enough time with her to pick up her accent, which now made it hard to talk to the other housecats living nearby. He was younger than most of them, not to mention shy and quite. After a few days of cuddling and treat-giving, his housefolk had mostly given up on him and left him to cower underneath chairs whenever they clucked his name.

Halak.

Not anymore. He was going to run into the forest, and he was going to find a new life. A life where he didn't have to worry about his accident and where no one would give up on him. Closing his eyes, the young tom could imagine the warm taste of mouse in his mouth. He had no idea what lived in these woods or what was in store for him. Halak shuffled his paws, turning to make sure that no one was watching him. He was perched precariously on the top of his housefolk's fence. They were inside, probably on their glowing pet typing away with their furless paws. Halak took a deep breath, swallowed, and then jumped.

He landed in the forest with a soft thump. Time to begin the adventure.[/blockquote]OOC. open for any thunderclan warrior(s) C:[/blockquote][/size]

[it's FiSHY, scaredy-cat.]

Stumbleknot--the path of the noble is not for one who's afraid of t r i p p i n g

Stumbleknot stiffened. Again, out of some carelessness, he made a mistake, and tripped. The deputy was on a patrol - before he went to investigate the eastern side of his territory and empty-mindedly began to frolick around the wild dandelions. Not that he was interested in flowers, anyway, but for some odd reason the deputy was tired today, and as oblivious as he often was, didn't find himself daydreaming until he tripped. Yes. Stumbleknot, the ThunderClan deputy, tripped over a pebble. Embarressing, right?

In anycase, that was the very reason why Stumbleknot stumbled dangerously close to kittypet territory. Although it was important to patrol the area, and the area was patrolled often, it would be suspicious for a clan cat to wander off into twoleg lands. The deputy, being deputy, had a reputation to uphold, after all. And that is for this reason why Stumbleknot often wondered why it was he that was picked and not someone like Ruggedstep, who clearly had more strength and power than him (or so he thought). It was a funny thing to wonder about.

Anyhow, the deputy was at the edge of the territory. The sweet-smelling flowers' aroma was wafting into his nostrils so he didn't smell it at first, but clear enough, another cat was there. Stumbleknot turned away to clear his senses when he first realized it. It wasn't a clan cat, nor a loner. Rather, it had the scent of vile kittypet food and twolegs. The tom blinked. What was a kittypet doing here?

His underbelly close to the ground, the tom crept close to the smell. There, indeed, was a cat. With a collar. A kittypet on ThunderClan territory? Nuts! Never the less, it kind of relieved the deputy. At least he had a real excuse. So, after a couple heartbeats of calm silence, he leaped.

The tom landed right in front of the stranger. Some birds near by fluttered away in shrill cries as the grass bowed down to his feet. It made for a nice effect, if not cheesy, but as long as the foreigner fled, it was okay.

He meant to only intimidate him; to scare him away, but something about the cat told him that this kittypet wasn't going to budge.

[Eagleh]

halak!

so cash in all your chips tonight, baby, 'cause we're going out of style

The world seemed so big and scary. It had been safe with his mother. It had been safe inside his housefolk's yard. But now the scents of the wild were fresh and they swam up and infiltrated his wide-open muscles. The tom's unsual pale grey eyes were the size of saucers as they took in the trees. They looked a lot smaller from the top of the fence, but now they were huge. Like monsters. Monsters. The tom shivered. He didn't believe in that. There weren't monsters. When you were dead you were gone, and there was nothing more than that.

A new scent came this time, one that was powerful and strong with the musky odours of the forest. Half of Halak wanted to run back to his housefolk, but the other half told him to stay. He wasn't going to back down for anything. The tomcat flinched as a large body landed in front of him, but he didn't retreat. He met the tom's gaze, sure that the wildcat noticed his fearscent. It was leaking everywhere. He shuffled his paws and tried to look determined. It didn't work.

"I'm goingk to come heye," said Halak, swallowing. His accent was strong and he wondered if the tom could understand him. "You can't stop me from comingk into zees voods." The wildcat probably could. But there was no reason why he needed to know that.

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[it's FiSHY, scaredy-cat.]

||S T U M B L E K N O T||

Apparently the tom didn't budge. Instead, he just spoke to him in his strange way of saying things: "I'm goingk to come heye. You can't stop me from comingk into zees voods."

Strange, thought Stumbleknot. Although his accent was terribly strong, it was still easily understandable, although the deputy pondered on how the kittypet still had the wits to keep standing - not to mention talk to him. It was clear that the cat wasn't all bold and determination, though, as his paws were shuffling uncomfortably. None the less, Stumbleknot wasn't going to take any chances, but he thought it wise to find a little more about this strange cat first.

"You have some courage to step out of your twoleg's territory in the first place," he mewed smoothly, eyeing the kittypet with a watchful gaze. Afraid that the tom would panic and flee, he mewed reassuringly, "I'm not going to hurt you as long as you don't hurt me or any of my clanmates," he switched back to a more forceful tone, "neither do you have the right to be on our territory. If you're planning to hunt here, try some place else. Your twolegs may have more than enough food for you than you need, but we...We feed ourselves what we can get, and that's not always enough." Stumbleknot observed the grey-eyed stranger for any reaction. "I suggest you leave, but before you do, tell me: what brings you here in the first place?"

OOC; too much dialogue=terrible post. Sorry.

[Eagleh]

halak!

so cash in all your chips tonight, baby, 'cause we're going out of style

All the fur on the young tabby's shoulders flattened as the large cat began to speak to him in a slow and reassuring voice. It didn't seem like the tom was going to hurt him, but Halak was still ready to bound away at a moment's notice. He had never been intimidated like this before. It had all been soft and downy nests with his mother and his siblings, and then into his housefolk's den. Though he avoided their pink, furless, hands, he knew they could never hurt him like this tomcat, with his sharp claws and dangerous eyes.

Halak flattened his ears as the tom spoke. He had never heard a cat speak like that before, with clear words and rolling phrases. Still, the tom's words didn't seem forced and he seemed quite comfortable when saying them. So maybe this cat just talked differently than Halak, and maybe he thought the golden tabby's way of talking was just as odd as his way. "Twolegks?" he questioned before understanding dawned on him. "You mean zee howsfolk," he stated. That made sense. They had two legs instead of four. As the unfamiliar cat spoke about clanmates and territory, Halak frowned. "Clan? Territory? Who are you? Vhere do you come frum?"

Immediately the tom's shoulder fur puffed back up. Hadn't he said he was going to come into these woods no matter what? Some dangerous looking cat wasn't going to stop him - he was goig to get in there or die trying. Preferably he was going to make it into the woods. "I vant to run. You can't stop me," he said with his head held high.

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[it's FiSHY, scaredy-cat.]

Stumbleknot--the path of the noble is not for one who's afraid of t r i p p i n g

OOC; sorry; I'm a bit busy

IC; The stranger seemed stranger and stranger. Just when Stumbleknot opened his mouth to answer his questions, the tom puffed up as sudden as lightning and said determinedly, "I vant to run. You can't stop me."

Stumbleknot almost laughed in surprise. My, my, my. This one is sure an oddity, isn't it? he thought to himself. However considerate the deputy was, though, his intentions still run clear: the cat is not welcome in ThunderClan territory, and Stumbleknot is doubtful whether Duskstar has the tolerance, especially in his condition.

Holding back expressions of amusement, he replied deep and confidantly, "I said you're not allowed in this territory. Many cats live here, and if other cats just trample in as they wish, taking what they like," he paused for an effect, "We would starve, wouldn't we? We would die."

[Eagleh]

halak!

so cash in all your chips tonight, baby, 'cause we're going out of style

Halak narrowed his pale eyes. The tom wasn't laughing at him, but unless he was terribly mistaken, the larger wildcat did look amused. The pale golden tabby swallowed nervously. This was finally his chance to escape his old life and start again, just doing what he loved. Was some arrogant little (okay, big) warrior going to take it from him? Born the runt of his litter, Halak had experience dealing with cats who restricted and restrained him. But this tom wasn't stopping him just for the purposes of bullying him. It seemed like he was stopping him from entering for a legitimate reason - we would starve. We would die. He hadn't thought of it like that. He hadn't realized his mouth in the forest would stop another from getting its own fair share of the prey. But Halak was prepared to compromise.

"Fine," he sighed, backing down. "You vill not let me eet. I understand now how eet stops your Clan or vatever you called eet frum eeting and surviving," he told the large cat, meeting his gaze. Halak wasn't stupid, and now he felt ashamed for assuming he could just waltz in and take what he liked. But since his primary purpose for entering the forest wasn't to hunt, the tom figured he could make a few sacrifices. "I vill come into your voods, but I vill not eet. I vill only run. I vill be silent. I vill not scare the prey. You vill not die." His pale grey eyes, usually so lifeless, were now lit up with intelligence and hope. The gaunt tom thought he had a chance.

we can leave this town if only for awhile

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[it's FiSHY, scaredy-cat.]

Stumbleknot--the path of the noble is not for one who's afraid of t r i p p i n g

In his mind, Stumbleknot chuckled to himself the way he said things in such a serious manner, and the positive way the stranger replied. He exagerrated things a bit; this he knew, although a part of his mind told him it wasn't an exagerration at all, if the cats gave time for such chaos to do so. Perhaps he was just worrying too much. Expressionlessly he pushed the thought away and refocused on reality, nodding with a smile, "You're an interesting kittypet, stranger."

[/color] The deputy paused for a moment thoughtfully and then mewed in a wary voice, "...If you stick to your word, I will let you roam as you please here. In the case you find yourself lost, in danger, hungry, thirsty, or any of that sort, you hold yourself responsible, do I make that clear? Also, if you ever step out of our territory and into another, do not trouble us if other clan cats attack you. Some can be rather territoral, if not defensive," Stumbleknot took a glance toward the moor before clearing his throat to continue: "You see, the other clans are just as wary of trespassers as we are. You'd be wise not to meddle," and then adding more lightly, "Enjoy yourself, but be careful."

Then Stumbleknot was just about to turn back in his mellow manner when he stopped to take a last look at the tom. He eyed his flank, his paws, his eyes, and meowed, "Just wondering before I go: tell me, what's your name?"[/blockquote][/size]

[Eagleh]

halak!

so cash in all your chips tonight, baby, 'cause we're going out of style

He held his head high as the large wildcat spoke, his claws digging into the ground. Halak was conscious of the eyes on him, but he threw it off. This tom wasn't going to kill him. He had sized him up and Halak had passed. That must count for something. The tom found himself wondering about the life this wildcat lived. Was he alone? No, he had spoken about a Clan. So he lived with other cats. They supported each other - maybe even loved each other? He lived with another cat, but he didn't love the kit, just the same age as he was. Would the kit even miss him? Probably not. Halak felt no reservation in leaving.

"I'm known as Halak," he said proudly. It wasn't an extraordinary name, but it was his, and that in itself made it special. The tom took a deep breath and continued a step further. "Vat about you?"

we can leave this town if only for awhile

[/size]

[it's FiSHY, scaredy-cat.]

Stumbleknot--the path of the noble is not for one who's afraid of t r i p p i n g

The wind tickled his flank, as if prodding him to go. Stumbleknot knew he should go back. The others would be wondering, but he had some business to do.

Halak...

Whatever the other tom thought, it was a pretty exotic name to Stumbleknot, who was used to names such as Whitefur and Redpelt. He liked the ring of the word...no, name. Halak. It just made the deputy more inquisitive about the cat. What brought him here? What was his business? What was his life like among looming twolegs and crumbly food? Stumbleknot's golden eyes were overflowing with curiousity.

But then again, on the other hand, Halak must have been wondering more-or-less the same things about him. He'd better answer his question.

Taking a deep breath -- and ready for any humiliating reaction -- the tom mewed in a confident voice, "Stumbleknot." He paused, waiting for some kind of retort, good or bad.

For the first time the brown-furred tom realized he never knew kittypets well at all. All his life he had lived side by side with them as neighbors, just tail-lengths away across the treacherous thunderpath, but know them? Meet them? No; he had even seldom seen them, not to mention speak to them. He didn't know about their social life between each other either. In the clan, everyone supported each other. Friends and enemies fought side-by-side anyway, simply because they share the same relative blood. There are exceptions, of course, but loyalty bounds everyone together. There were always laughs, teasing, drama and tragedy when love was in the air, and cheering and celebration upon kits, apprenticeship and warrior ceremonies. What did kittypets have?

So, Stumbleknot's vision of kittypets have always been the stereoretic type: lazy, fat kitties, slouching in two-leg nests, munching more pellet foods than they need and never caring to take a step into the woods.

[Eagleh]

halak!

so cash in all your chips tonight, baby, 'cause we're going out of style

The young tom wasn't sure what to think. The wildcat in front of him had a pensive expression on his face, and Halak was wondering if that was a good or bad sign. If the tom decided to insult his name - he didn't think he would, but you could never be sure - Halak wouldn't exactly be the happiest cat around. It was unusual and unconvential for the cats around here - like his accent - but it was his and that was all that mattered.

"Stumbleknot."

Halak frowned. It was an odd name, but he wasn't going to be judgemental. Maybe to this cat it seemed normal, like the way his own name seemed normal to him. Halak met the tom's golden gaze and shuffled his paws, slightly anxious. Was he waiting for a reaction? What if it was the wrong one? "Stumbolnot" he enunciated slowing, testing the syllables as they rolled off of his tongue. It didn't seem that hard to say. "Is that a clan name?"

we can leave this town if only for awhile

[/size]

[it's FiSHY, scaredy-cat.]

Stumbleknot--the path of the noble is not for one who's afraid of t r i p p i n g

Stumbleknot watched with intent eyes as Halak frowned and cautiously pronouced his name. He blinked. Not as bad as I thought, he said wordlessly, for he had recieved much teasing about his name in his adolescent moons.

"Is that a clan name?" the other tom continued to say.

The deputy paused for a moment, looking down, and mewed, "Yes. It is a clan name," and then quickly turning his eyes back up to add, "Not that I got to choose what I am called by, of course. That would be my parents' and leader's choice."

He said it because Halak frowned. Stumbleknot was more accustomed to laughs and snickers than those. Although he was expecting a more negative reaction, it is needless to say that the frown still struck him a bit offended a bit.

[xx snakey]

Dawnpaw snarled. There was a strange cat in Thunderclan territory and Stumbleknot wasn't chasing it away. Her young form just rippled with the yearning to leap on this cat and case him you, like her father had taught. Why had Duskstar chosen a cat like this to be his successor? Why not Noxshadow or another, stronger, loyaler tom? Dawnpaw didn't like it. She didn't like it at all. The grass whispered against her flanks as she moved through the grass and toward the two toms. Crouching in the shadow of a small heather, she readied herself for the attack. Her powerful body just quivered with anticipation. But not to attack the new comer, but the deputy. She swayed slightly back and forth then shot out from her hiding spot and barreled into the deputy, her smaller but almost heavier form slamming into his side. "Fool! I should tell Father of this, you unloyal foxheart!" She snarled, glaring at him with her amber and mint eyes.

[it's FiSHY, scaredy-cat.]

Stumbleknot--the path of the noble is not for one who's afraid of t r i p p i n g

Before Halak had time to reply, a little figure barrelled out of the shadows. Stumbleknot whipped his head around seeing Dawnpaw, and narrowed his eyes. She slammed into his side, but he did not flinch. She was just a young apprentice, but he was a full grown warrior, twice her size. A little lunge wouldn't do much to hurt him, though he was taken by surprise and stumbled a bit to regain his footing.

"Dawnpaw" he muttered inquisitively.

Amber and mint eyes glared back at him as she snarled, "Fool! I should tell Father of this, you unloyal foxheart!"

Stumbleknot blinked. This was unexpected. He calmly turned to look at Halak and back at Dawnpaw. "Perhaps there has been a misunderstanding," purred Stumbleknot to the apprentice, "This cat is a kittypet. He means no harm," then he chuckled, "But not any ordinary cat. I've leaped at him from behind with an intimidating snarl, and he didn't wince. This is Halak. Why don't you greet him?" Stumbleknot paused. Then the deputy cocked his head and added, "If you'd like, why don't you chase him out of our territory yourself?" His tone was smooth and neutral. "I'm sure this stranger is curious to see an example of what a cat as young as you can do."

Stumbleknot said his last sentences facing Dawnpaw, back turned to Halak so the kittypet couldn't see. He pawed the apprentice gently, as if to nonverbally say, "You know what to do," for he had loyalties to his clan too, he mustn't forget. In these territories Halak is a threat, even if a small one, despite how the cat means no harm.

Neutral is the best way, at all costs.

[it's FiSHY, scaredy-cat.]

OOC; are we going to keep this going, or is this closed? :3 Nobody has replied in a while, so...