“Alright everyone, listen up because I don’t plan to be here repeating myself all day.” Hawkbite barked as he paced up and down the line of assembled cats, who stood before him like soldiers at attention. The sun beat down on Hawkbite’s dark fur, stirring his bad temper.
“We’ve been tasked with finding the owner of this,” He tossed down the dog collar which he had been twirling on his wrist absentmindedly. It was lavender in color, made to fit a dog of medium size with a slip that could fit it to a much smaller animal. It told them this was the size range to bear in mind on their search, ruling out a few yards which held larger dogs.
“We’ll be heading into twolegplace- not far, but it’s another world out there. A world I know only too well, so I've been selected to take us through on our search. I want to make myself clear, if I give the order to run- you run. I know we’re ThunderClan and that means we’re brave but you’ve got to trust I know when it’s smarter not to fight.” He met each of their eyes, as though daring someone to challenge him.
“If there aren’t any questions, let’s head out.” And with that he bolted through the exit to camp and out into the summer woods. It was a short and silent trek to the world of man. As he soldered his way through a particularly dense hedge that bored their home, he found himself in a place he hadn’t seen since his journey to find his mother. I wonder if she’s close by, Hawkbite thought idly as he led the way across a grassy pass toward the line of uniform fences. A few feline faces popped up over the fence posts, but vanished just as quickly as the Warrior troupe approached.
“Here goes nothing,” Hawkbite muttered under his breath as he tensed his hind legs and launched himself up the vertical plane. He was a bit rusty, but managed to regain his footing after a heartbeat as he scrambled up to perch along the top of the fence. Poised as he was, he had an ample view of the human gardens that lay in a segmented sprawl of color and shape. A lazy summer breeze could be felt up there, and he closed his eyes letting his bones soak up the pleasant warmth before looking over his shoulder at his patrol.
“Well, what are you waiting for?”
Hawkbite’s ears positively burned with embarrassment. Were the others really going to abandon him to his fate? All alone? It was quite possibly for the best, however. The other patrol cats, as far as he knew, were red-blooded ThunderClan cats through and through. Hawkbite doubted very seriously that any of them had had more than a passing interaction with their so-called twolegs. Seriously, what was wrong with calling them ‘man’? Every other creature does. He thought to himself. He had more than a few colorful expletives he himself would have been inclined to employ as a small cup was lifted to his lips. Though his nose told him it was only water that the child offered, he felt inclined to be difficult so he sealed his lips and refused to drink. Alone he might have been more flexible, but he could just imagine his clanmates rolling in the grass with laughter at her antics. Applepaw would probably keep the memory of his shame alive for moons, enshrining it in the lore of Elder stories alongside famous battles and dramatic love stories. He’d be lucky if cats forgot it by the time he retired to join the elders himself!
All this, and we never even found the damn dog.
The child emitted noises of complaint as the water splashed down Hawkbite’s chest, darkening the fabric of the white slip that adorned him. She fussed and wiped at the stain disconsolately. When she turned away from him to grab a cloth rag, he saw his opening to escape. Stealing a swift glance behind him to ensure the others had left, he bolted over the table. His claws briefly failed to make much purchase on the tablecloth, causing it to bunch up in a cartoonish manner while he himself remained stationary for all his desperate strides. Thankfully he managed to gain a foothold on the naked wood surface beneath, and vaulted high over the child’s head. His joints absorbed the shock of his fall with more than a little complaint, but he had no time to heed his body’s plea for slowness, instead making a mad dash across the grass and shot between a gap in the fence boards. It was a tight fit, and he left more than a few clumps of black hair behind. But he’d made it. They all had. Hawkbite raced ahead to join back up with the others, losing a hoot of laughter into the cool fall air.
The patrol felt less urgency as they neared their homeland. But Hawkbite had the distinct impression that everyone was still staring at him.
“What?” He snapped, shivering and hardly in the mood for this nonsense. “Do I have something on my-” He cast a look down. He was still wearing the garment. It was a bit worse for wear, damp and riddled with burrs and catchweed from the dash through the thicket, but it had clung to him like frost to a leaf. The hat had slipped off his ears and hung from a string around the neck.
“Oh ha ha. Yes, have your fill. It’s not as if I saved our hides today.” He groused stiffly. “Let’s get closer to camp and then we can…work on how to get this thing off me. Pink’s not my color.”
- Briarstep -
"I swear by Starclan!" Briarstep yelped as a nearby door slammed open, a pair of two-legs rushing out to aid their kittypet. "Time to go, time to go!" he mewed, taking off as Hawkbite gave the order. His heartbeat pounded in his ears as the patrol fled. His belly burned with anger towards Applepaw, but he kept his mouth shut. Getting chased by by angered two-legs was probably enough punishment.
Unfortunately, it seemed the patrol's bad luck wasn't over. A small two-leg had spotted them, and she reached out with excitement. "Good luck Hawkbite," he whispered sympathetically as the dark tom went to provide a distraction. He hung back with the rest of the patrol, hidden safely in the brush. For now, the young two-leg seemed distracted. It made strange sounds, seemingly happy. "Do you think he'll be alright on his own?" Briarstep whispered. "Won't that pink thing make it hard for him to escape?"
It all happened before Hawkbite could do a damned thing about it. No sooner had he turned away to choose Briarstep for the trial, Applepaw was stepping forward and rattling off something he suspected was very very incorrect. He opened his mouth to snap at her, but realized a split-second later how pointless it would be, and instead whirled about breaking into a run past the kittypet. Her voice rang shrilly on his heels.
“WHY I NEVER. FATHER, PAPA, HELP!! BRIGANDS ARE ACCOSTING ME!” Stars above, was she even speaking cat anymore? The harsh timbre of her meow was so painful to the ears that he wasn’t sure.
“ThunderClan- make for the fence! I will try to draw their attention!” Hawkbite yowled, though he could not tell if his words were intelligible over the screams of the hairless cat. Without hesitation, he took off, veering away from the group as the back doors to the home opened and two male twolegs emerged. Their faces looked incensed, which gave Hawkbite a shiver of fear. Angry twolegs could spell a cat's doom. Though he hoped to meet only inconvenience at their hands. But there was never any way to be sure with up-walkers. As expected, one of the men went over to the coiled water hose as the other scooped up the wailing she-cat and petted her skin, crooning softly to her. Hawkbite would swear that she gave him a smug look, but he didn’t have time to dwell on it. The end of the hose erupted in a showering arc of freezing cold water that hit him square on the flank. Giving a most un-tom-like yelp, he stumbled briefly before regaining his rhythm. That water was cold! Thankfully the nozzle was moving in a slow half-circle, its beam directed at the rest of the patrol as well. They were further away from it, but not fully spared by far.
At long last, Hawkbite wiggled through a narrow gap in the ancient fence boards and popped out on the other side of some brush, still shivering like a kit fresh from the womb. He cast about to ascertain that the others had made it as well. When he felt satisfied, he composed himself. As if he hadn’t whined like a whelp when he’d been soaked. Taking in his surroundings, his brow furrowed. It was the last stop on their patrol, and they’d yet to have any luck in identifying the beast troubling their borders. It had always been a long shot. The dog could hail from much further into the maze of human dwellings, or it could have traveled far. The thing could even be feral. He was about to turn and suggest they head home when a squeal pierced the air.
“KITTIES!”
Hawkbite didn’t speak much twoleg, he lacked the ear for it like so many woodland cats.But even he could tell that the little twoleg perched at a small table was talking about them. Trussed in a pink pelt, she was pointing one meaty forefinger in their direction, her face alight with excitement. Up on the porch he could see her kin, watching idly. They had to play this cautious, giving chase was highly unwise as it would only encourage her to pursue and yank on their tails. To wound a twoleg kit was suicidal with its parents nearby. And Hawkbite suspected that the littlest ones never meant any harm, so he was reluctant to bring out his claws. But the rest of the patrol? He wouldn’t bet his life that they’d handle it the same.
“Everyone stay still.” He muttered, hardly moving his mouth even to speak. “I’m going to ....distract it. When I give the signal you all move slowly across the yard.”
With a meaningful glance at them, he walked slowly up to the kit. He held his tail high, and purred so loudly it could be heard even up by those on the porch. The little girl clapped her hands together as he reached her and began languidly winding himself around her shins. A part of him wondered if this was a tiny glimpse into what his life might have been like if his mother had given birth under a twoleg roof. He’d have been separated from her and his littermates– would his sickly sisters have lived? Ocean and Lily, living happy lives as lap cats while the cats who now held their names would never be born. Or would they? Hawkbite genuinely couldn’t see himself as a kittypet. He’d been so profoundly shaped by his hardships. What does that say about me? That I’m no one outside of my struggles? At any rate, he was content with his life. His beautiful mate, their children, his Clanmates. It was all worth it.
But maybe not worth this, he thought, as he was unexpectedly seized around the middle by demanding arms. It took every ounce of self-restraint not to react viscerally. It didn’t seem like she intended harm. Though he began to question that assessment as he was shoved face-first into a garment not unlike the ones worn by her kind. It was suffocating. Hawkbite felt smothered until his head popped out the other end. The item flowed down to cloak his body, its lace adorned with pink ribbons. Before he could reflect on it much, something else was being strapped to his head, crushing his ears to his skull. It was incredibly uncomfortable. But he wasn’t in any pain. And his ploy seemed to be working, for what it was worth.
She plopped him down on a seat at the tiny table. It was awkward, sitting upright with his forearms laying on the table. His vision acclimated blurrily, though he could make out other figures seated at the table besides the child. Whether they were his Clanmates or not was still out of focus, though part of him would’n’t mind too terribly if he were not the only poor soul subjected to this torture. If he was, they’d never let him live it down.
Applepaw Applepaw had high expectations for their reaction at her ability to track the patrol all on her own, her grin faded as Hawkbite initially snapped at the apprentice. Stumbling through her words, until Hazelface protectively cloaked the apprentice in her tail, finding comfort at the idea that her mentor cared so much for her. “I promise I’ll be good, Hawkbite.” Her voice was soft, the black pelted tom cat being one of the only other clan members Applepaw felt complete respect for.
Applepaws eyes narrowed as a somewhat familiar voice decided they were worthy enough to scold her, poking her way out of Hazelface’s tail blanket over her, “Im sorry, who even are you?” Her eyes studying Brairstep, she definitely saw him around camp often enough but she couldn’t tell you their name if anyone asked. Seeing as the patrol decided to move past Applepaws appearance, she made sure to stick close to her mentor. She understood the dangers but she just wanted to help.
As if Applepaw herself didn't set the mission back, a new obstacle stood in their way in the form of a fleshy pink blob. Applepaw hacking at the sight of the naked…feline? “What in Starclan are you?” Being a young apprentice she couldn't stop herself from the burst of laughter that followed her words. “It looked like the dog got to it before us.” Her joke merely whispered to Hazelface.
The peachy cream apprentice’s muzzle fell open as Hawkbite casted a glare in her direction, Why didn’t he trust her? She snuck out of the camp, passed trained warriors, she tracked them down, if anything she was the best suited for this. Huffing she stepped forward, “That prune might be your favorite but some of us are more suited for this. Why doesn’t little Mr. Milk Drinker go make sure he didn't break a claw. I can handle this.” Applepaw glared the flesh blob, raking her brain around the riddle she bestowed upon them. Applepaw seriously doubted the intelligence of a mere kittypet, believing it was just spouting nonsense at them rather than an actual riddle. “Clearly its mouse being played with by kittens learning to eat.” Applepaw had no real clue what she was saying but obviously this rat wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a pile of sand and a dirtplace so she wasn't concerned with offering the ‘correct’ answer.
H A Z E L F A C E
There was no feline in the history of this Earth that enjoyed being man-handled. Hazelface was no exception. The minute she felt teeth on her scruff yanking her backwards and onto the edge of the lawn, she hissed, immediately ready to turn on the cat that dared to put their paws on her. Her eyes, glimmering with anger, clashed with Hawkbite’s. The black tom was lucky that he was a clanmate or he’d have additional scars to that pretty face of his for hauling her around like that.
She curled her lip, tail lashing. Touch me again and you’ll lose a tooth. However, she obeyed his commands. Despite what most of her Clan thought about her, Hazelface was a rational warrior. She knew that they had a mission to complete and she wasn’t reckless enough to throw it away. It was clear that Hawkbite wasn’t going to entrust her with any more duties after her hasty entry, as he was assigning Spottedmoon to go forward. The gray molly unapologetically rolled her eyes, staying put as he pointedly looked at her. She was more than qualified for the task but she supposed that she could allow the other molly some glory to her name for now.
Sure enough, the warrior was back to their side of the lawn, the alarm deactivated and their path seemingly clear. She sure looked proud of herself. Despite Hawkbite and Talonperch’s praise, what she had to say wasn’t nearly as kind. “Glad to know that you do serve some purpose.” Hazelface smirked.
Her attention was quickly redirected by the voice piping up at her side. The warrior’s head turned, surprised to find her apprentice, Applepaw, grinning from ear to ear. “Applepaw, I-” She started, only to be cut off by Briarstep and Hawkbite immediately biting into the apprentice. Her hackles rose as the black tom rounded on the little cream feline and she did not hesitate to step in between them. “Center yourself.” She deadpanned with an eerie calm- quite opposite of the hot-headed, temperamental personality most associated her with. “That’s right- you’re in charge here. You have a patrol to lead. Do you really have time to waste yelling at apprentices?” Don’t get her wrong though, despite how calm she appeared, she was furious on the inside. Regardless of how out of place Applepaw’s actions were, it was Hazelface’s responsibility as her mentor to reprimand her. Not Hawkbite’s. Not Briarstep’s. If they wanted to say another word to her apprentice, they would have to go through Hazelface first.
She swept past both of them, whisking her tail protectively over Applepaw’s flank. “Come now, stay by my side. Don’t stray,” she ordered. As the patrol moved forward, she made a point to keep her apprentice by her flank opposite the rest of the cats present.
Before she knew it, their journey was interrupted yet again- this time by… Something she didn’t know how to describe. Her lip curled in disgust at the sight of that poor cat, noting to herself how hideous it looked. She watched as Hawkbite and the kittypet bit back and forth at one another, her amusement quickly dissipating to annoyance. And then, suddenly, the shrewd little thing was demanding of them to answer a riddle of hers. Oh, stars. She thought, already fed up with this little charade. Why didn’t they just beat her up and step past her? Because warriors don’t do that, yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever. It seemed as though Hawkbite only had faith in one other cat here, as he immediately asked Briarstep for help and glared at herself and Applepaw. Fine then, she thought derisively. Have fun solving it by yourself.
- Briarstep -
He winced, as Hawkbite berated Applepaw. The tom's words were harsher than his own. 'I feel a little bad,' he thought. 'I know Applepaw meant well. She just needs more discipline. And well, a lot of patience.' Her prickly exterior was likely hiding whatever emotions laid beneath. He followed along, taking up the rearguard. Walking atop the fences felt strange, and his paws were ungraceful. He was thankful when Hawkbite lead them down into another yard, steering the patrol away from a rotted portion of fence wood. As their paws hit the well-trimmed grass, a strange and uncanny creature sprung out towards them. He blinked a few times, unsure of what he was looking at. They were a cat, but without fur. He grimaced as Hawkbite chuckled at their appearance. "Oh Starclan," he muttered. Despite his anxiety, he stepped forward for damage control, before Hawkbite even called his name. "I'm s-sorry, we didn't meant to intrude," he mewed. "I can try answering, but I'll need a moment. I promise you, we'll be out of your fur even faster if you just let us pass..." He doubted his attempt to persuade her would work. She seemed bent on toying with them, her two-legs a bartering chip. But, the answer to this 'easy" riddle wasn't springing to mind.
Hawkbite looked on with satisfaction as Spottedmoon took to the task. His own heart was pounding as she bounced, one, two, three, he had to resist the urge to snicker. It certainly looked fun, but extremely silly as well. He gripped the neatly trimmed grass with his claws when she launched into the air, time seemingly slowing down to preserve the delicate ruffle of her fur and whiskers. When she landed, he released a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding.
“Excellent! SkyClan should be eating their hearts out right now.” He kept his voice low still, but his amber eyes shone with pride and appreciation for Spottedmoon.
Just as he was ushering the rest of the patrol through a gap in the fence boards, the sound of pawsteps and a shrill young voice tugged on his fraying nerves.
“Applepaw.” He hissed, exasperated. Did none of the youth of ThunderClan listen to a damn order? Oh jeez, did that thought really pass through my head? I sound like an Elder! Hawkbite felt a shock pass through him like he’d plunged into icy waters. It wasn’t like he hadn’t gotten up to his fair share of rule-breaking as a younger cat, but… Well, it was different for me! I was saving lives. The kits are just being difficult on purpose!
Yeah, because YOU never did that. He could practically hear Chanterellefrost snorting with laughter.
His nostrils flared as he rounded on Applepaw, hackles twitching in irritation.
“StarClan’s teats, who’s in charge of this patrol?” He exclaimed in exasperation. “Well, it is impressive, but don't think you’re getting rewarded missy. You get to be the one to explain to Peachblossom how you ended up on a mission this dangerous.” Hawkbite shook his head, the majority of his anger fading as quickly as it had flared up. They had a mission to focus on. Even if he was quite literally herding cats.
He sent Briarstep a look of appreciation, thankful beyond words that he had at least one cat whose head wasn’t stuffed with cobwebs on the mission. Steeling himself, he followed the last cat through the gap and into the next yard.
There was no known dog in this yard, but he didn’t like the look of the rotten wood of this particular fence. It was a long fall for younger cats like Applepaw, so he’d elected to proceed on foot. It was a fairly straightforward path. The garden itself was lush, host to a colorful array of flowers and broad floppy-leafed plants neatly arranged in carefully maintained earthen mounds that were bordered by a uniform line of stones. There was still enough open grass for them to cut across fairly easily, though, so Hawkbite signaled with his tail for the patrol to hang back as he slunk ahead to check that the coast was clear. There appeared to be some activity in the twoleg nest itself, the low din of voices could be heard as the shadows of bodies moved behind linen drapings just inside the windows. When Hawkbite felt satisfied, he stood and waved his tail for them to follow. But no sooner had he risen to his full height, than something sprung from the dense plants in a flash of pink.
Hawkbite reacted instinctively, puffing up his coat to appear larger as he arched his back, strafing backwards a few steps. But some of this hostility dissipated when he took in the sight before him, replaced instead by perplexity.
The…creature standing before them smelled plainly of cat, though he’d never seen anything that looked less like a cat. Where fur would normally grow this animal was clothed only in wrinkly baggy skin the color of a white cat's paw-pads. It hung off of their bony frame like an ill-fitted cloak, gathering in places near the joints and facial features to form crevices and folds. Indeed this was, Hawkbite supposed, just what a white would look like if their entire body was as smooth and hairless as their pads. Cat skin was quite loose, in reality. Yet Hawkbite would never have imagined in his wildest dreams that he’d see a cat with only skin. Had twolegs done this? They did sick things to cats, he knew…
Either way, it was apparent that there was no danger. Letting his fur lie flat, Hawkbite couldn’t quite fend off the grin that fought to overtake his features. Now that he’d had time to adjust- it really was the strangest thing. There was something comical about the whole affair. His overreaction, the creature’s odd appearance. He couldn’t help it. He laughed.
“Excuse you.” The pink cat said shrewdly. From the voice, he’d wager it was a she-cat. The hairlessness didn’t leave much to the imagination, either.
“Apologies.” Hawkbite coughed, trying to reign in his laughter. “You, um, you startled us. We’re from the forest, and we’re just passing through.”
“Yes, and you thought you’d come gawk at the freak kittypet, hm?” Her eyes, bulbous and green, narrowed.
“Wha- no, we had no idea you lived here. We’re just-”
“Silence. I know what you thought. You rogues, always coming by just to laugh at my appearance. As if I asked to be born like this? My mother, my father, my siblings are all the same way. But no one ever believes me. They think I’m shaven each night! The nerve, my housefolk would never-” She gave a violent shake of her head. Bells jingled on a collar about her neck. Hawkbite thought it did little to add dignity to her visage, but he didn’t say so.
“Anyways.” She meowed, regaining some sense of posture. “I’ve had it. My housefolk are quite protective, you know. I only need to yowl, and they’ll come and drive you off. And they aren’t kind either. I always especially enjoy seeing them use the water hose.” She smiled devilishly. The lack of fur on her muzzle allowed her teeth to be fully on display. It was an unnatural sight.
“Look, we don’t want any trouble-” Hawkbite started in, a sense of unease prickling at his nape.
“Now, now. I’m feeling generous today.” She purred. “So, I think I’ll give you a chance. If you can answer this riddle, I’ll let you pass. If not, well, the hose isn’t painful from what I gather…”
Wisely, Hawkbite held his tongue. He simply nodded to let her know that he agreed to the terms. It seemed wisest, with the chill in the air they would do well to avoid getting drenched by some twolegs.
“See? We can be civilized.” Meowed the hairless cat. “Let’s see, now, nothing too hard, you don’t look like the brightest leaves on the tree…” Then she cleared her throat.
“What has four legs in the morning,
two at noon,
and three in the evening?”
Hawkbite gaped. That was an easy riddle? He’d never heard anything more abstract. He turned helpless to look at his patrol members. Who was the smartest here? It certainly wasn’t him. Hawkbite would admit to being clever, but smart? They were different attributes.
“Briarstep?” He turned to Brirstep hopefully. He was fairly bright, wasn’t he? At the very least he could think of no one who was more inoffensive. Maybe he could smooth things over for them. Hawkbite cast a furtive glance in Hazelface and Applepaw’s direction, silently threatening the both of them not to make the situation any worse.
- Briarstep -
The russet tom winced as Hazelface berated him. "Well-" he started, trying to find the words to respond. He understood her impatience, her worry. But, lashing out while in enemy territory wouldn't help. Before he could respond, Hazelface darted ahead. Hawkbite followed after her, stopping the she-cat before she could do anything too reckless. Briarstep sighed in relief. 'Thank Starclan they weren't noticed."
He waited with the others as Spottedmoon entered the yard to disable the "alarm". His stomach churned into knots, fearful of the two-leg waiting on the porch. Caboose, the kittypet, had warned them. But, the patrol had to press onward. Briarstep watched with wide-eyes as she managed to use the bouncing two-leg contraption to reach heights further than her legs could carry her. He beamed as she returned from the yard. "We should get going Hawkbite, now that it's safe," he mewed. He turned back to Spottedmoon. "Well done! My heart felt like it was going to burst. You jumped higher than a Skyclan cat."
A loud meow made his hackles rise, and he whirled to see Applepaw beside Hawkbite and Hazleface. "Applepaw!" he growled. "Oh you mousebrain, what are you doing here?" It was impressive, but this area was far too dangerous for an inexperienced apprentice. But, sending her back alone would be even riskier. "I guess you're here now, at risk of life and tail. I'm sure you wanted to prove yourself, but there's value in listening to your elders, Applepaw."
Applepaw
A patrol? The peachy cream calicos ear flicked as the gossip of a dog roaming around Thunderclan territory, finally something exciting was happening and she was going to be apart of it. Hazelface! She found her into the patrol, surely they wouldnt deny her the opportunity to go with her mentor on this. Jumping to her paws the apprentice bounced towards the cluster of cats.
Oof
The molly was suddenly brought to a halt, teeth gripping her scruff holding her in her place. The pressure on her scruff finally released, Applepaw whipped around to see her mothers disapproving face scowling at her. “Where the hell do you think you are going, little miss?” Peachblossoms strict tone alone causing Applepaw to flinch. “I was going to join Hazelface on the patrol. It seemed like a great learning experience ya know?” The clone apprentice shuffling her paws as she nervously put on her ‘innocent’ smile. “I don't think so. You’re still in trouble for sneaking over the Windclan border. Im sure the elders could use your help a lot more than Hazelface could.” Huffing the round medicine the cat dismissed her daughter, disappearing back into her den.
Sulking the apprentice made tail towards the elders den scared to disobey her mother, however seeing the molly retreat back to her den and the patrol leave the camp Applepaw saw her chance. Sticking to the sides of the camp, she slid out of the camp silently, sticking far behind the group staying low to the ground as she tracked the patrol. Twolegs, dogs, kittypets this whole experience was so exciting to watch from the sidelines, but watching wasn't enough for the ambitious apprentice, snaking her way through the legs of the other felines Applepaw popped up beside Hazelface and Hawkbite.
“Found ya! I tracked you the whole way! Are you proud?” Applepaw mewing loudly bouncing on her paws, unaware of the disturbance she was causing.
Talonperch
Thunderclan Warrior
The ginger tom glanced over his shoulder at Hazelface with a snort as she commented on them being afraid of the current situation.
"Oh, I don't know... just afraid of finding a dog that could rip my pelt from my bones!" He replied tartly, before rolling his eyes and continuing on. However, he made little effort to actually jump down into the yard. He instead remained put on the fence of the twoleg garden, his eyes fixed on Spottedmoon in case she needed assistance. He was prepared to launch himself down into the garden for her sake.
He was tempted to hiss that she needed to hurry up and stop jumping around like a twoleg kit, but he knew that if he did it could cause more problems for the rest of the patrol. It was risky to be so loud when the twoleg was so close. His eyes widened in shock as he watched his clanmate sail through the air like a bird, landing atop the button and pressing it down.
"W...Wow..." He breathed, stunned as the she-cat padded toward them once more. Finally, the ginger top slipped down the fence behind his clanmates, pawsteps light in fear of the movement causing the twoleg to wake up.
"That was...impressive!" He admitted, flicking his tail and glancing away, looking a little embarrassed he didn't get the chance to be the one to think up such a creative solution.
Spottedmoon ~ Thunderclan Warrior
The feline raised her brow at the scene before her. Her heart ached at the raw emotion she felt, but she had to turn her head away. Instead, Spottedmoon focused on the mission before her. It was important to turn off the alarm before the twoleg woke up. It would only be a hassle if it woke up and started attacking her fellow clan mates. She sighed at the thought of it. Spottedmoon took in the full view of the yard. The strands of grass clinging to her paws was proof enough it was freshly cut. It was simple enough, but there were always hidden obstacles.
Spottedmoon turned her attention towards the pool. The water was abnormally blue and it caused her to tilt her head. She sniffed the air slightly and shook her head at the strong, almost nauseating scent that wreaked from the water. Even if she was a strong swimmer, there was no way she wanted to smell of whatever that was. Not to mention her splashing would cause too much noise and probably wake up the twoleg. The molly glanced in its direction. A small wave of relief washing over her form as it was still asleep.
The next option seemed more doable for the black and white feline. She wasn’t sure what the object was called, but she had seen offspring of the twolegs use it to jump higher than normal. With that contraption and her strong legs, Spottedmoon could easily jump over the yard and press the button. If all went well, she would have a solid plan before her. She stretched out her back before quickly taking off. Her paws were quiet as they hit the soft grass, just barely kicking up grass. Carefully, the feline came to a stop. Her black nose sniffed the metal bars and she almost jumped. It always shocked her just how cold metal could be even with the blazing sun. She shook off the shock and used her hind legs to propel her onto the object. Her claws clung onto the blue mesh as it made a loud crumpling noise.
Her murky eyes widened and she quickly snapped her head towards the old twoleg that sat in front of its nest. It shifted at the noise and slightly raised its head, but it quickly drooped and remained in a relaxed position. Spottedmoon let out a small sigh of relief and placed her attention on the slick black covering before her. She swatted her front paw at it a few times to ensure her safety. Once she deemed it to be safe, she slowly crept her way on. She could already feel the difference as she trudged closer to the other end. The molly glanced back to the others and sent them a nod. Then, Spottedmoon began to jump in place.
A smile was brought to her features with each jump. Never before did she think she would ever reach such heights. It was so easy to get lost in the feeling. Her stomach would drop and then feel like it was in her mouth. She could feel her fur shift with every bounce. She considered this fun! Finally, she could see the button. She used one last jump and launched herself over the yard. Her jaw was clenched, her claws out and ready to grip onto the ground. Spottedmoon breathed in deeply just as she was about to land and shut her eyes tightly, terrified she was going to miss. Just as the dread washed over her, she landed with a small clicking noise beneath her feet. She had done it!
Quickly, she pulled herself off the button and turned to face the others. A bright and confident smile was plastered on her chaps. It was a very proud moment for her and she couldn’t wait to share it with the others back at Thunderclan. Her tail was held high as she trotted back towards Hawkbite. Even though the alarm had been shut off, she was still quiet and quick with her steps.
“What can I say? I was made for this.”
Hawkbite sighed heavily in consternation, turning to Spottedmoon when he was finished chewing out Hazelface. His temper was steaming slightly, and he drew a few breaths to calm it back down.
"No, you go on ahead Spottedmoon. Hazelface is staying right here, with me." He turned back to shoot a look at the cat in question.
Spottedmoon ~ Thunderclan Warrior
The scent of the dog collar made Spottedmoon scrunch her nose up in disgust. She wanted to push the collar away and allow Hawkbite to continue carrying it. It was a job she didn't want and was lucky that was given to him. Her yellow eyes tore away from the lavender collar and up to the dreaded Hawkbite. It wasn't that she didn't like him, but his temper was enough for her to avoid him if she could manage. Her gaze caught his challenging one and she swiftly nodded her head. He didn't scare her and she understood the seriousness of the task. Spottedmoon was just determined to make this patrol as easy as possible. The molly did not consider herself lazy, but perhaps easily socially drained. Being around so many other warriors made a nap sound enjoyable.
It was easy for Spottedmoon to balance on the fence. Her claws dug into the wood in order to stable herself with each landing of the other cats. She made a mental note that everyone had made it. It wasn't her job to do head counts, but it made everyone's job easier if multiple were doing it. She stretched herself in order to gain a better view of the yards before her. Talonperch was correct. It was difficult to see everything before them with the fences laid before them. Spottedmoon glanced to him.
"I suggest we are careful then. The last thing we need is to drag the wounded back to clan." She mumbled to the tom. It was a comment to help him feel heard. "We have each others backs. You just gotta trust." Spottedmoon whispered.
For a split second, the molly almost lost her footing on the fence. Her spotted ears perked up at the mention of her name. She looked to Hawkbite and listened closely. She feared his reaction to having to explain himself twice. Spottedmoon looked to the yard. It seemed simple enough. She knew she was quick enough not to set any alarms and her legs were strong enough to launch herself right where she needed to be. As she was ready to confirm she was ready for the task, Hazelface and Hawkbite launched off the fence. The black and white feline sighed to herself.
Spottedmoon followed suit. She was much more careful than the other two. She quickly slide off the fence. Using the wood to soften her land as much as possible. She slinked along the siding and was met with the sight of a very angry Hawkbite. She sat down on the freshly cut grass and wrapped her tail around her paws. Not speaking until he was done hissing.
"Change in plans?"
Hawkbite waited as the other two joined him up on the fence top, Talonperch with a bit more finesse than Hawkbite thought was strictly necessary. Show-off, he thought with a scoff. The other tom, Briarstep, spoke up and Hawkbite had to strain his ears so that his words weren’t lost on the wind. Though the city itself was a ways off, its cacophony was reaching, and sounded as a distant din of white noise which was foreign to forest-dwellers.
“We will proceed with caution.” He informed them gruffly, hoping the two would indeed place their trust in his prior experience and instincts. It was not as if he was being full of himself, he did know more about twolegplace than most Warriors, even if it had been awhile.
Leading the way, he padded past a few empty yards that were known not to house any dogs, stopping when they reached a place where the wooden fence turned into a lower metal one with a smooth pole atop its twisted rungs. They’d have to jump down to pass through the yard itself to move onward.
The first thing that drew Hawkbite’s attention was a twoleg sitting on the porch of the dwelling, Hawkbite stiffened for a heartbeat before he recognized the slack posture and nodding head that indicated that this twoleg was asleep. The muzzle of a gun poked out from under the folded hairless arms.
“Ah, this bastard. I forgot he has a dog.” Hawkbite’s lip curled. Even Clan cats knew of this particular upwalker. An older male, he was known for attacking any stray cat unfortunate enough to cross his yard with that long stick-weapon of his called a ‘gun’. It was not a deadly device, but fire tiny pellets that smarted something fierce and could become infected if left to fester. Hawkbite himself had tested this rumor as an apprentice and could still vividly remember the sting.
Thankfully the old twoleg was asleep, if they were quiet it should present no issue.
“Ah ah ah, I wouldn’t do that if I were you….it might be hard for you to comprehend but that human got himself some sort of alarm that can see the entire yard, if you place a paw on the grass itself he’ll wake up before you can say catnip.”
The creature that spoke to them was not a cat, but perhaps an approximation of one by a person who had only heard a description. Its brittle bony body was draped in thinning silvery fur and white markings, a stomach flap that might have once been filled with fat now hung despondent beneath. Green eyes peered out from a pinched face, sharp and intelligent despite their haggard owner.
“Caboose?” Hawkbite said in surprise, aware that to his companions it would appear he had just uttered a gibberish word. In truth he had no clue what it meant- some kittypet names were straightforward, others might as well be a language all their own. “I suppose your housefolk don’t know you’ve gotten out again?” He added when he’d recovered. The ragged tomcat chuckled smugly.
“What they don’t know won’t hurt them.” Caboose said shrewdly. “Anyways, you’re on my turf now, shouldn’t I be asking you why you’re here?”
“We’re looking into a loose dog case. You wouldn’t happen to know anything would you?”
“Well I can tell you it’s not my dog.” Caboose grunted. “I wish the beast would get lost, it nearly trampled me yesterday you know? It’s ridiculous. I don’t know what they see in—“
“I see.” Hawkbite didn’t want to cut off an elderly kittypet, but they didn’t have all day and sitting on the fence was quite frankly, uncomfortable. “So, you don't know of any missing dogs?”
“Well I wouldn’t, would I?” Huffed Caboose disconsolately. “Hardly get out enough as it is- anyways, yes, if your paw touches the grass of the yard all hell will break loose, and you don’t want that. But see that little plastic box on the other end? You’ve got to press down on the red button, but it’ll turn the thing off. I’ll be on my way now- won’t be long before they notice I’m gone..” And with a flash of silver fur he’d vanished down the other end of the fence.
“Good to know.” Muttered Hawkbite as he appraised the lawn with new eyes. Aside from the human himself, this particular twoleg garden also had a pool that ran the length of the fence in the rear. He doubted the system had eyes there, but a good swimmer could make a run of swimming underwater. Additionally, there was an object he hadn’t seen since his early kithood. He’d lost the name for it, but it was a large circular frame with stretchy material across it, and when one jumped on that they bounced as if they’d grown wings. It might be enough to get one cat across to the alarm, if they had strong legs. And the twoleg himself…..Hawkbite didn’t fancy tangoing with him directly, but it was an option.
“Spottedmoon.” He meowed, turning to face her. “We need someone swift and clever for this one- are you up to it?”
However, he realized that sooner had he made his choice that Hazelface had decided for herself.
“Blasted-” He leapt after her himself, taking care to move as fast as he possibly could- did the alarm have a time threshold?- His jaws grasped her scruff and he began pulling her back to the edge of the lawn where they ought to be undetectable.
“Were you not listening?” He hissed. “I said you need to do as I say, for your safety. Understand? Pull something like that again and I’ll send you straight home.”
H A Z E L F A C E
A grimace painted her face when she sat before the patrol of warriors and the cat standing charge of them immediately started barking orders at her. Hazelface was anything but temperate and if it weren’t for the seriousness of the current state of their Clan, she would have surely bitten back at him for his tone. Nonetheless, after the discovery of Alderpaw and the certainly non-coincidental deaths of their Clanmates, at the very least, she knew that their current mission might just lead them to the culprit.
When Hawkbite showed them the collar of a dog, she was immediately disheartened. If the scent that lingered on Alderpaw’s body gave them any information, it was that the culprit they were looking for wasn’t a dog. She gritted her teeth, annoyed and frustrated that she was spending her time on something so insignificant when she could be looking for the cat that killed her apprentice. But when his eyes met her, challenging her to say something, Hazelface stayed silent, though her tail lashed furiously to hint that she wasn’t exactly pleased that she was here right now.
Soon enough, they neared the fence of the twoleg’s nest and they each made their way onto the fence. It wobbled with each landing, but was sturdy enough to hold them all as they looked down onto the yard that would surely hold their target. As she listened to Talonperch and Briarstep whine, her irritation only bubbled higher to the surface. “You call yourselves warriors?” She snapped, her eyes flashing as she turned on them, “What are you afraid of?” Then, without heeding their warnings, she jumped into the garden and headed right towards the nests ahead.
Talonperch winced as he glanced up toward the gap between the trees above their heads- he had been pulled from his warm nest for this patrol, and he was looking for any possible excuse to get out of it. He hated going anywhere near the twolegplace... he had seen cats taken before, and he didn't want to see cats taken again...
But what the ginger warrior hated most was dogs. Worse than twolegs because they ventured where twolegs didn't, and could do a lot more damage. A shudder ran down his spine as he stood up to follow Hawkbite when he led the cats out of camp. He cast his best glare at any kittypets that popped their heads over the fences, stopping as the patrol leader did.
Bunching his muscles, he gave an almighty leap, landing expertly beside the black tom. He seemed to almost...perch delicately on the fence- it was how he got his name, after all.
Padding further along the fence, he began circling one of the twoleg gardens, squinting as he scanned the undergrowth for any sign of the dog. He hopped down into the garden, and gave it a quick inspection, turning up nothing. Satisfied the first garden was clear, he turned around, glancing into the next garden, before quickly crouching down, signalling with his tail for the others to do so.
Carefully shuffling backward, he glanced back at Hawkbite.
"There's a twoleg in this one...it looks like it's asleep right now, but..." He shuddered. "...It's so hard to see if there's anything important..."