Mercuryrose
Shadowclan Deputy
Dark green eyes were narrowed slightly, the sound of wet grass was crunching underneath large paws as the snow was finally staring to melt. It was usual for the Shadowclan deputy to naturally take care of problems within Shadowclan, this one wasn’t any different. The morning patrol had detected an unusual scent while they were nearby the tall pines and the outskirts, but it wasn’t until Mercuryrose managed to go around the area and figured out the scent: Mountain Cat. She had her fair share of mountain cats when she lived in the city with her siblings, they traveled there a lot for trading or unfinished business with others.
At first, she assumed that it was her sister Dahliapetal’s fiancé, Grizzly. But the younger sister reassured that the massive mountain cat knew where to meet her, Grizzly respected the borders when he traveled to the clans to see Dahlia. Her sister’s love life wasn’t a problem to Mercuryrose currently, the deputy had more important things to work on but she would have to address it eventually. Mercuryrose’s nostrils flared for a moment as the scent got stronger, dark green eyes scanning the area. Her mission was simple, find out why the mountain cat was in her territory and fix the problem. It wasn’t until the large Maine Coon heard a stick breaking behind her, causing the molly to quickly turn around and the deputy’s eyes narrowed as she saw the figure in front of her.
In front of her was a brown mountain cat with blue eyes, looking back at her. Letting out a small snort, she wasn’t impressed with him but annoyed. Mercuryrose should be back at camp helping with repairs, not on a wild goose chase for a trespasser. Watching the male mountain cat for a moment, her feathery tail flicked back and forth. “You’re trespassing on Shadowclan territory, the scent markers that you had been smelling belong to my group” Mercuryrose said calmly, remembering that not all cats outside of the clans knew about the clans and their customs. Stars, it took Mercuryrose a while to get used to the clans. Keeping a neutral expression, the molly had remained relaxed as she hadn’t planned on attacking unless provoked.
“Is there a reason why you’re here? Have you lost your group?” Mercuryrose couldn’t help but question.
Flutterlily
Shadowclan Warrior
A blush appeared on the brown and white molly’s face when looking up at him, a bashful smile appeared on her face. It was almost refreshing to have a new personality after having known all these felines her whole entire life. Looking at the kits that we’re playing around the clearing, she noticed that it was Mapledawn’s first litter. It was such an exciting time to witness these bundle of furs growing up and finding their own paths. It wasn’t until the small molly’s ears perked up at his words, and was silent for a moment as Flutterlily took a moment to start reflecting. Looking towards him, Flutterlily bit the inside of her cheek before moving to him and leaning her head on his shoulder.
After today, Flutterlily certainly wouldn’t be taking life for granted ever again, especially knowing Cavernsight’s story.
“Every moment should be cherished” Flutterlily spoke softly while watching the kits tumbling around. Looking up at the tabby tom, a soft smile escaped her as she nudged her shoulder into him “Every memory that is created, should always be precious and remembered even if it isn’t good ones.” Flutterlily said, before letting out a small sigh and shook her head. “Although there’s so much happening, I promise that I’ll do my best to show you everything and help you create some new memories.. Along with hearing the prior ones.” Flutterlily promised to her new friend, leaning up to give him a peck on the cheek. Looking at everyone within Shadowclan.. Maybe having someone with a different view on their culture would be a nice chance around here.
“To making some memories!” Flutterlily said, before watching the sunset sky.
Cavernsight
Mountain Cat
Cavernsight stood to follow her, his plumed pelt billowing behind him in a way that wasn't often seen among the clan cats. His haunted blue eyes glanced across to the cats who filled the camp- they all seemed so close, and of course consistent in their uncertainty of him and his presence. The tom couldn't be offended, after all, he was an utter stranger in their territory. It only made sense.
His eyes quickly drifted back to the she-cat he was walking behind, and his whiskers twitched as she mentioned the elders. It seemed as if old cats were the same everywhere. And as grouchy as they were, they were always such a vital part of every community they lived with.
The tall cat listened patiently as Flutterlily bumbled on through her introduction to all of the different roles within Shadowclan, nodding along as she introduced each one. It wasn't so different after all, but there was a distinct sense of community he had scarcely witnessed before.
"The kits..." Cavernsight had always been fond of spending time with the next generation of cats in his previous group. He cast his glance to the side, a little too late to register what had happened when a little kit, still a bundle of fluff had blundered straight into him whilst being chased by their littermates. He looked down at the small bundle of kit-fluff, and dipped his head as the kit squeaked an apology before skittering off in a panic.
"...They never change, do they?" He shook his head with a smile, before glancing up at Flutterlily, a brightness to his gaze for once, replacing his haunted look. "You don't need to be sorry...there is a lot for me to learn, clearly..." He mewed smoothly, flicking his tail over his paws. "But everything seems so familiar, and yet...distant." He admitted, tilting his head to the side.
Flutterlily
Shadowclan Warrior
The small brown and white molly was blushing when looking at the brown mountain cat, biting the inside of her cheek as she had to avoid giggling. Stars, why couldn’t she act like a non-awkward molly for once? “You’re too kind.” Flutterlily said softly, bowing her head slightly in respect towards him. What, Cavernsight was handsome but she still knew her manners! Clearing her throat, the small brown and white molly had stood up while her blue eyes were shining “Well? What are you waiting for? I need to show you around.” She said, before beckoning her head to follow him. Flutterlily had ignored the looks that the two were given as everyone seemed curious about the newcomer, but Flutterlily wanted to see what the mountain cat was like for herself before letting him get swarmed.
A she-cat had her priorities!
“Come, I’ll introduce you to the others in a bit.. Everyone is nice for the most part, watch out for the elders if they don’t get their fur checked in time.. Flintpaw had an earful to listen to!” Flutterlily said, knowing it would take some time for the elderly cats to warm up to strangers. Stars; it even took a while for them to warm up to Mercuryrose and she was deputy! Although times had changed, Flutterlily enjoyed the new times that entered Shadowclan with Mercuryrose and Juncostar’s roles within Shadowclan.
“We’ll also collect some moss for you, everyone has a nest in the warriors den.” Flutterlily explained, turning towards the mountain cat with a smile. The newly made warrior was very glad to befriend someone new! Usually Flutterlily was extremely shy, but it just felt natural with the tall mountain cat in front of her.
Beckoning her head, the brown and white molly began padding towards the entrance of the camp. First step of living in Shadowclan, finding the right moss for your nest! “We have Juncostar, our leader. Mercuryrose is our deputy, next in line for leadership.. Warriors who hunt and defend the land, apprentices who are training to become warriors, medicine cats to heal all of us.. Then we have nursery queens who are mother to the next generation of warriors.. The kits!” Flutterlily said before noticing that she was babbling and smiled bashfully towards her companion “Sorry.”
Cavernsight
Mountain Cat
"Thank you..." Cavernsight meowed. He cast his gaze downward as the she-cat led him further into their territory. In all honesty, he was surprised that Mercuryrose had grown up in the city- so close to the twolegs that lived around it, but he knew better than to voice it. Instead, he listened politely to the she-cat as she spoke, nodding and humming along where it would be appropriate to do so. As they finally reached Shadowclan's camp, Cavernsight was aware of the gaze of a few cats coming to rest on him, and he sat down slowly.
Watching as the younger cat approached his guide, his ears twitched with interest, and he shook his head quickly when Mercuryrose apologised.
"No need to apologise. Of course, time to spend with your kin should not be missed out on." After all, you never know when it might be the last chance you get. He left the latter part in his thoughts. He didn't exactly want to so openly talk about his kin and other denmates' tragic deaths during the avalanche. He would feel as if he were seeking more pity from Shadowclan's kindness. Bowing his head a little awkwardly to Ravenpaw, his eyes then fixed on the new she-cat as she approached.
He stood to meet her, blinking slowly at her, with an amiable smile.
"Flutterlily, greetings..." He had to admit, her name rolled off his tongue beautifully, it was by far the prettiest name he had heard in many moons. "Cavernsight. A pleasure." He nodded his head, before glancing out toward the rest of the camp, his long plumed tail curling over his paws.
"You have a rather beautiful name."
Mercuryrose
Shadowclan Deputy
The black and rose-gold molly was silent for a moment, but nodding at his words. She didn’t expect the mountain cat to show a bit of Vulnerability but knew it was truly a hard time to be the lone survivor of his group. “Let’s get you looked at” The large Maine Coon muttered, knowing the massive tom must have been exhausted after his travels. Hopefully after Waspsight looked after him, he would be cleared and adjust nicely into clan life. It was silent between the two for a moment before Mercuryrose cleared her throat slightly which caused Cavernsight to look at her, and the deputy sighed “I wasn’t born in the clans either, lived my life mostly in the city..” Mercuryrose began, her dark green gaze narrowed slightly when seeing they were almost reaching camp.
“They’re not bad, the clan cats.. They’re the most dedicated and hardworking felines I’ve ever known.. Their morals are good too” Mercuryrose finished, looking towards Murkywolf and Cloudedmoon who were guarding the entrance of the camp. Nodding to them, she ignored their looks of confusion at the mountain cats and flicked her tail in dismissal towards them. Nosy Felines, always curious about everything happening. Mercuryrose moved towards the center of the camp clearing, her face emotionless as she was looking for Juncostar. However, her facial expression changed once a certain black and white tom was running towards her.
“Mom!” Ravenpaw said, letting out a loud purr as the tom touched noses with her in greetings. A huge smile appeared on Mercuryrose’s face as she licked the top of her son’s head in greetings “Hello my little birdie” She greeted. It was rare to see Mercuryrose being loving and gentle, but of course her son brought that out in her. The black and white tom looked at his mother with excitement in his eyes “I’ve been waiting for you Mom! Dad said we would be taking a stroll after you returned” Ravenpaw said which caused Mercuryrose to hum in agreement. The deputy did promise Mintstrike and Ravenpaw that they would spend Quality time together when she returned to camp.. Mercuryrose never broke her promises at all, especially when it came to Mintstrike and Ravenpaw.
Turning to look at a Cavernsight, Mercuryrose let out a soft sigh “My apologies that I won’t be able to show you around camp.” The black and rose-gold molly said, as she knew that the mountain cat would have felt more comfortable with the deputy showing him around. Looking around, it wasn’t until she spotted a small white and brown molly and cleared her throat slightly “Flutterlily!” Mercuryrose called, looking at the newly named warrior with narrowed eyes. Flutterlily bounced towards the group, her blue eyes lit up in curiosity at the mountain cat before turning towards Mercuryrose with a questioning look. It wasn’t until the large Maine Coon deputy looked towards Cavernsight
“Flutterlily, would you mind showing our newest member of Shadowclan around? He needs all the help that he could get” Mercuryrose said, before Flutterlily looked at the brown tom and began blushing and nodded slowly. Mercuryrose excused herself and Ravenpaw so they could find Mintstrike, which left Cavernsight and Flutterlily on their own. Clearing her throat, the small brown and white molly smiled shyly “Hello! May I get your name..? Mine is Flutterlily”
Cavernsight
Mountain Cat
Awaiting Mercuryrose's response, Cavernsight couldn't help but feel the nagging doubt deep within the pit of his stomach as he wondered if she would cast him out after all. He had dreamt for moons of the forest cats, noble and brave warriors who would not turn away a stranger in need. Perhaps he had been wrong, and they had just been wishful thinking dreams all along. As he was preparing to turn tail and leave as Mercuryrose forced him away, she began speaking to him. He met her head dip of acknowledgement with an easygoing tail flick.
"As soon as the snows started, I expected there would be some casualties. However, not my entire group, that was...unforseen." He mewed levelly, carefully. The last thing he wanted was to expose more of his vulnerability to this stranger, when he was already swallowing pride and asking for help. Hearing that she would take him to the Shadowclan camp, at least, Cavernsight felt relief in his heart. Even if they wouldn't take him in long-term, they would at least feed and care for him long enough that he could recover...he hoped. "Thank you." He bow his head, getting to his paws and following after the she-cat.
Flicking his tail, he kept a leisurely pace as he walked a couple of pawsteps behind the Shadowclan deputy.
"I imagine so, I doubt clans here sleep all in the same den for protection, and hunt in large groups to avoid hawks and eagles." He mewed, with a light humour to his voice. Raising his brow, he nodded to her. "Deputy...I'm assuming that is sort of like, a leader?" A low purr rumbled in his throat. "We didn't have those roles. Perhaps it is good to be learning clan words so early." Her name felt a little strange on his tongue as he repeated it to himself, but he had to guess this was normal for a clan.
"As of yet, no questions...but I am certain that the need will arise very soon." He mewed, sensing they were nearing the clan's camp.
Mercuryrose Shadowclan Deputy. Dark green-pink eyes were narrowed when looking at the mountain cat, an eyebrow arched for a moment at his words. So the avalanche didn’t only cause damage within the clans but to other groups as well. The Shadowclan deputy was hesitant, biting the inside of her cheek in deep thought. Mercuryrose wasn’t the type to exactly welcome any stranger in with open paws and a smile on her face, she was quite the opposite and wanting to send others away. However the small voice in her head that was her conscience was telling her to at least hear out Cavern before sending him out.. Besides, the black and rose-gold molly hadn’t been raised within the clans at all.. Why would she become a hypocrite all of a sudden and suddenly start rejecting felines that are in need of a home after she was once in their spot?
She wouldn’t set that example, especially if Ravenpaw was around. Hearing about losing his family members in the avalanche, the large Maine Coon dipped her head slightly “I’m sorry that you had to go through that, it never gets easy losing family.. But you’ll have to take it one day at a time” Mercuryrose said, knowing her fair share of losing family members as she came from a huge bloodline. Looking back towards the direction of the Shadowclan, the deputy let out a soft sigh through her nostrils and beckoned her head towards the direction of the camp “Come on, I’ll bring you back to my camp” Mercuryrose finally said, turning and padding towards the direction of the pine forest. She knew that Juncostar wasn’t overly fond of having unexpected visitors showing up in camp, but he still accepted them.
“The clans are very different culture from your own” Mercuryrose said after a short while of silence, letting the large tom catch up to her. The deputy might as well give the brown tom a heads up at least about what he was getting himself into to. Stars, it took a while for her to get used to clans custom but she got through it. Feeling the light crunch of the snow underneath her paws, she couldn’t wait until it was spring. “It takes a while to understand everything that they’re saying, but everyone is mostly friendly” Mercuryrose added, knowing that a couple of felines would at least be thoughtful for the new arrival. Ears perking up as she heard the mountain cat’s name, “Cavernsight” The molly repeated his name softly. Nodding, she turned to looo at the tom and gave a small nod “My name is Mercuryrose, I’m the deputy of Shadowclan” The black and rose-gold molly said, before letting out a small sigh
“Any questions? We’re almost at camp”
Cavernsight
Mountain cat
It had been a few sunhighs since the mountain cat's den had been destroyed by the avalanches. The heavy snow had entirely crushed his den, and wiped away all of the prey that he had any hope of hunting to feed himself. That had proven to the tom that it was time. He had known for many moons that he had to leave the mountains at some time, and that he had a different destiny lay out in front of him.
That was what had taken him to clan territory. Whilst not from the same group as cats known to the clans- he had been part of a group that had been near-entirely wiped out by the heavy snowfall, he had a similar crisp scent. His pawsteps were light on the ground, and his movements elegant and almost entrancing. Long, shaggy brown fur trailed in the cold snow around the tom's paws, impairing his vision of the ground enough to cause him to step on a twig.
An intense icy-blue stare fixed on the she-cat he had alerted, and his large ears swivelled forward to face her. Cavernsight blinked slowly, sitting down and curling his long tail over his paws.
"I can't smell much more than snow at the moment, fiesty one." He mewed simply, before bowing his head a little forlornly. "...But you are right. As far as I am aware, I am the only one who made it out of the avalanche."
He cast his gaze back toward the mountains, a moment of sorrow passing through him. He thought of his kin, his family, being dragged down the mountain by the unforgiving snow.
"We come from the mountains. The snow forced many to the ground. I come to seek a new home." The intensity burning in his gaze deepened, as he seemed to stare right through her.
"My name is Cavernsight."