[Rogue Territory] Extending my bounds

The rain finally came to an end. However, there was a catch. It was late in the afternoon and the sun was already dropping. Harespirit stood at the edge of the ThunderClan territory, looking out at the open fields that went nowhere. She hadn't caught a single piece of prey today. With a deep sight she popped out from under some low hanging branches that had protected her from the rain so far. Nervously she started to walk. While out hunting she had been refining her plan. Since there was absolutely no prey today to be seen she was forced to leave to places where it would be. Harespirit felt her heart make a faint leap when she smelled the ThunderClan scent getting more faint with every two steps she took. But she had no choice. This wasn't only for her, but also for her clan mates. Putting her own fear away was necessary this time. No time to play the frightened fool this time.

Cautiously she sat at the edge of a very big field. In the distance, the far distance, she could see a couple of four legged creatures standing, heads down and apparently eating the grass she was now standing on. Harespirit had no idea what to make of them. From what she could see where they contained within the walls of a twoleg contraption. Better not get to close or let them see me. She thought to herself. She ducked under the fence and crawled in. Surely there would be mice around here. In the even more distance was a huge twoleg house with another beside it. She had nothing to fear if she stayed close to the fence on the other side. Picking up the scent of some mice, as faint as it was, Harespirit started to follow it. It eventually took her thirty full minutes to discover a small, living one. Belly flat against the ground and ears back. She inhaled some air and started to flex her muscles. She exhaled and leaped. When the creature was caught between her claws she frantically started to bite and nip in it to get it to die, afraid it would somehow escape or something. She removed her paws from the mouse and looked at it. It would be enough to feed a kit who just had learned to eat solid food. With a sight she sat down and looked at it. At least one kit is helped out today.

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Wet to the bone Silverthorn tried to find her way through the undergrowth. Her long, silvery colored hair touched the ground at certain points. It attracted dirt and small branches. At least it has stopped raining, the old cat thought bitterly. She became too old to enjoy the rain, if ever she had enjoyed it. After all, it’d been a rainy day, that day that had changed her life completely, so many moons ago. Sometimes it felt like a dream – a nightmare rather – like it hadn’t really happened. But whenever she thought about that more deeply, she realized it wasn’t a nightmare at all, but merely the reality, slowly fading away, but always – always – it would come back to her, sooner or later. Mostly sooner than later, unfortunately. It would struck her like the branch had struck her mother. Unexpected and lethal, but somehow she always managed to survive.

When Silverthorn finally reached the edge of the undergrowth, she looked more like a monster than a cat. The grey and silver of her pelt had turned brown and black. Being a long haired cat in the wilderness never had been really easy, so to say. Of course, the long hair was not the cause of all of Silverthorns problems, but sometimes it felt like thus.

Silverthorn now reached an open field. She had been here once or twice before and knew that if there was any place in the Wild that still contained some prey, it would be these fields. Unfortunately, it turned out she wasn’t the only one who’d come up with that idea. Not far from where she had entered the field, another cat had caught a mouse. If only she would be so kind to give it to me… Silverthorn thought eager. But she did not dare talk to the cat, which must’ve smelled her by now. Instead she acted like she didn’t care about the cat being there and sat down, staring over the field, hoping the cat would leave soon, giving Silverthorn the opportunity to hunt freely.

A cold wind swept past her and attracted Harespirit her attention to something far more threatening than the long faced creatures in the distance. She turned around to see a rogue. It padded into the field and by the looks of it was she just as hungry as her. She puffed up her fur, propped the mouse behind her and hissed at her. She was not entirely sure that she hissed because she was frightened or just basic instinct. The rogue did not look like she cared for her at all. In fact, she seemed to completely ignore her! Her pale green eyes never left the rogue. There was surely a possibility the she-cat would grab her prey. Like hell she would! “You want something from me?” She forced out. Her throat almost choked up with fear when she said it, but there was also a sort defense rage inside of her. No one would take her prey away, not today, surely not ever if the clan would continue to live like this. Harespirit backed away a bit to give the long haired, clearly older, rogue some space and pushed the mouse along with her back legs. “If it is that mouse you want, you can forget it!” She spat, hairs sky high and tail thick.

Ignoring a cat was easier said than done. Especially when it became clear the other cat had indeed smelled her and wasn’t at all pleased with Silverthorn appearing. The stranger started hissing, her fur upright. Silverthorns wanted to get up and run away, for the stranger surely was stronger than she was, but tried to stay calm. Running away often caused more trouble than staying. She tried to ignore the stranger for as long as possible, but when the cat started talking, she no longer managed to stare into nothingness. Slowly she turned her head, a bit scared, because the stranger was an enemy more than a friend. ‘Well… I…’ started Silverthorn. She almost said she wanted the mouse, but realised soon enought that saying so wouldn’t be a good start. At all. And indeed, the stranger quickly added: ‘If it is that mouse you want, you can forget it!’

Silverthorn let her eyes slide over the stranger. It probably was a warrior, for she didn’t smell or look like a Rogue. ‘Don’t worry, I’m not interested in your mouse. At least, not that much. I’m an elder Rogue, I know how to hunt my own prey.’ She smiled a weary smile, trying to be nice. If she acted like a friend, maybe the stranger would pity her and give her the mouse anyway. ‘And besides,’ she added, trying to sound indifferent, but failing. ‘the weather’s way to miserable to be fighting over a mouse.’

Harespirit intently kept her gaze fixed at the rogue. Mentally she kicked herself for being so stupid to go out of the territory, but her sane part told her that she had no other choice. She caught a mouse, maybe more if she kept going until the sun had gone under. Encountering rogues was asking for it when you stepped out of your relativity save territory. You sure don't look like it.. She swallowed the words just in time before they could leave her mouth. Provoking the rogue was not a wise thing. Harespirit knew very well that in times like this, no matter how good your hunting skills were, an extra mouse was always welcome. "I sure hope you mean that" She eventually muttered and looked at her paws for a moment. She did not let her guard down but sat down, muscles still flexed. "I know you want that mouse.. " Harespirit began sharply. "But I am not giving you it "She sad adamantly and her ears turned backwards. "Is this field yours?" She decided to ask to make sure she did not step on her territory or something.

The stranger didn’t really sound like she trusted Silverthorn. Right you are, the old cat thought, not trusting the Warrior either, though she felt like there wasn’t direct danger coming from the she-cat with the golden eyes. For a moment Silverthorn let herself gain the false hope the stranger would give her the mouse, but she was proven wrong quick enough. ‘I know you want that mouse, but I am not giving you it.’ Silverthorns eyes narrowed. She felt attacked by the sharp words of the stranger, even though she could have seen them coming. The warrior then asked if the field was Silverthorns territory. Silverthorn shook her head. ‘No, I am not one for territories,’ she said, trying to relax again. She managed to smile a little at the stranger, though the warmth of it didn’t reach her eyes. These eyes, by the way, slid longingly to the mouse every now and then. ‘You, on the other hand,’ Silverthorn continued, trying to fix her gaze on the stranger instead of the mouse. ‘are one for territories, aren’t you. A clan territory, to be precise. Am I right?’

When the she-cat narrowed her eyes, Harespirit made herself ready to defend her caught prey with all her might. Any attack pattern stayed out. Instead she steadied her nerves herself and took a deep breath. The smile unknowney send her way went totally past her. Reserved she nodded. "Indeed I am, I trust you've heard of them, the territory's" Maybe she could guess which one she was from. Judging by the looks of the cat was she quite of age. Age did not matter when prey was scarce. Right then and there she decided to do something else instead. "My name is Harespirit" Harespirit said cautiously. Maybe if she took it trough a side way, kinder approach she would leave her alone.

‘Yes, yes… I have…’ Silverthorn answered, gazing again over the open field. A small sunray fought its way through the clouds and enlightened part of the field, making the raindrops on the grass shine like pretty silver gemstones. For a moment there was nothing but silence around them. The stranger was probably just as lost in thoughts as Silverthorn was. The warrior was the first to break the silence. ‘My name is Harespirit,’ she said. She still didn’t sound like she trusted Silverthorn, but the grey cat thought that knowing the name of the stranger was one step in the right direction. She turned her head towards the warrior en kindly said: ‘A pretty name, you must be either very fast or your parents just looked at the colour of your pelt. My name is Silverthorn.’

Harespirit felt a pang of .. of .. pride? The moment Silverthorn said her name like that. Indeed. Her name was the one and only thing she actually liked of herself. It said everything about her in just one breath. Getting a compliment from a stranger was more compliments she had gotten in her entire life, if she thought about it that way. For a moment, inwards, her defense stance faltered but physically it never left her. "That .. sounds like a clancat's name.." Was the only thing she whispered cautiously. Twolegs gave their cats always insanely stupid names. Silverthorn suited the she-cat her fur more than it would a twoleg. Confused she gulped nervously. "You were a clancat weren't you?" Harespirit her orange/yellow eyes focused on the she-cat and she said no more.

Silverthorn was almost sorry for saying her name, when she heard Harespirit whisper about the name sounding like a clancat’s name. ‘You were a clancat, weren’t you?’ the she-cat asked. Silverthorn sadly shook her head. ‘I wouldn’t be here, like this, if I were. I would never have left the clan. Ever.’ She turned her head again to gaze over the open field, while she continued: ‘I’ve always been a Rogue.’ She wanted to tell the stranger everything about her name and even about the death of her beloved mother, but realized soon enough that Harespirit probably wasn’t interested in her story so she asked another question instead. ‘I’ve always been interested in the lives of clan cats. If I may be so bold, which clan do you come from?’

Harespirit turned her ears forward again, interest spiked. She was though! Or .. no she wasn't. Then why the clan cat like name? The answer to that came soon after. Harespirit looked at her paws, feeling a bit embarrassed to ask such a apparent, sensitive question. She could agree that she would never leave too. She could not imagine it. "I'm from the ThunderClan" She said on a normal leveled tone now. "Well what can I tell you .. it's never dull in a clan I suppose" In an attempt to lift the spirits she realized that she probably could not have said that. Silverthorn seemed to be excited enough to be a clancat, rubbing it in just how fun it was .. Great move!. "I mean- well er-" She felt the blood coming to her head. Awkwardly she started to knead the earth at her feet. "Ha I mean well .. why again do you want to be a clancat?" She pried, actually interested and a embarrassed at the same time for her mistake.

Excuse my late reply (:

Harespirit was a Thunderclan cat. Silverthorn appreciated the honest answer and nodded to the cat, while trying to remember what her mother had told her about the Thunderclan cats. Loyalty was important, as well as bravery and caring for each other. Of course, not every Thunderclan cat was loyal ánd brave ánd caring, her mother had told her, but these were the main characteristics. Silverthorn had always liked the loyalty-part. She was a loyal cat herself and as a kitten she had dreamed of being accepted in the Thunderclan for being so extremely loyal. It saddened her to remember how her mother had laughed oh so sweet at these silly dreams.

Harespirit then said: ‘It’s never dull in a clan I suppose.’ Silverthorn gazed at the cat. Was that some sort of a provocation? She didn’t really feel like fighting, she was too old for that, but if Harespirit wanted to challenge her… Well… Would I fight her? I don’t think I would survive. However, Harespirit seemed to realize her mistake and quickly stumbled some reply, which at first didn’t really make sense, but after some struggling Harespirit managed to ask her why again she wanted to be a clancat. ‘Well look at me!’ Silverthorn immediately answered. ‘I wouldn’t look like this if I had been born in a clan. I bet cats like me would be treated like kittens in the Thunderclan. They don’t have to worry about a thing, once they are too old to properly catch a mouse. At least, that’s what I’ve been told. Besides, a clan brings friends and safety, doesn’t it? Trust me, I don’t have either of them at the moment.’ She wanted to wail some more, but she realized this would probably only disgust Harespirit, so she quickly added: ‘But really, my life isn’t always that bad. I’m still alive, after all.’

Harespirit had hoped for a more .. calmly answer maybe? Silverthorn looked her straight in the eye when she said it and at that moment, Harespirit felt like a scolded kit all over again. Feeling like an imbecile for feeling that way at the same time. 'Well look at me!' Was what it all started and from then on Harespirit did not manage to say any word to comfort her. 'But really, my life isn’t always that bad. I’m still alive, after all.' It sounded the total opposite to her at the moment. She looked indeed worse than Harespirit, plus, indeed rogues were loners. They had no one to care for them, look after them even befriend them? Embarrassed and slightly scared, she looked at her paws and made a throat sound as if she wanted to say something really bad but did not say it out loud. Instead she just looked up towards Silverthorn. "I .. I feel sorry for you to be born this way" Her voice sounded hoarsly. Nothing of the aggresive cover she had pulled up, when the mouse was still the main subject, was there. Instead she looked frightened, unsure and insecure. Her tail lashed in discomfort and she kneaded the ground with her fore paws. She almost wanted to offer her that mouse. Almost. It would certainly lighten up the mood. No one of the clan would find out that she had not yet caught anything. They would think she, again, would have failed though. She could try to hunt down another .. "I wish I could do something for you, really.. if clancats only took in loners. I would ask Firestar right away" Harespirit muttered softly but truly.

Silverthorn tried hard not to look at the mouse, but her whole body seemed to long for that small piece of fresh meat. Patient Silverthorn, patient, she thought silently. Maybe she’ll give it to you. It’s not worth fighting for, after all. It would be your dead. She kept her gaze fixed on Harespirit and felt like she just had won a battle, when the warrior said: ‘I… I feel sorry for you to be born this way.’ Silverthorn shrugged, trying not to look too eager. She realized Harespirit felt a bit uncomfortable and almost felt guilty all her thoughts where with the mouse. Harespirit didn’t seem to realize it – how could she? For even thought Silverthorn was longing for the mouse, all she had said was the truth and nothing more. There was no acting, only trying to hide the hungry feelings. ‘I wish I could do something for you, really,’ Harespirit said and now both guilt and desire were storming through Silverthorns body. Two feelings that almost made her want to cry, grasp the mouse and run far far away.

‘If clancats only took in loners. I would ask Firestar right away,’ Harespirit finished, sounding a bit uncomfortable. The ending surprised Silverthorn, especially since Harespirit sounded so honest. ‘I…’ Silverthorn stumbled speechless. ‘That’s… That’s very kind of you…’ For a short moment she forgot her hunger, the mouse. She stared in Harespirit’s honest eyes and felt like a horrible cat, for trying to get the warrior’s mouse. ‘I… I assume… Firestar is your leader?’ she went on, a sudden, thrilling thought striking her. ‘Do you think… Maybe… I know it’s not likely… but one should always try, right? Do you think… Do you think I could meet Firestar… One day?’