Dusk's pale lips drew back as he panted harshly, a rolling growl above him promising thunder and rain that would make his already damp coat cling to his skinny frame and chill him to the bone. Just what he needed. His paws ached, but he had to pick up his pace, had to be quicker than the winds that the storm rode. Did he have any beginnings of a clue where he was going? Not in the slightest, but at least maybe he could find an outcropping of rock or dead tree to shelter in until the storm passed.
To his back, the setting sun silhouetted his small form, barely providing any warmth against the biting wind. The sky bled, like it had been opened by one great claw, until the colors vanished behind a writhing mass of clouds. As Dusk paused to catch his breath and take in the solemn beauty of the sky, bright tongues of lightning screamed across the sky and struck the ground somewhere near the young tom, making his fur stand on end and his teeth chatter. He broke into a sprint once more, fear numbing the pain in his paws.
He splashed into a stream, gasping at the freezing water as it bit into his coat. Two boulders in front of him promised some sort of shelter, and he slipped through the gap between them and into a clearing that smelled so strongly of cat it stopped him in his tracks. Clearly, this home belonged to someone, and he was sure he wouldn't be a welcome trespasser. Dusk had begun to turn tail and go back the way he'd come when the sky finally opened up and the clouds shed their tears hard and fast and the droplets were so cold they hurt as they pelted his back and shoulders.
Dusk cried out, unable to bear the stinging droplets and fleeing towards the den for shelter. He slipped on the fresh mud, paw catching on an exposed root and tumbling muzzle over paws into the tunnel. He blacked out as he landed, darkness exploding behind his eyes. When he came to, the rain had stopped and he was... warm. The young tom groaned, rolling onto his stomach and blinking his eyes open.
Only to yowl and startle backwards until he tripped over a stone in the tunnel and landed square on his rump. His whole body shook as he stared up at the massive tom that towered over him with a scowl firmly on his features. The ghostly pale tom stepped forwards, cold blue eyes hard as ice.
"You are trespassing on GaleClan territory. Who are y--" As the tom spoke, Dusk fell at his paws, shaking and whimpering and screwing his eyes so tightly closed he didn't think they would ever open. He expected the larger cat to strike, to kill and eat him and string up his fur. Instead, a warm side pressed against his, rumbling with a soothing purr.
"No need to be scared." Was all that passed between them for a long time while Dusk calmed down. He must have dozed off once again because the next time he opened his eyes a fat, tender mouse lay before him and he couldn't stop himself from digging in and devouring it. He paused only when he heard a chuckle to his side, turning to see the strange tom watching his graceless meal. "Now, that's better hm?" He padded closer, once more pressing his side comfortably to Dusk's. "I'm Coldstar, the leader of GaleClan. This is my home, so I hope you'll excuse how I acted last night."
"I-it's okay. I'm Dusk... I'm sorry for intruding." Dusk mewed lowly.
"It's really alright, Dusk." Coldstar purred, leaning down to drag his tongue comfortably across Dusk's forehead. The rhythmic rasping helped to soothe Dusk's nerves and he found himself leaning closer to the older tom with the rough beginnings of a purr. This went on for a long moment before Coldstar spoke again. "Dusk... do you have anywhere to go? I could help you there." Dusk went quiet, ducking his head in embarrassment. "Then, would you like to join my clan? Learn the ways of the forest cats, the way your ancestors lived? You'll always have a place, a family."
Dusk choked up listening to him, then nodded furiously. "Alright then, Dusk. You will now be called Duskheart, welcome to GaleClan." [ 737 words ]
To his back, the setting sun silhouetted his small form, barely providing any warmth against the biting wind. The sky bled, like it had been opened by one great claw, until the colors vanished behind a writhing mass of clouds. As Dusk paused to catch his breath and take in the solemn beauty of the sky, bright tongues of lightning screamed across the sky and struck the ground somewhere near the young tom, making his fur stand on end and his teeth chatter. He broke into a sprint once more, fear numbing the pain in his paws.
He splashed into a stream, gasping at the freezing water as it bit into his coat. Two boulders in front of him promised some sort of shelter, and he slipped through the gap between them and into a clearing that smelled so strongly of cat it stopped him in his tracks. Clearly, this home belonged to someone, and he was sure he wouldn't be a welcome trespasser. Dusk had begun to turn tail and go back the way he'd come when the sky finally opened up and the clouds shed their tears hard and fast and the droplets were so cold they hurt as they pelted his back and shoulders.
Dusk cried out, unable to bear the stinging droplets and fleeing towards the den for shelter. He slipped on the fresh mud, paw catching on an exposed root and tumbling muzzle over paws into the tunnel. He blacked out as he landed, darkness exploding behind his eyes. When he came to, the rain had stopped and he was... warm. The young tom groaned, rolling onto his stomach and blinking his eyes open.
Only to yowl and startle backwards until he tripped over a stone in the tunnel and landed square on his rump. His whole body shook as he stared up at the massive tom that towered over him with a scowl firmly on his features. The ghostly pale tom stepped forwards, cold blue eyes hard as ice.
"You are trespassing on GaleClan territory. Who are y--" As the tom spoke, Dusk fell at his paws, shaking and whimpering and screwing his eyes so tightly closed he didn't think they would ever open. He expected the larger cat to strike, to kill and eat him and string up his fur. Instead, a warm side pressed against his, rumbling with a soothing purr.
"No need to be scared." Was all that passed between them for a long time while Dusk calmed down. He must have dozed off once again because the next time he opened his eyes a fat, tender mouse lay before him and he couldn't stop himself from digging in and devouring it. He paused only when he heard a chuckle to his side, turning to see the strange tom watching his graceless meal. "Now, that's better hm?" He padded closer, once more pressing his side comfortably to Dusk's. "I'm Coldstar, the leader of GaleClan. This is my home, so I hope you'll excuse how I acted last night."
"I-it's okay. I'm Dusk... I'm sorry for intruding." Dusk mewed lowly.
"It's really alright, Dusk." Coldstar purred, leaning down to drag his tongue comfortably across Dusk's forehead. The rhythmic rasping helped to soothe Dusk's nerves and he found himself leaning closer to the older tom with the rough beginnings of a purr. This went on for a long moment before Coldstar spoke again. "Dusk... do you have anywhere to go? I could help you there." Dusk went quiet, ducking his head in embarrassment. "Then, would you like to join my clan? Learn the ways of the forest cats, the way your ancestors lived? You'll always have a place, a family."
Dusk choked up listening to him, then nodded furiously. "Alright then, Dusk. You will now be called Duskheart, welcome to GaleClan." [ 737 words ]