- Jun 7, 2023
- 266
- 61
- 28
WindClan had recognised the faults of the Stars, and was being punished for it by those who sought its continued corruption. The tunneler had taken more time to hunt in isolation as of late, patrols full of cats that did not have the same vision of him, cats that sought his mother dead and himself removed as one of her greatest supporters. It was as transparent as a spider's web, with so many enemies, Sootspot did not know how best to handle each one. With a fresh mole hanging limply between his teeth, Sootspot pushed himself out of the tunnel, squinting at the sun in the sky. It would not usually be his choice to walk along the moors, there were so many paths to choose that the choice could be overwhelming, but that day was different. That day, he longed to have a reminder of the light, for StarClan had grown so dark it was difficult to see the bright specks in the sky anymore.
"It's nice that you lot even do the hunting for us." A voice snapped him out of his stupor. Sootspot looked up, limbs tensing at the sight of three large rogues moving to circle him, each one's gaze more hungry than the last. The small tom smiled, betraying the desire in the back of his mind to run. Left and right two of them moved, likely to snatch him like a rabbit the minute he darted in either direction. Sootspot steeled himself.
"I always have been the generous type," he replied back with a flash of his brow. A paw inched forward, pushing the small bundle of fur towards the central rogue, who seemed to be the leader of their little patrol. Not a true leader, just some thug who could hit harder than the rest, he would keep that in mind.
"Smart choice, kit." 'I am not a kit. I am Sootspot, Tunneler of WindClan and firstborn son of Sootstar the great. You will address me as such.' They were easy words to think, but not to say, not when there were six angry eyes waiting to take one of his. He chewed the side of his mouth, ear twitching madly until he was certain he had found the right direction of one of the burrows.
"You are starving, are you not?" Eyes glossed over mange-ridden bodies and snaggled teeth, noticing how each ones lips seemed to curl even further up at the observation. StarClan, he'd struck a nerve. "Ah, I meant no offence. To come into clan territory with such confidence is admirable, it is the type of courage we need in WindClan. Have you ever considered joining?"
"Hahaha, so the little kitty needs some friends, does he? And what would we get in return?".
"Whatever you desire. Food for your families, fresh pelts to tear into, a place to go when you expire. What more is there to want?"
"Freedom."
"And you free now? We are all pinned down by something. I am pinned by my faith, you are pinned by your hunger. WindClan will give you more freedom than you could ever hope to achieve on your own. My mother is free to do as she pleases, and she has made herself the strongest cat in the forest. Wouldn't you like to join her? Or even... surpass her?"
There was a pause, as if the rogue was seriously considering it, as if Sootspot had the authority to let some common mongrel into the clan at no cost. The rogue was ambitious and he had sunk his claws into the trait. The rogue's attention turned to one of his groupmates for guidance, a moment of weakness, and Sootspot struck. Snatching the mole from the earth and gripping onto it for dear life, Sootspot charged directly towards the largest rogue. Surprised, the stranger let out a caterwaul and readied himself to be barrelled into, instead, Sootspot swerved to the side, the wind at his back like StarClan's guiding paw, and then maneuvered past him, disappearing into the tall grasses as teeth and claws snapped at empty air.
When the rogues charged into the grass after him and one of them scoured beyond, their voices seemed to cry out in unison. "Where's the foxheart gone?" One screeched. "I'm gonna claw his ears until they're dust!" Another one spoke. Sootspot could only presume the third seethed in silent anger. Beneath the earth, the Tunneler remained perfectly still, naught but the two paws by the entrance of his hiding spot. He heard a quiet noise behind him and he whipped his head around, narrowed eyes locking with another Tunneler and raising his tail to tell them to 'be quiet'. Then, when he was certain the message was received, he pointed past his own head towards the exit of the burrow, where heavy paws were stomping about and loud snouts were sniffing the earth. It would not be his choice to fight or flee today.
"It's nice that you lot even do the hunting for us." A voice snapped him out of his stupor. Sootspot looked up, limbs tensing at the sight of three large rogues moving to circle him, each one's gaze more hungry than the last. The small tom smiled, betraying the desire in the back of his mind to run. Left and right two of them moved, likely to snatch him like a rabbit the minute he darted in either direction. Sootspot steeled himself.
"I always have been the generous type," he replied back with a flash of his brow. A paw inched forward, pushing the small bundle of fur towards the central rogue, who seemed to be the leader of their little patrol. Not a true leader, just some thug who could hit harder than the rest, he would keep that in mind.
"Smart choice, kit." 'I am not a kit. I am Sootspot, Tunneler of WindClan and firstborn son of Sootstar the great. You will address me as such.' They were easy words to think, but not to say, not when there were six angry eyes waiting to take one of his. He chewed the side of his mouth, ear twitching madly until he was certain he had found the right direction of one of the burrows.
"You are starving, are you not?" Eyes glossed over mange-ridden bodies and snaggled teeth, noticing how each ones lips seemed to curl even further up at the observation. StarClan, he'd struck a nerve. "Ah, I meant no offence. To come into clan territory with such confidence is admirable, it is the type of courage we need in WindClan. Have you ever considered joining?"
"Hahaha, so the little kitty needs some friends, does he? And what would we get in return?".
"Whatever you desire. Food for your families, fresh pelts to tear into, a place to go when you expire. What more is there to want?"
"Freedom."
"And you free now? We are all pinned down by something. I am pinned by my faith, you are pinned by your hunger. WindClan will give you more freedom than you could ever hope to achieve on your own. My mother is free to do as she pleases, and she has made herself the strongest cat in the forest. Wouldn't you like to join her? Or even... surpass her?"
There was a pause, as if the rogue was seriously considering it, as if Sootspot had the authority to let some common mongrel into the clan at no cost. The rogue was ambitious and he had sunk his claws into the trait. The rogue's attention turned to one of his groupmates for guidance, a moment of weakness, and Sootspot struck. Snatching the mole from the earth and gripping onto it for dear life, Sootspot charged directly towards the largest rogue. Surprised, the stranger let out a caterwaul and readied himself to be barrelled into, instead, Sootspot swerved to the side, the wind at his back like StarClan's guiding paw, and then maneuvered past him, disappearing into the tall grasses as teeth and claws snapped at empty air.
When the rogues charged into the grass after him and one of them scoured beyond, their voices seemed to cry out in unison. "Where's the foxheart gone?" One screeched. "I'm gonna claw his ears until they're dust!" Another one spoke. Sootspot could only presume the third seethed in silent anger. Beneath the earth, the Tunneler remained perfectly still, naught but the two paws by the entrance of his hiding spot. He heard a quiet noise behind him and he whipped his head around, narrowed eyes locking with another Tunneler and raising his tail to tell them to 'be quiet'. Then, when he was certain the message was received, he pointed past his own head towards the exit of the burrow, where heavy paws were stomping about and loud snouts were sniffing the earth. It would not be his choice to fight or flee today.
