tunnels COLD AS DEATH | pafp ; tunnel tour

[SOOTSPOT]

It seemed today was the day that pigs learned to fly. Within the tunnels, the confident tom found a bug in the back of his brain, demanding why he had let pride compel him to take this outsider on a tour of WindClan's most sacred place. Wire-framed and accomplice to Sunstar, had the point not approached him first, he may have hoped that Ukalek would stick with his betters and leave the chimera some privacy within the underground. Alas, his presence proved to be another cruel torment from StarClan in a moon so full of them he wished the very sky itself would disappear. Not one to be outdone by a child though, Sootspot pressed onwards within a shorter path, steps begrudgingly stilted as he waited for the newcomer to the moors to find his footing. Every now and again, he looked over his shoulder towards Ukalek, the dark hiding the extent of his discomfort. When he did speak, only a smile was evident in his voice. "Lost? I would not be surprised." Only the most experienced Tunnelers could pinpoint where each tunnel was within the territory - though Sootspot had needed plenty of practice himself, he almost told the other of impressive, albeit falsified, natural talent.

'I don't need to brag to this cat.' He'd decided after the first interaction with Ukalek, reminding himself of it even whilst other Tunnelers lurked nearby. 'I could tell this rogue anything and he'd be impressed.' It was almost nice, to be trusted and liked, but there was a falseness to the feeling that made the thought overly sacharrine, as if he knew it wouldn't last, as if he had to sour it before he became poisoned by it. "Spend enough time underground, and your whiskers and nose will be as sensitive as the rest of ours. We leave scent trails to keep ourselves from getting lost, again, something you may have to get used to." Just as he pictured the meadows above, a rock jutting out of the earth to the north, and a long winding river to the south, he pictured Ukalek standing there, taller than himself yet shorter than Sunstar. His whiskers twitched indignantly at the image. "You are awfully stubby-legged, are you not? Hardly much use for chasing rabbits up on high... has Sunstar suggested you become a Tunneler yet? "

[ please don't post until @UKALEK has!

optional tags; @downypaw @PINKPAW ]


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[UKALEK]

This was not as easy as Ukalek had been anticipating.

He knew transversing the tunnels would be a challenge, yet nothing could have prepared him for the confusion brought on by having near all of your senses taken away. He is overwhelmed by the intermingling scents that Sootspot would eventually explain help tunnelers guide themselves through the tunnels. It was always a shock, too, when the walls went from giving you plenty of wiggle room to hugging the air out of you.

Still, miraculously, Ukalek stays calm when many first timers may have panicked. He’s uncomfortable but pushing through it with a hunger to learn. At least the dark comforted his strained and sensitive eyes.

’Lost?’ Ukalek’s whiskers twitch, brushing against dirt, ”I think I am sometimes.” He muses gently. One second he thinks he’s right on Sootspot’s trail and another he fears the tunneler took a turn that Ukalek had missed.

It was fascinating to learn how adaptive tunnelers were, how they were trained to know this underground maze like the back of their paw. Sootspot warns it’s something he may have to get use to and Ukalek finds himself unable to imagine being as skilled as a WindClan tunneler. Low self-esteem he did not have, but it was hard to think with teaching and practice, he too could know this maze as well as Sootspot did. ”How long did it take you to learn all of this?”

Sootspot comments on his on his stubby-legged build and asks if Sunstar has suggested tunneling to him. ”No. Not yet.” He meows, ”I’ve spoken little to him upon my arrival… Since he’s been… you know.” In recovery…? He feels as though he’s looking at a ghost when he gazes upon the Tom. How powerful were the ancestors that watched over the clans that they could bring a cat back from the dead nine whole times? It sounded like torment to the wiry-furred tom-cat. When he was dead and gone, he wanted to stay that way.

🐇 INFO BATTLE

• » Ukalek
  » Loner
  » He/him . AFAB
  » An oriental-featured chocolate point with unusual blue eyes
  » ”Speech”․ thoughts ․ attack
  
• » A poor fighter who uses his wits to trick his opponents.
  » Excels in smarts and using it to get his opponents where he wants them.
  » Fights defensively and at the order of his leader..
  » May powerplay minor harm. Can powerplay healing

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[PINKSHINE]

Don't get it twisted! Pinkpaw is not here as an apprentice, accompanying a warrior that was supposed to be her supervisor, or something silly. She was actually Sootspot's supervisor! Here to make sure that he wasn't gonna tell Ukalek things like, " Always definitely tunnel towards the sound of water and do lots of tunneling alone[/i], " Or something! In a way, she was overseeing Downypaw's training too! Even if it was a little late to be checking... but... the point is: she's super responsible!

Sootspot is innocent so far, though... And Ukalek seemed, nice... though she still found it a little bit confusing that he was here at all, still. Well, whatever. " I've been training since i was an itty - bitty pinky! Ummm... six moons? " she tells him, and she pauses a moment, wondering if she's getting that right. Well, Downypaw would correct her if she isn't. " And I'm still not done yet! ...But I almost am, I think. " Did Pinkpaw have to train that long cause she was little, and Ukalek wouldn't have to train that much? She doesn't know if that's fair. Or safe! She hopes not. Hmph.

She gasps loudly at Sootspot's comment. " You can't just call cats stubby - legged! " she exclaims. Rude! She'd be like, the angriest ever if anyone said that to her! Was that what Sootstar was thinking when she made her a tunneler?​