sensitive topics JUST LIKE FIRE || encounter

[Flamestar]

Two days had passed since their accession to the top of the steep cliff. The traveling group of cats had finally made it to the mountains. It felt surreal to be this high up. They were higher than any tree she could imagine. The Great Sycamore felt like the size of a sapling now. She couldn't wait to tell Flycatcher and Falconpaw about their current home. The scenery truly was breath taking...both literally, and metaphorically. She wasn't sure if it was just the freezing cold or if the air were different here.

Despite how beautiful it was, there were many dangers here that they were constantly reminded of every day it seemed. The prey seemed to be scarcer the higher they traveled, there was the occasional gap in the earth that they had to jump over, there were many footprints to unknown to her animals, and they were constantly birds in the sky. The previous day, the collar bearing Skyclanner had nearly been carried off by a bird. She hadn't seen it herself, but rumors had spread that it was much larger than any bird they hunted back home. At first she hadn't believed it, but after seeing the tears on Bobbie's pelt, it was hard to not believe it. Whatever bird caused those wounds, she hoped would not show it's face again...though, she would be lying if she hadn't considered trying to work out a way to catch one. If the bird truly was that big, it would provide a good meal for nearly all of the group.

The group had decided to rest for the day, so she had decided to head out on a hunt. Her muscles still ached from climbing the cliff, but she was sure everyone else was aching too. There was no time for any more rest than necessary. They were in the mountains, that meant they had to be close to finding the cure. The sooner they found the Lungwort, the sooner they could go home. The Skyclan deputy had offered to join her, and she had accepted her volunteering without a second doubt. Their hunt had gone fairly uneventful. Orangeblossom had caught a bird, and Flamewhisker had been close to catching one as well, but she had tripped in a small hidden hole that was covered by snow. She was about to call the hunt, when a fresh trace of mouse caught her attention. "I'm going to check over here real quick, be right back." she murmured quietly, not wanting the mouse to overhear. Quietly, she stalked away to follow the trail.
​

★ born to find that great unknown

• @orangeblossom
  This thread is private right now, will update when it opens!​
• 
  FLAMEWHISKER of THUNDERCLAN
  LH red tabby with low white (masks black tabby, carries dilute, solid)
  — Lead Warrior of Thunderclan ; currently mentoring Acornpaw
  — she/her ; mated with Flycatcher
  — mother to Stormpaw & Falconpaw
  — 24 moons ; ages on the 20th
  — Smells like dirt, old leaves, tree sap, faint hint of flowers
  — will start a fight, will finish fights, will kill (case depending)
  — "speech" ; thoughts ; attacks
  — penned by Icey ! ; link to tags
  — link to toyhouse
  — funny guy art by waluigipinball​

 

[Orangestar]

𝐵𝑈𝑇 𝑇𝑂 𝐴 𝑊𝑂𝑀𝐴𝑁, 𝐵𝑌 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝐸𝑁𝐷 ✧ 𝐘𝐎𝐔'𝐋𝐋 𝐊𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐋 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐀

• 
  
  — orangeblossom | tags
  — she/her ; deputy of skyclan, mentoring eveningpaw.
  — scarred white-and-ginger she-cat with brown eyes.
  — "speech" ; thoughts
  — chibi by waluigipinball
  — penned by mercibun. @ me in any official tabbytales discord for plots.
  
  

​

The eagle's attack on Bobbie has been playing on Orangeblossom's mind ever since it happened. She'd been quickly ferried to safety by Fernpaw and Mouseflight, promptly treated and bleeding staunched, but it's still odd to see her Clanmate without her distinctive collar. And even now, Orangeblossom keeps one eye on the sky. Untrusting.

They're hunting in groups now, unwilling to face the unfamiliar terrain of the mountain alone, and she's found herself in Flamewhisker's company again. The deputy doesn't complain at this; the ThunderClan molly is spirited, and has a good head atop her shoulders. They have quite a bit in common, she thinks. Both determined, both with a daughter among their numbers so far from home, though Stormpaw is so much older than Cherrypaw is ...

Orangeblossom carries a bird carefully, not quite possessive of her catch as much as she is proud of it. She was lucky to make it, ungraceful in the snow but her claws and teeth had caught true among unfamiliar plumage, and as the SkyClanner had delivered the killing bite she had realised that it would feed at least two of the patrol tonight.

Flamewhisker, so far, had caught nothing, and Orangeblossom can see the frustration beginning to show on her hunting partner's muzzle as she'd pulled herself up from her fumble in the snow. The white-and-ginger molly wonders if she'll call it there, get them to head back to the temporary camp with their - her - catch, but Flamewhisker's head suddenly swivels towards a dip in the snow that Orangeblossom hadn't noticed before.

"Right." She nods, ears twitching as Flamewhisker turns. "Good hunting."

She crosses under the boughs of a pine tree right as a shadow passes over it, Orangeblossom completely unaware of the predator which had taken an interest in the hunting cats. She's much too focused on hauling her catch up the mountainside to the other Clanners, after all.
​

 

[Flamestar]

Quietly and carefully, she pulled herself along the mouse's trail. Her body stiffened as she spots it several fox tail lengths in front of her. It was facing the other direction, totally oblivious to the forest lioness that was stalking it. She waited a few moments, then launched herself forward, delivering the killing blow flawlessly. Her maw pulled back into a toothy smile, and she picked it up in her jaws. It wasn't much, but it was better than returning to the group empty pawed. Maybe she would go out again later...she wasn't used to returning so empty pawed.

She returned to the spot she had left Orangeblossom, carrying her plumed tail high behind her. The orange and white deputy was a decent ways ahead of her, having already begun her return to their make shift camp. The lead warrior picked up her pace, wanting to talk to the other molly a bit before they returned.

As she drew nearer to her companion, a strange shadow darkened the ground beneath her. Flamewhisker's eyes narrowed slightly, wondering how the other cat was producing such a large shadow..."Orangeblossom, hold up a second!" she called out, a feeling of unease starting to cause her pelt to prickle. Suddenly, an unfamiliar sound came from the sky. She lifted her gaze, and what she saw was the last thing she wanted to see. "BIG BIRD!!" she yelled, dropping the mouse and running towards the Skyclan deputy. It was coming in too fast...diving down towards her...it's going to take her!

Without thinking twice, the red and white tabby kicked herself forward, spraying snow behind her paws. She leapt towards Orangeblossom, paws outstretched. The bird was reaching down towards them with outstretched talons, but Flamewhisker was too fast for it. With the momentum from her run, she managed to push Orangeblossom out of the way However, she was not able to escape it's long talons. Claw tips that were originally meant for Orangeblossom catch Flamewhisker's shoulder skin, leaving a wound down a little ways on her left side. She hisses in pain as she lands on the snowy ground, belly facing up. The she-cat sends several frantic slashes towards the attacker. Thankfully the wound was not deep, the tips of the bird's disoriented talons hadn't gone much past just breaking the skin.

The large bird spreads its wings, and begins to flap upwards. It acts as though it will fly away, but as if it were trying to trick them, it would shoot down towards Flamewhisker. She had only had just enough time to regain her footing before the bird was nearing them again. Her claws unsheathed, and she hesitantly put weight down on her injured leg. Blood dripped into the snow below, but she'd be dammed if she died to a bird. She quickly glanced at the deputy who was now beside her, before returning her focus to the eagle. "Let's show that thing who's boss." ​

★ born to find that great unknown

• thread will be opening up after ora's next post (:​
• 
  FLAMEWHISKER of THUNDERCLAN
  LH red tabby with low white (masks black tabby, carries dilute, solid)
  — Lead Warrior of Thunderclan ; currently mentoring Acornpaw
  — she/her ; mated with Flycatcher
  — mother to Stormpaw & Falconpaw
  — 24 moons ; ages on the 20th
  — Smells like dirt, old leaves, tree sap, faint hint of flowers
  — will start a fight, will finish fights, will kill (case depending)
  — "speech" ; thoughts ; attacks
  — penned by Icey ! ; link to tags
  — link to toyhouse
  — funny guy art by waluigipinball​

 

[Orangestar]

𝐵𝑈𝑇 𝑇𝑂 𝐴 𝑊𝑂𝑀𝐴𝑁, 𝐵𝑌 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝐸𝑁𝐷 ✧ 𝐘𝐎𝐔'𝐋𝐋 𝐊𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐋 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐀

• 
  
  — orangeblossom | tags
  — she/her ; deputy of skyclan, mentoring eveningpaw.
  — scarred white-and-ginger she-cat with brown eyes.
  — "speech" ; thoughts
  — chibi by waluigipinball
  — penned by mercibun. @ me in any official tabbytales discord for plots.
  
  

​

If asked prior to this encounter Orangeblossom would insist that if faced with an eagle, she would stand proud against it. That she'd pummel it back with claws as fierce as the talons she faced, a story fit for the nursery generations after her kits' grandkits might have left the bush's confines.

Orangeblossom pivots at Flamewhisker's call, ears pricking upwards. She feels no such unease, but the expression on her hunting companion's face causes the white-and-ginger molly to tilt her head curiously. Flamewhisker looks up, and Orangeblossom follows suit, just as the looming shadow of a large bird descends towards her. The sight of it steals her breath, as if Flamewhisker had borrowed all the air from both their lungs to shriek a warning that might -would, hopefully - bring more of this makeshift colony of theirs to their aid.

Oh, StarClan save us. The prey falls from her mouth, forgotten immediately as Orangeblossom faces her demise. She'd always thought she would die gloriously; and she supposes for a moment that here she might, but it would seem that Flamewhisker has far braver designs on this encounter. Orangeblossom is shoved aside with first a grunt of effort and then a grunt of impact as she hits the snow; but in saving the other she-cat, Flamewhisker is left at the mercy of the eagle's talons.

In righting herself the SkyClanner doesn't see the injury happen, but she does see the younger she-cat roll, and sees the bird withdraw. This might be their chance to either flee, or to chase it off. Orangeblossom's ears are pressed flat to her skull as she reaches Flamewhisker's side, realising that she means to do the second. Immediately the deputy's claws are out, tail flicking against the snow.

"You be careful of that leg." She orders the younger she-cat, though her gaze is on the bird circling above their heads. This isn't like an ordinary songbird: its talons and beak are furiously sharp, defenses that no unprepared cat would stand a chance against. As it drops towards them a second time, falling from the sky like the feathered monster it is at heart, Orangeblossom yowls, "Watch its talons and go for its back!"
​