&&_an unexpected obstacle.

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>Aurora tried to flash an encouraging smile but it came out weak. "Crystalkit..." He was just telling you how it is out here. She sighed and shook her head. "Look, we're all weak out here. No one knows how these lands works. I mean, I used to but I haven't been home in years." She shrugged and flicked her tail. "Just because you didn't catch the rabbit doesn't mean that you're weak. No one else did either. There's always another time."

The she-cat lunged and trapped a vole beneath the ice and snow. The femme snapped down, grabbing the creature and tossing it to Crystalkit. "Here, eat this. It'll make you feel better." She sidled up next to the CloudClanner, rubbing against her.

"Karasu, Shimo, and Koji aren't like anything that we've seen before, but they're our only way through these lands so we've got to deal with them for now. They've got the upperhand right now so it's not wise to do anything rash, alright?" The she-cat touched her tail to Crystalkit's.

"You're doing fine. You're a part of the family and you're still with us. We're not going to let you fall behind. Promise." The older female smiled. "I'm a horrible mentor, I know. I guess it was best for me to give my son to BrightClan."</sub>

[kee :]]

Selenekit continued to pace. She found that it was the only way that she could control the anger that was about to explode. That burning fury kept changing from Shimo to Koji and then to Pecankit. Except, this time, she couldn't help but to glare at Pecankit because of what she had said. Selenekit's exact thoughts were Koji's next words. They were nice enough to not try to kill us! And yet you go and attack them. She glared at Pecankit as she listened to Mottledkit. For such a shy she-cat, she had words of wisdom that were all that Selenekit thought, except in a nice calm tone. In her mind, there were screams and arguments just waiting to errupt. But she had gained control over the moons of never talking. That helped. Maybe Pecankit should shut her mouth for a while.

Finally, the last thing that Pecankit muttered after she spat at Moonkit sent her off the wall. "None of us asked for this," she growled, glaring at the ground where Pecankit once stood. Now she was gone, on another one of her walks to cause some more drama. Wonderful. Just what they needed. With Aurora talking to Crystalkit and Koji and Pecankit out for a walk, that left Mottledkit, Moonkit, Karasu, and herself with Shimo. She looked at the wolverine and his wounds and then she glared at the ground. She felt so dumb. So useless that she wanted to hide away here and never have to go home. She'd be useless there too.

[SHADE. :D]

Pecankit knew what they'd think. They'd probably hate her again. She told herself she didn't care, and shook off self pity like a heavy coating of water. Stood just outside the den, she heard Selenekit's cold words. Her heart felt as though it had been twisted into knots, and she choked on nothing. The tabby she-cat turned away from the den, tears scoring her muzzle. She thought Selenekit was her friend. She was just trying to stick up for Crystalkit... Was that so wrong? Besides, she couldn't hear any of them having a go at Crystalkit herself. Pecankit stamped a paw in the snow. The she-cat then lifted her muzzle, catching scents on the breeze. She decided to catch so much prey that she actually impressed Aurora, then stay the hell away from the others. She just wanted to go home, where she belonged. Everything she touched here shattered like an ice sculpture.

The she-cat caught the pure scent of a snow rabbit; like the woodland creatures back home, but with a touch of frost sewn into their scent. Pecankit crouched low, spotting the creature. Unfortunately it was looking his way, and bolted. The she-cat flew after it, putting all her tearaway emotions into the activity. She pounced, claws snagging into the fur and deep into the flesh. She dragged back the rabbit and killed it with a bite. It was big, for a rabbit. Pecankit sat back, pride filling her chest, and almost forgot why her cheeks were wet. Pecankit turned, the rabbit at her paws, and spotted Koji. She bristled, her ochre fur spiked outward. That bobcat was the last person she wanted to see now.

[KURI. (happy birfday to me :D)]

__ Haha, leave it to Kuri to start random, unneeded drama. =D

Crystalkit waved her tail back and forth, her eyes cloudy and her mind deep in thought. "Your son," she murmured unexpectedly, pale pelt merging with the snow, making her seem smaller than she really was. She turned slightly as she heard Pecankit killing the rabbit, but her head was buzzing now and she wanted to know something. For once she decided to be persistant, she wasn't going to stop until Aurora gave her an answer. And, strangely, she didn't know why she needed to know this. "what was he like?" She was born in CloudClan. She shouldn't care about a BrightClan warrior. And yet, she did... Her stomach growled with hunger and she desperately wanted a part of he fresh-kill, but she wanted this more. This knowledge that would never serve her, never come in handy. And she wanted it more than food.

Was she going insane?

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>A husky laugh slipped from Aurora's lips. "My son...," she said, letting a faint smile escape her. "It's been...many, many moons since I've seen him but...he was always so kind, thoughtful, gentle. He would never hurt anyone unless he had to and he was so protective, especially since his father died." She laughed again, feeling like a grandmother reminiscing on her youth. A maternal air seemed to surround her.

"I miss him, my little Jet. I don't know what they called him back home. I wonder what he's doing now..." She turned her warm smile to Crystalkit and pressed her warm body against the she-cat, nestling against her as she prompted the vole again.</sub>

[fernie. (:]

Koji stuck his nose out of the little crevice when he got a waft of one of the cats that were staying with him and Shimo. He saw that it was the one they called Pecankit, and narrowed his eyes. The one that thought she knew everything. Koji scarmbled ungracefully out of the little cavern and started to pad away, paws sinking into the soft snow. He didn't know where he would go if the cat followed him, he certainly wouldn't turn back, but he was curious of the felines.

[/size]

[SHADE. :D]

Pecankit snorted and turned away as Koji stalked off. The tabby picked up the heavy rabbit and padded towards the cave. After a moment she glanced over her shoulder uncertainly. Hatred raced through her veins. She may dislike the bobcat for what he had done to Crystalkit, but he was still a kit, in her eyes. And no kit deserved to be endangered. The tabby turned with an irritable snort and loped after the bobcat. Pecankit skidded to a halt before him, blocking his path. "Are you completely mousebrained?" In her way, Pecankit was trying to make up for her common sense by insulting Koji. "You're alone here, you die. If you die, that wolverine'll probably shred us all. So get back to the cave!"

[fernie. (:]

Koji halted uncertainly as Pecankit blocked the bobcat's way. His first instinct was to push past the feline and keep walking, but he knew that the she-cat spoke the truth. If he died in the bitter cold, Shimo would be merciless. Koji sighed, and spun round, about to stalk back in the other direction. He stopped for a second though, and shot a question over his shoulder. 'Why are you here?' he asked Pecankit, turning to face her. 'Like, did you volunteer or what?'

[/size]

[SHADE. :D]

Pecankit noticed the bobcat's change of expression. The light brown tabby she-cat sat down, shivering as the ice soaked her fur with freezing moisture. The slender she-cat flicked her ears in amusement at Koji's words. Volunteered? Does he honestly think I'd volunteer to go here? Pecankit snorted. "No," she mewed shortly, lifting a slim white paw to lick it absent-mindedly. "We all got a dream, Mottledkit, Selenekit, Crystalkit, Moonkit and I. From StarClan. Telling us to come here." Pecankit was aware that Kofi would'nt have the faintest idea who StarClan was, but she had said it now, and couldn't be bothered to explain.

[fernie. (:]

Koji looked at the tabby she-cat with his head tilted to one side. 'Starclan? Who's that? You cats sure do have some strange names for each other, that's for sure. And why do you have to listen to Starclan anyway? Why couldn't you just have told him you didn't want to do it?' he asked, utterly confused.

[/size]

[SHADE. :D]

pecankit

i stared
into oblivion
and found my own

reflection ^there

Pecankit smirked at the young bobcat. It sounded strange to her to hear somebody speaking about StarClan like he was. He was talking about the starry warriors as though they were one cat. She wondered briefly what kind of heavenly spirits Koji worshipped, but didn't ask. "StarClan aren't one cat, mousebrain," she mewed, but her voice wasd not irritated, but amused. "When our cats die, their spirits go to StarClan. They're basically a clan, but they live in the sky and they guide us through tough times." Pecankit puffed out her snowy chest as Koji spoke again. "We can't not listen to StarClan," she mewed. "We have to ignore how we feel. If we don't do what they say, the clans will die out."[/blockquote][/size]

[fernie. (:]

Koji sat down, his head still tolted to the side as he listened. 'Oh...' he said, not sure of what else to say. They were taking orders from a group of dead cats? It sounded ludicrous. He decided to keep his thoughts to himself though, as the she-cat looked as though she believed very much in this StarClan. 'So, before you came here, were you part of a Clan?' he asked.

[/size]

[SHADE. :D]

pecankit

i stared
into oblivion
and found my own

reflection ^there

Pecankit nodded, thoughts of BrightClan filling her head. Of the soft ferns, the warm camp. The feeling of fuzzy heat when you first awoke in the morning. "Yes. I was of BrightClan," she mewed. She didn't seem to notice that she was speaking in the past tense. "I had my mother, Leopardflight, and my father, Runespell. I had two sisters, Mousekit and Hazelkit, and two brothers, Grainkit and Ryekit. We had such fun together. I wonder if they still think about me. If they miss me..." Pecankit pulled herself together with a shake. "They've probably moved on now. I don't blame them. They probably think I'm dead..."[/blockquote][/size]

[fernie. (:]

Strangely, Koji felt a pang of sadness shoot though him for the she-cat, who looked so forlorn talking of her family. He didn't quite know whether to go over and comfort her, or if she would get annoyed at him for doing so. He decided to stay where he was for the moment. 'I know if Shimo ever went away I would never forget him. That's what families do. I'm sure yours will be waiting for you when you get back.' he said, then thought about Pecankit's family, sounding huge, as Koji only had Shimo to call his. 'Tell me about your siblings. I never had any siblings.' he said, eager to know more about the Clans.

[/size]

[SHADE. :D]

pecankit

i stared
into oblivion
and found my own

reflection ^there

Pecankit sat, perfectly still and quiet, lost in memories. This was such an unusual occurance that it even surprised her. She blinked rapidly, as though surfacing from deep water, when Koji spoke again. She flicked her ears, only too happy to oblige. "Well, Hazelkit and I were the best of friends," she meowed, dark blue eyes glistening with memories. "We always got into trouble together, but we didn't really care... Mousekit isn't my real sister, but none of us care about that. She is to us. She was brought to camp when she was found, abandoned on our territory..." Pecankit swallowed, remembering how she had parted. She recalled the look of deep hurt and confusion in Mousekit's eyes. She continued, trying to force back misery. "Grainkit was always the sensible one. He was the cleverest, and good at everything. He'll probably be clan deputy by now... Ryekit was a brilliant fighter, but he could be foolish. He liked to think hr was the best at everything." She smiled as she described each sibling. "They'll be warriors by now. They might even have kits of their own..."[/blockquote][/size]

[fernie. (:]

koji.

Koji was silent as he listened to Pecankit naming and describing each of her siblings. The bobcat had so many questions to ask the femme but he held his tongue, as he thought that if he asked her half of them she might just go back to spitting at him and walking away. And Koji wasn't the fighting sort. So he smiled as Pecankit mouthed her last sentence and nodded. 'Sorry if I sound like a bit of an idiot... but how do these Clans work? Like, you keep talking about warriors. What are they?' he asked, hoping this wouldn't annoy the tabby she-cat.

[SHADE. :D]

pecankit

i stared
into oblivion
and found my own

reflection ^there

Pecankit did not feel uncomfortable describing her home back in the Black River Forest. She did not feel irritated by his seemingly endless questions. Gradually her anger was ebbing away. Talking about BrightClan and her dearly loved family eased her annoyance and pain somewhat. The tabby and white she-cat shook herself. She'd show the others that she hadn't just stormed off in a pointless sulk. She resolved to hunt some more before returning. But for now she was content to sit here and speak with Koji.

His next question was a difficult one. Pecankit took a deep breath. "When a kit is born, their mother names them to do with their looks or personality. Like, my mother named me Pecankit. When that kit has reached six moons of age, they are given an apprentice name, like I would've been Pecanpaw. And when that apprentice's mentor has trained them well enough, they recieve their warrior name. Like Leopardflight or Runespell. A warrior hunts and fights for the clan." Pecankit blinked at Koji, her eyes swimming with memories.[/blockquote][/size]

[fernie. (:]

koji.

Koji nodded slowly, taking it all in. 'So how many cats are in a Clan then?' he asked, wondering if it was just Pecankit's family or more cats. Koji shook his head slightly, embarrassed that he was asking so many questions. 'Sorry for asking you so much. I'm just curious, you have such a different life to Shimo and I.' he said, idly stamping the snow with his pawprints as he talked. He was content now, but wanted to stay a while longer and talk some more with Pecankit.

[/size]

[SHADE. :D]

pecankit

i stared
into oblivion
and found my own

reflection ^there

Pecankit smiled. "Oh, there's loads of us," she mewed. "The clan leader for starters. They always have 'star', at the end of their name. Thrushstar is our leader. Then we have a deputy. He's like a second in command for the clan." Pecankit blinked, before continuing. "The medicine cat, as well. They heal injured or sick cats. They're amazing, they know all about herbs and stuff that can heal pretty much anything. Then there's the warriors and apprentices." Pecankit's thoughts drifted to the clan queens. She wondered how many kits that she didn't know would have been born when she finally returned home... If ever. "There's the queens, too. They are she-cat's who were warriors, but have taken a break from their duties to have kits. And then there's the kits themselves, and the elders. The elders are... Older cats. Cats that have served as warriors and queens for so long that they have now retired."[/blockquote][/size]

[fernie. (:]

koji.

Koji nodded again, slowly, to show he was taking it all in. 'It all sounds so... organised.' he said, thinking how he would rather not live in such a big group of animals. His ears pricked as Pecankit described the medicine cats. 'That sounds interesting. We just use whatever we can find to heal our wounds. Mostly we just pack snow on them.' he said. He listened patiently to the rest of Pecankit's explanation, then nodded again. 'So elders, they don't do anything anymore? Lucky for some!' he said.

[/size]

[SHADE. :D]

pecankit

i stared
into oblivion
and found my own

reflection ^there

Pecankit smirked. She supposed, to an outsider, the clan cats' life might seem organized. But she then remembered the rush in the morning. When the first apprentice woke, before frantically prodding awake the others. Then all of them packed out into the already-crowded clearing to go to training, on patrol, or clear out the elders. Pecankit blinked her sapphire eyes. Thinking about home made her realise just how much she had changed. She had left BrightClan a stubborn, hostile, spolit kit. She hoped some of this was different. Her appearance certainly was. Pecankit remembered looking down at her chubby white paws when the journey had began, and grooming a sleek ochre tabby pelt. She looked down at herself. Her limbs were wiry and supple, her body slender and her coat short and ragged. Yes, she had changed a lot.

"Yes," she mewed, eyes glittering with amusement. "The apprentices have to look after them. They take them prey and new bedding. It's one of their duties. Glad I never had to face it." Pecankit wrinkled her nose. As she did so, she caught a waft of scent. Prey. It reminded her somewhat of mouse or vole, but it was tinged with snow and ice. "Wait here," she instructed Koji. The tabby flattened herself to the ice, tail down in an impression of a rock. She let thw snowflakes fall on and smother her pelt. Then she saw it. It was difficult to spot, with a snow-white coat. Pecankit did not recognize the ermine, but decided it looked okay to eat. She raced forward, leapt, and killed it with a bite and a hiss. She then carried it back to Koji, looking faintly tired.[/blockquote][/size]

[fernie. (:]

koji.[/font]

Koji watched as Pecankit lost herself once again in thoughts and memories. She thought how hard it must have been to leave all of what she had just described to the bobcat, and wondered how it must have felt. As Pecankit spoke again Koji nodded and waited, as instructed. When she came back with the snowy white prey now spattered with scarlet, Koji smiled. 'You have skills.' he said, standing up and stretching his front legs. He shook the snow off his pelt before he spoke again. 'So, you wanna go back to the cave yet?' he asked.

[/size]

[SHADE. :D]

pecankit

i stared
into oblivion
and found my own

reflection ^there

Pecankit smiled slightly. "I'm not that good," she mewed, scuffling the snow with a paw. It was true. She wasn't a good hunter. In fact, she'd be even worse once she got home. She had somewhat got used to the chilling winds and slippery ground of the north. The looming trees and soft grass would feel odd when she returned to BrightClan, she was sure of it. Pecankit nodded at Koji's suggestion. "Yes, we probably should," she meowed. "Shimo will be wondering where you are."

Pecankit rose to her paws. She nudged the ermine at Koji, asking him to carry it for her. She then picked up the snow rabbit between her teeth, her shoulders straining. It was heavy, a limp deadweight in her mouth. The ochre-hued tabby she-cat began to pad back towards Shimo and Koji's cave, her ears and tail lowered against the cold wind. When her paws touched the threshold she threw down the rabbit and entered, shaking her icy fur. She looked around at her companions and Shimo, before sitting down and beginning to groom her damp fur.[/blockquote][/size]

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>Shimo lifted up his head as Pecankit entered his den. The male furrowed his brow but when she made no move to attack him, he relaxed. He saw that Koji was behind her, and the wolverine struggled to his paws, charging towards him. He nuzzled the bobkit, towering over his charge. "I lost my temper with you earlier. I apologize," he said softly, touching his big wet nose to that of the kit's. He lifted his head up to Pecankit. "Quite an impressive kill you have there."

Seeing as how Crystalkit seemed to have cooled off, Aurora smiled at the she-cat. "Come. Let's go back to the den for some food. I smell a kill," she said, nudging the white female to her paws as the black and white femme started for the den. "We'll be heading for the tundra now...."</sub>

[fernie. (:]

koji.[/colour][/font]

Koji followed Pecankit into the cave he called home with what he felt was a new sense of understanding for the tabby she-cat. He put down the kill that Pecankit had made, then looked up as Shimo came over and touched his huge nose to Koji's tiny one. "S'ok. Doesn't matter." he said. "And I didn't catch it; Pecankit did." he said, motioning to the kill in front of him.

[/size]

[KURI. (happy birfday to me :D)]

Crystalkit nodded solemnly at Aurora's memories, before getting up and stretching her legs. The she-cat avoided Shimo both in shame and in a strange bitter feeling, one that she couldn't remember feeling before but thinking with a bit of a cheeky smile that Pecankit probably knew it. Crystalkit slowly let herself take timid bites out of the white-furred, long-bodied creature. "The tundra..."

[/blockquote]

[SHADE. :D]

pecankit

i stared
into oblivion
and found my own

reflection ^there

Pecankit continued to rasp her tongue through her light brown tabby fur. It had grown very thick due to the freezing temperatures of their environment. She thought bitterly that she was missing her first ever summer in the forest. She had been born in autumn so never seen one. Pecankit wondered how it felt to have the sun lick your shoulders, to have heat wash over your body. It made her shiver.

Pecankit lifted her head as Shimo spoke. She looked at him steadily, her sapphire eyes expressionless. She would not pick a fight. She wondered if the wolverine was trying to patch things up or whether the comment had been casual. "Thanks," she mewed curtly, flucking her ears. Pecankit then went back to washing her snowy paws. She heard Crystalkit and Aurora re-enter the cave, but did not look up. She caught the words 'the Tundra'. She wondered what the two had been talking about.[/blockquote][/size]