Post by l.wolfeh.l on Feb 17, 2007 14:54:09 GMT -5
This is a plot for Skypaw, and will be started soon. Probably once she gets a mentor and stuff. I'll put it in Important Plots for now, but if it ends up being smaller, then I'll move it down. No title yet xDD
Chapter One
This was it: she was going in. For weeks that wall had loomed before her, enticing her, begging and luring. And now, as she stood before the little hole that served as a portal to another world, she was finally going to do it. Skypaw took a deep breath, then crouched low and squeezed through the wall, and into the fort.
--
It was a completely different world. The smells that were faint and curious from the other side were now overpowering. The apprentice’s fur stood straight up, and she cowered down, her back to the wall. Then a twoleg appeared, walking mere feet in front of her. Her heart raced, and she darted toward the nearest object, a large box-like structure. The twoleg passed, not even looking in her direction.
Skypaw poked her head out from behind the barrier, looking around. So that was what a twoleg looked like, up close. Not as scary, but frightening nonetheless. She took another breath of putrid air and started out again. No matter how badly her little white paws urged her back to the hole in the wall, she was determined not to falter.
For a few minutes she wandered, avoiding twolegs and their monsters. There weren’t to terribly many, but enough to keep her on her guard. The scents of cats were everywhere, all strange to her. Near one area the scent that had been described to her as “dog” was very strong, and so she skirted the region quickly.
Then there was another smell, something odd yet enticing. Food. Skypaw then noticed the hollow rumble of her belly and followed her nose to the smell’s epicenter. It was amazing. Skypaw had found a buffet of food, and all just waiting to be eaten. It wasn’t fresh-kill, but the aromas drew her in. There wasn’t a scent of rotting food, and it smelled fresh enough, with a bit of heat still radiating. What was this place? She didn’t stop to ponder too long – she was hungry.
--
Hawk breathed deeply in the smells of the Scrap. The haven of the Fort Cats – the holy grail of their existence. And he was hungry. Craven had had him out all night, checking on matters within the Fort. Hawk knew his devotion now would pay off later. He could see it in his head perfectly: Craven naming him successor. No one would counter the fierce tom’s choice, if they valued their lives.
The young tom cat stopped abruptly, though, as he rounded the corner into the Scrap. A young she-cat was eating from the piles of food – a she-cat he did not know. New cats often found their ways to the Fort, but none got as far into the establishment as to find the Scrap. The wall sentries were not doing their jobs. Hawk growled. He would have to speak with Craven about that.
Hawk padded forward slowly, taking in the she-cat’s scent. She smelled of the forest – a sweet aroma that made the tom’s fur rise. Her fear scent was very faint, which meant she had let her guard down. The tom approached her, making no noise. When he was within a few feet, he stopped and sat.
”Around here, trespassers get killed quickly,” he stated plainly.
--
Skypaw froze at the voice, her heart racing. Her lungs tightened, but she couldn’t make her legs move. Slowly, she raised her head to view the cat who had spoken.
It was a tom, staring at her with calm, commanding eyes. His muscles rippled beneath a reddish brown tabby pelt, and amber oculars pierced her own with frightening intensity.
Her white fur was fluffed in terror. Suddenly, coming to the Fort didn’t seem like the wisest idea after all. Who would explain to her mother how she had disappeared forever? Brinkstep would oblige…
--
Hawk was stunned, and for two very good reasons. First, this she-cat was beautiful. Unscathed and innocent, unlike the feral queens that roamed the Fort, her silky white and orange fur, granted ruffled in fear, was gorgeous and thick. Two horror-filled eyes, one bright blue and the other sparkling green, were wide and dazzling. The tom felt himself waver.
But then, the second reason, and the most terrifyingly important: white and orange fur, odd-eyes…It could only mean one thing. Craven.
Chapter Two
Skypaw trotted close behind the tom, who had introduced himself as Hawk. She was caught off guard by the tom’s sudden change in demeanor – the moment she looked at him he seemed to shrink. Gone was the menacing glare, gone was the harsh, threatening voice. Now he led her through the Fort’s alleyways with his tail held high, though she cowered behind.
Obviously, Hawk held some sort of high position. Skypaw knew by the way he held his head, and how even when she saw the glinting eyes of cats in the shadows – cats that she never noticed before – strangely she didn’t feel scared. The cats kept a very respectful distance.
Then Hawk stopped, coming to a rest in front of an enormous metal object. It resembled a bird, somewhat, with long gray wings pointing outward and a cylinder belly. What something this large was doing in this particular field-like area was beyond the little she-cat.
Hawk nudged her forward, indicating a hole in the side. She looked into his amber eyes nervously, but they betrayed little. With a sigh, Skypaw walked forward. What had she gotten herself in to?
--
Hawk watched her walk into the plane’s hatch, pausing for a moment. Why was his heart pounding so fast? He had been near so many she-cats in his life, and none had fazed him. It was Craven, it had to be. Of course it was. Hawk had no feelings.
They winded again through a few small tunnels within the airplane-base until at last they were standing in front of two big tomcats – Craven’s stupid guards. They didn’t like Hawk much, they didn’t like any cat much, actually, but they knew better than to anger him. Without a word they stepped aside. Hawk didn’t miss the hungry looks they passed over Skypaw’s pretty frame, though. His fur rose and he growled low and menacingly. The guards glared, but went back to their duties.
--
Skypaw heard Hawk growl behind her, and beneath her white fur her pinkish skin blushed furiously. Why were toms so crude? She ignored it as best possible, though, and continued to walk forward. Her fear was overwhelming, but somehow, with Hawk behind her, she felt better.
They were now in a larger area. Some cats lounged around on soft, moss-like stones to the sides, and there was long alley way straight through to the end of the cave-like area. The cats were cleaner than the ones outside, but they passed scathing looks over her. Skypaw’s confusion about the hierarchy of the Fort was mounting more and more. Hawk mumbled something behind her to keep on moving, so she followed the path down the middle. At the end, she could see, was another boulder-like object, this one taller than the others. There was a cat upon it, but he was looking away, speaking with another cat.
Her fur prickled as she got closer; something wasn’t right. Hawk made no noise behind her, but his pawsteps assured her of his presence. Skypaw neared the throne, then slowed. Finally, she stopped, her heart in her throat. The cat lounging upon the bigger rock-thing had turned to look at her, and gaze met gaze. Then everything spun, and she felt herself falling.
Chapter Three
”Everyone, leave, now!” a deep tom’s voice was fuzzy and distant, but slowly brought Skypaw back to her senses.
She opened her eyes, first seeing the amber orbs of Hawk. They were wide with worry, and the she-cat felt herself warm inside. Hawk leaned now and nudged her gently.
”Skypaw?” he asked softly.
The little she-cat nodded a little and made to rise. She looked away from Hawk, and found the hard eyes of another staring at her. Those eyes were odd colored, bright blue and glowing green. His pelt was thick and white, with sparse orange patches. Skypaw shivered.
”Skypaw?” her name was echoed, this time by the big tom. His eyes softened slightly. ”That’s a very pretty name.”
With that, Skypaw began to cry.
--
Hawk felt uncomfortable, watching his leader so gently comforting the little she-cat. He slunk back away, glad that Craven had sent all the other cats away. It was obvious that this was Craven’s daughter, but Hawk had never known his leader to have fathered children. He was oddly distant with females, avoiding intimacy. Hawk never thought it was due to another cat.
Finally, Skypaw calmed, and Craven looked at her with a tenderness that made Hawk even more uncomfortable. Then the big tom looked over to Hawk, smiling slightly.
”Who wants to hear a story?”
[/sub]This was it: she was going in. For weeks that wall had loomed before her, enticing her, begging and luring. And now, as she stood before the little hole that served as a portal to another world, she was finally going to do it. Skypaw took a deep breath, then crouched low and squeezed through the wall, and into the fort.
--
It was a completely different world. The smells that were faint and curious from the other side were now overpowering. The apprentice’s fur stood straight up, and she cowered down, her back to the wall. Then a twoleg appeared, walking mere feet in front of her. Her heart raced, and she darted toward the nearest object, a large box-like structure. The twoleg passed, not even looking in her direction.
Skypaw poked her head out from behind the barrier, looking around. So that was what a twoleg looked like, up close. Not as scary, but frightening nonetheless. She took another breath of putrid air and started out again. No matter how badly her little white paws urged her back to the hole in the wall, she was determined not to falter.
For a few minutes she wandered, avoiding twolegs and their monsters. There weren’t to terribly many, but enough to keep her on her guard. The scents of cats were everywhere, all strange to her. Near one area the scent that had been described to her as “dog” was very strong, and so she skirted the region quickly.
Then there was another smell, something odd yet enticing. Food. Skypaw then noticed the hollow rumble of her belly and followed her nose to the smell’s epicenter. It was amazing. Skypaw had found a buffet of food, and all just waiting to be eaten. It wasn’t fresh-kill, but the aromas drew her in. There wasn’t a scent of rotting food, and it smelled fresh enough, with a bit of heat still radiating. What was this place? She didn’t stop to ponder too long – she was hungry.
--
Hawk breathed deeply in the smells of the Scrap. The haven of the Fort Cats – the holy grail of their existence. And he was hungry. Craven had had him out all night, checking on matters within the Fort. Hawk knew his devotion now would pay off later. He could see it in his head perfectly: Craven naming him successor. No one would counter the fierce tom’s choice, if they valued their lives.
The young tom cat stopped abruptly, though, as he rounded the corner into the Scrap. A young she-cat was eating from the piles of food – a she-cat he did not know. New cats often found their ways to the Fort, but none got as far into the establishment as to find the Scrap. The wall sentries were not doing their jobs. Hawk growled. He would have to speak with Craven about that.
Hawk padded forward slowly, taking in the she-cat’s scent. She smelled of the forest – a sweet aroma that made the tom’s fur rise. Her fear scent was very faint, which meant she had let her guard down. The tom approached her, making no noise. When he was within a few feet, he stopped and sat.
”Around here, trespassers get killed quickly,” he stated plainly.
--
Skypaw froze at the voice, her heart racing. Her lungs tightened, but she couldn’t make her legs move. Slowly, she raised her head to view the cat who had spoken.
It was a tom, staring at her with calm, commanding eyes. His muscles rippled beneath a reddish brown tabby pelt, and amber oculars pierced her own with frightening intensity.
Her white fur was fluffed in terror. Suddenly, coming to the Fort didn’t seem like the wisest idea after all. Who would explain to her mother how she had disappeared forever? Brinkstep would oblige…
--
Hawk was stunned, and for two very good reasons. First, this she-cat was beautiful. Unscathed and innocent, unlike the feral queens that roamed the Fort, her silky white and orange fur, granted ruffled in fear, was gorgeous and thick. Two horror-filled eyes, one bright blue and the other sparkling green, were wide and dazzling. The tom felt himself waver.
But then, the second reason, and the most terrifyingly important: white and orange fur, odd-eyes…It could only mean one thing. Craven.
Chapter Two
Skypaw trotted close behind the tom, who had introduced himself as Hawk. She was caught off guard by the tom’s sudden change in demeanor – the moment she looked at him he seemed to shrink. Gone was the menacing glare, gone was the harsh, threatening voice. Now he led her through the Fort’s alleyways with his tail held high, though she cowered behind.
Obviously, Hawk held some sort of high position. Skypaw knew by the way he held his head, and how even when she saw the glinting eyes of cats in the shadows – cats that she never noticed before – strangely she didn’t feel scared. The cats kept a very respectful distance.
Then Hawk stopped, coming to a rest in front of an enormous metal object. It resembled a bird, somewhat, with long gray wings pointing outward and a cylinder belly. What something this large was doing in this particular field-like area was beyond the little she-cat.
Hawk nudged her forward, indicating a hole in the side. She looked into his amber eyes nervously, but they betrayed little. With a sigh, Skypaw walked forward. What had she gotten herself in to?
--
Hawk watched her walk into the plane’s hatch, pausing for a moment. Why was his heart pounding so fast? He had been near so many she-cats in his life, and none had fazed him. It was Craven, it had to be. Of course it was. Hawk had no feelings.
They winded again through a few small tunnels within the airplane-base until at last they were standing in front of two big tomcats – Craven’s stupid guards. They didn’t like Hawk much, they didn’t like any cat much, actually, but they knew better than to anger him. Without a word they stepped aside. Hawk didn’t miss the hungry looks they passed over Skypaw’s pretty frame, though. His fur rose and he growled low and menacingly. The guards glared, but went back to their duties.
--
Skypaw heard Hawk growl behind her, and beneath her white fur her pinkish skin blushed furiously. Why were toms so crude? She ignored it as best possible, though, and continued to walk forward. Her fear was overwhelming, but somehow, with Hawk behind her, she felt better.
They were now in a larger area. Some cats lounged around on soft, moss-like stones to the sides, and there was long alley way straight through to the end of the cave-like area. The cats were cleaner than the ones outside, but they passed scathing looks over her. Skypaw’s confusion about the hierarchy of the Fort was mounting more and more. Hawk mumbled something behind her to keep on moving, so she followed the path down the middle. At the end, she could see, was another boulder-like object, this one taller than the others. There was a cat upon it, but he was looking away, speaking with another cat.
Her fur prickled as she got closer; something wasn’t right. Hawk made no noise behind her, but his pawsteps assured her of his presence. Skypaw neared the throne, then slowed. Finally, she stopped, her heart in her throat. The cat lounging upon the bigger rock-thing had turned to look at her, and gaze met gaze. Then everything spun, and she felt herself falling.
Chapter Three
”Everyone, leave, now!” a deep tom’s voice was fuzzy and distant, but slowly brought Skypaw back to her senses.
She opened her eyes, first seeing the amber orbs of Hawk. They were wide with worry, and the she-cat felt herself warm inside. Hawk leaned now and nudged her gently.
”Skypaw?” he asked softly.
The little she-cat nodded a little and made to rise. She looked away from Hawk, and found the hard eyes of another staring at her. Those eyes were odd colored, bright blue and glowing green. His pelt was thick and white, with sparse orange patches. Skypaw shivered.
”Skypaw?” her name was echoed, this time by the big tom. His eyes softened slightly. ”That’s a very pretty name.”
With that, Skypaw began to cry.
--
Hawk felt uncomfortable, watching his leader so gently comforting the little she-cat. He slunk back away, glad that Craven had sent all the other cats away. It was obvious that this was Craven’s daughter, but Hawk had never known his leader to have fathered children. He was oddly distant with females, avoiding intimacy. Hawk never thought it was due to another cat.
Finally, Skypaw calmed, and Craven looked at her with a tenderness that made Hawk even more uncomfortable. Then the big tom looked over to Hawk, smiling slightly.
”Who wants to hear a story?”