A Secluded Clearing & the Area Around it [OPEN]

[Pancake]

This is an open thread. Anyone may join, but if they have to escorted or chased off, they are required to leave.
[You may VM me if you'd like to return after being forced to leave.]

The clearing is located a mile outside of ThunderClan territory. It is surrounded on all sides by trees and huge, angular boulders and stones that stick out of the ground like lopsided, leaning mountains. The trees are thick, with low branches and a dense canopy that soaks up most light. The rays that do make it to the lush, dark green grass beneath create golden dappled patterns. A small stream flows through this area as well, providing a crisp, refreshing drink to anyone who needs it.

Nightbound Crow is proud to call this patch of paradise his home.

Crow's dark brown-grey pelt, nearly black, blending in nicely with the ground at night, and his equally dark green eyes don't glow so noticably in the filtered moonlight or sunlight that makes it to the grass. He doesn't mind its closeness to ThunderClan, as long as no blundering idiots stumble upon it and decide to place it within their borders.

[Pancake]

Nightbound Crow wandered around the clearing, the moonlight casting patterns on his dark pelt. He rolled a smooth white stone under his forepaw, sheathing and unsheathing his claws out of boredom. The clean bones and discarded feathers of a previously caught thrush sat a fox-length away from him on the bare, hard-packed dirt floor of the clearing. Crow lifted his head, gazing at the overhanging branches that, even in the clearing, covered most of the sky.

He watched with interest as the moon slid out from behind a wandering cloud, casting a visible beam of light through the middle of the clearing, where no branches could reach. The light fell upon the pawprint-marked clearing floor, catching a cloud of dust in it's lazy travel westward. Crow's mouth upturned slightly; the beautiful night calmed him, painting a nearly unnoticeable smile on his muzzle as he admired the peaceful scene in front of him.

[EtherealShadow]

Originally Posted by Pancake

Nightbound Crow wandered around the clearing, the moonlight casting patterns on his dark pelt. He rolled a smooth white stone under his forepaw, sheathing and unsheathing his claws out of boredom. The clean bones and discarded feathers of a previously caught thrush sat a fox-length away from him on the bare, hard-packed dirt floor of the clearing. Crow lifted his head, gazing at the overhanging branches that, even in the clearing, covered most of the sky.

He watched with interest as the moon slid out from behind a wandering cloud, casting a visible beam of light through the middle of the clearing, where no branches could reach. The light fell upon the pawprint-marked clearing floor, catching a cloud of dust in it's lazy travel westward. Crow's mouth upturned slightly; the beautiful night calmed him, painting a nearly unnoticeable smile on his muzzle as he admired the peaceful scene in front of him.

Wisp

Wisp prowled through the underbrush, a mouse clenched in her jaws as she made her way back to her territory. Looking up at the moon, she realized that it was much later than she’d originally thought and, looking around her in the moonlight, she realized she was much farther from her home territory than she’d thought. She had covered a lot more ground during her hunt than she had originally planned, and in her rush to get back to her territory, she missed the signs that she had crossed into another cat’s territory. It wasn’t until she’d stepped into the clearing and she saw Nightbound Crow did she realize that she’d most likely encroached on his territory. “Oh! I’m sorry, I didn’t realize . . . “ She started to apologize, putting down her prey so she could speak unhindered.

[Pancake]

Originally Posted by EtherealShadow

Wisp

Wisp prowled through the underbrush, a mouse clenched in her jaws as she made her way back to her territory. Looking up at the moon, she realized that it was much later than she’d originally thought and, looking around her in the moonlight, she realized she was much farther from her home territory than she’d thought. She had covered a lot more ground during her hunt than she had originally planned, and in her rush to get back to her territory, she missed the signs that she had crossed into another cat’s territory. It wasn’t until she’d stepped into the clearing and she saw Nightbound Crow did she realize that she’d most likely encroached on his territory. “Oh! I’m sorry, I didn’t realize . . . “ She started to apologize, putting down her prey so she could speak unhindered.

Crow's ears flew up, and immediately back down. He turned, getting to his feet. He was more startled than alarmed, but he still didn't like that someone had entered his home. His eyes narrowed into a confused, wary frown. Not unkindly, he asked, "Who are you?"
It was a pretty straightforward question. He didn't want to be rude, but he didn't want to be clueless, either. "I mean, what's your name?" He considered asking what the she-cat was doing here, whether she was from ThunderClan, and if she had caught that prey on his land, but he felt like those were questions for later. Besides, she looked surprised, which told him that she probably hadn't smelled the border marks when she crossed into his territory. He had been slacking off, though. Maybe it was best to renew them, since he was in close proximity to ThunderClan's land.

[EtherealShadow]

Originally Posted by Pancake

Crow's ears flew up, and immediately back down. He turned, getting to his feet. He was more startled than alarmed, but he still didn't like that someone had entered his home. His eyes narrowed into a confused, wary frown. Not unkindly, he asked, "Who are you?"
It was a pretty straightforward question. He didn't want to be rude, but he didn't want to be clueless, either. "I mean, what's your name?" He considered asking what the she-cat was doing here, whether she was from ThunderClan, and if she had caught that prey on his land, but he felt like those were questions for later. Besides, she looked surprised, which told him that she probably hadn't smelled the border marks when she crossed into his territory. He had been slacking off, though. Maybe it was best to renew them, since he was in close proximity to ThunderClan's land.

Wisp

Wisp could see that she’d startled the Tom, and she answered his question a bit apologetically. “Sorry about that, I didn’t mean to startle you. My name’s Wisp.” She answered, looking around the clearing in an attempt to get her bearings. “I was just trying to get back to my territory, I’d gone farther than I normally do while hunting.” She explained.

[Pancake]

Originally Posted by EtherealShadow

Wisp

Wisp could see that she’d startled the Tom, and she answered his question a bit apologetically. “Sorry about that, I didn’t mean to startle you. My name’s Wisp.” She answered, looking around the clearing in an attempt to get her bearings. “I was just trying to get back to my territory, I’d gone farther than I normally do while hunting.” She explained.

Crow relaxed a bit. So she wasn't a ThunderClan cat. Better yet, she wasn't in his territory on purpose. He felt a bit bad about the super sudden flood of questions, so he offered a bit of information about himself. "I, erm. My name's Nightbound Crow, but you can just say Crow. It's easier." He tried to smile reassuringly, but it looked more like a lopsided mouse snarl. Unfortunately he wasn't the best at social interaction; not many friendly cats stumbled upon his patch of forest.

[EtherealShadow]

Originally Posted by Pancake

Crow relaxed a bit. So she wasn't a ThunderClan cat. Better yet, she wasn't in his territory on purpose. He felt a bit bad about the super sudden flood of questions, so he offered a bit of information about himself. "I, erm. My name's Nightbound Crow, but you can just say Crow. It's easier." He tried to smile reassuringly, but it looked more like a lopsided mouse snarl. Unfortunately he wasn't the best at social interaction; not many friendly cats stumbled upon his patch of forest.

Wisp

Wisp nodded. “Well, it’s nice to meet you, Crow.” She said in response. She paused to look up at the moon. It couldn’t be too late. Night had fallen maybe an hour ago? She looked back at Crow and caught his attempt at a smile, and offered him a small of her own. “I appreciate you not running me off your territory.” She said, getting to her feet. “Also, if I might ask . . . Does you're territory border a clan?” Wisp asked, curiously.

@Pancake

[Pancake]

Originally Posted by EtherealShadow

Wisp

Wisp nodded. “Well, it’s nice to meet you, Crow.” She said in response. She paused to look up at the moon. It couldn’t be too late. Night had fallen maybe an hour ago? She looked back at Crow and caught his attempt at a smile, and offered him a small of her own. “I appreciate you not running me off your territory.” She said, getting to her feet. “Also, if I might ask . . . Does you're territory border a clan?” Wisp asked, curiously.

@Pancake

Crow was surprised at Wisp's ability to recognize his expression as a smile. And.. did his territory border a Clan? No. Did Clan cats border his territory? Yep. "Well, my territory doesn't border a Clan, but it is pretty close to one. I keep having run-ins with lost ThunderClan cats. Why do you ask?" He wondered if it was that obvious. Usually he had his gaurd up, but tonight was too beautiful for that. He squinted at a tree in the distance. ThunderClan. Ew.

[EtherealShadow]

Originally Posted by Pancake

Crow was surprised at Wisp's ability to recognize his expression as a smile. And.. did his territory border a Clan? No. Did Clan cats border his territory? Yep. "Well, my territory doesn't border a Clan, but it is pretty close to one. I keep having run-ins with lost ThunderClan cats. Why do you ask?" He wondered if it was that obvious. Usually he had his gaurd up, but tonight was too beautiful for that. He squinted at a tree in the distance. ThunderClan. Ew.

Wisp

“Oh. Well, I wandered a bit close to their territory while hunting, and I passed it again not to long before I entered your territory.” Wisp explained. She watched as moonlight filtered into the clearing, casting patterns on the grass. “It’s . . . Beautiful in this clearing.” She remarks offhandedly. “My territory has a clearing like this but not nearly as big.” She says, watching the grass ripple with a night breeze, the moonlight moving with it. “Clearly I’ve been missing out.”

[Pancake]

Originally Posted by EtherealShadow

Wisp

“Oh. Well, I wandered a bit close to their territory while hunting, and I passed it again not to long before I entered your territory.” Wisp explained. She watched as moonlight filtered into the clearing, casting patterns on the grass. “It’s . . . Beautiful in this clearing.” She remarks offhandedly. “My territory has a clearing like this but not nearly as big.” She says, watching the grass ripple with a night breeze, the moonlight moving with it. “Clearly I’ve been missing out.”

Crow laughed, which sounded more like his lungs deflating than he remembered. Grimacing at the former wheeze, he flicked his tail. "It's certainly home. I couldn't imagine living anywhere else. But I suppose you're right. Now that I think about it, this clearing is kind of large." It was nice having someone to talk to. Other than his frequent chats with the owl that kept trying to make him into a meal, he hadn't really had a conversation with someone for this long.