do you take pride in your hurt? [p]

[goodacacia]

Palepaw
◆ Loner | 13 moons

[ - - Timeline: This takes place during Palepaw's stay with Rue. So he'll have to return at night - - ]

The pale calico kitten stumbled around the outskirts, looking for prey in a place he'd never seen before. Now that the snow has melted and revealed the landscape, Palepaw could definitively confirm that he's officially lost. Not just a little...but tragically. Never in his life has he seen such structures bordering the forest. Never has he seen such solid rock paths that goes on for miles.

It was definitely an experience, a strange but exciting one that would need to end soon. Soon... as soon as he could find his way back home to ShadowClan. Okay. Back on track! What was this little kitten doing? That's right, he needed to hunt Rue some freshkill. His temporary mentor was out there, all alone and hungry. Or so he thought- anyways, the little one would do that first and then he'll spend some time inquiring the cats in the area if they knew of ShadowClan. And maybe they could help him home.

"Oof!" His path was suddenly cut off, accidentally bumping into what seems to be...a cat? His eyes went wide with anticipation. This was the second cat he's ever seen on his journey! "Oh! I'm so sorry. I was just passing through!"

[ @Vessel ]

[Vessel]

pride

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Pride stiffened as he felt fur brush against his own. As a rule, he hated being touched by those without permission to do so. He glanced down at the cat, ready to tell him off, and saw eyes wide with... hope? Yes, hope, or perhaps something like it. Hm. Now, what was such a young cat doing out on his own? Little bells went off in Pride's head. He might have found something useful, after all. Besides, it really was always better to try having a calm conversation with a cat before he bit their head off. He forced his eyes to soften, and a smile played at his mouth.

"Oh, no, it's quite alright," he said silkily. "But... what are you doing all the way out here? Most cats tend to stay away from this area, on account of the stray dogs." This, of course, was a lie, but he wove it into his sentence as expertly as any other. After all, the first step of gaining someone's trust is inducing a sense of reliance on him. No, there weren't any dogs, but this way, he could force the kitten to stick with him.

As he blinked lazily in the cool sun, he came to another realization. If the other cat believed him about the dogs- which he certainly would- Pride would have to explain why he was there. Well, there was a simple and effective solution: convince the stranger he was strong enough to hang around on dog territory.

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silver tongue I/mind reader/just a scratch/agatha kitty

@goodacacia

[goodacacia]

Palepaw
◆ Loner | 13 moons

Soft words came out the tom's mouth. Gentle and kind. And he sounded similar to all the cats he's ever known in ShadowClan. Of course, some of them were a little mean, but this one in particular sounded worry for him, just as Rookfire and Nightshiver would've been. Lured in by the safe voice, Palepaw responded with his daily agenda as if it was another day in the clans. "I'm gonna hunting! And then I'll scout for trails to get back home-"

"Dog!?" Palepaw exclaimed, realizing what the older tom had said, and bolted straight up, turning his head around to be on the lookout for danger. His sky blue eyes grew wide with worry. "Then we should get out of here!"

That's what Palepaw suggested, but he doesn't know where to go. He didn't even know the area, much less a safe space. He darts around and urges the older tom to get moving, too. If there were dogs in the area, they should find a space to hide.

[ @Vessel ]

[Vessel]

pride

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Pride just laughed good-naturedly. “Not to worry,” he said, laying his tail out to bar the stranger’s way. “I have a safe spot. Besides, we’re not far into the mutts’ territory, so it’s nothing I can’t handle.” Yet another lie, building off of the first one. That was one of Pride’s skills; he could weave stories as if they were reality. Back when he lived with his family, Pride had made up tales of grandeur to pass the time on rainy days.

In reality, this was one of the calmer parts of the town’s outskirts. The only strays here were ones that jump-roped the line of leaving and staying. In other words, creatures like Pride, who traveled anytime he got bored. Though he had the eventual goal of killing his brother, that could wait until he had a proper set of cats supporting him.

“Come with me,” he meowed. “I’ll get you out of here. You can tell me about yourself on the way, if you want.” He tilted his head in the direction of the slowly setting sun. There were at least four hours left in the day, since it was only about a third of the way down.

“By the way, my name is Pride. What’s yours?”

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silver tongue I/mind reader/just a scratch/agatha kitty

@goodacacia

[goodacacia]

Palepaw
◆ Loner | 13 moons

His eyes sparkled, absolutely glimmering. This cat was definitely a nice one! Even though Palepaw was told about stranger danger multiple times, the world somehow worked in his favour. He'd never met a bad cat or so he'd thought. And his view on life was all sunshine and rainbows.

"Mhm!" The pale calico nodded eagerly, slight forgetting about the dogs, and padded alongside Pride.

"Pride!" Palepaw repeated the tom's name so eagerly. Pride. Pride. Pride! "I've never heard such a name before! Not in the clans anyways. There was Rue...but Rue was from the clan when she was small...and woahhh, Pride is such a cool name! And..and..and!"

Palepaw just mumbled on and on in his own world before replying with his own. "Mine's Palepaw! I'm a ShadowClan apprentice! I was...or should've been training to be a warrior, but I kinda got lost...oh yeah...I'm lost! I should be going back to ShadowClan!"

He exclaimed with wide eyes. He should. He would...if he could. If he weren't so lost, he'd return home straight away. Yet, the little one seems to get distracted every turn of the way.

[ @Vessel ]

[Vessel]

pride


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Pride smiled somewhat sardonically at the kit's rambling. He listened, though, catching all the key details. His tail swished back and forth, the fluff at the end of his tail rustling. This kit was interesting, to be sure. He spoke as if he was from an entirely different world. Pride had never heard of the clans before.

"Well, I'd argue that a name line pride is more common than something like Palepaw, here," he chuckled. "You must be far from home, little one, to speak of such unfamiliar things. Tell me, what is 'ShadowClan?' And what training are you referring to?" Despite Palepaw's eager confusion, Pride didn't think he was crazy. No; this place probably existed, despite the odd name.

"You're lost?" He hummed, glancing around. "That does explain some things. How far from home are you? Do you know?" Pride peered down at the kit, mismatched eyes soft and kind.

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[silver tongue I/mind reader/just a scratch/agatha kitty]

btw @goodacacia , i changed his eye from black to pink and infected!

[goodacacia]

Palepaw
◆ Loner | 13 moons

Far from home? That's what he had feared. Maybe he's too far gone? Palepaw couldn't bear to think about it. Deep sadness overwhelmed him. Will he never make it back?

"ShadowClan...ShadowClan's my home. My clan. Filled with lots of cats, my family... there are more clans like us. ThunderClan. RiverClan...WindClan." Palepaw spoked while trying lift his own spirit. "There's also StarClan in the sky. They are our ancestors that look over us and keep us on the right path."

He spoke as he was reciting his history lessons. Some days, Palepaw was afraid he'd forget them. And the long days away from home really makes him think it may come true. That he'd forget them. and they...would forget him.

"I don't know how far I am. I just keep walking without ever seeing something I recognize. I try turning around and walking back, but I never end up anywhere I know...so here I am. Here..." Palepaw mumbled softly as he padded along side Pride. "But I guess, you know where we are! Would you happen to know the sea? I remember going to the gathering and it's by this big big biiiig sea!"

[ @Vessel | OMG I LOVE THE NEW ICON! ]