Dusk Syndicate Territory

[Beam]

@corgi
Andromeda pulled her claws away from the tree, which was now crisscrossed with claw marks and peeling. Her ears perked upon seeing her pearly-white, newly sharpened claws. She turned them over, staring at her pads. By playing her role in the Syndicate, she always had to be prepared. She kept her claws sharp, her ears perked, and her training hard and fast so she was always supported with her skills. She was absolutely sure she could take on an attack, if it came her way. Andromeda dropped her paw, the dark tabby gaze down casting and her ears folding backwards, no, she wanst ready for a fight. She was still young and unprepared, she probably wouldn't even stand a chance against an ambushing cat. Andromeda's tail bushed, and she slashed the tree again, leaving long rips across all the previous tales she did. Andromeda would never be as good as anyone, she always be melting into the background shadows. She lowered her paw,she was overthinking the simplest things. Quickly, the dark tabby shook her head and rises to a standing position, without hesitation, she swept the other direction and began to quickly pad in the random direction, bobbing up and down with her faster pace. Crashing through the dim forest would clear her mind form all of the running thoughts in her head.

[Ever]

Originally Posted by Lonestar23

The brown tabby felt a sense of close-to contentment - along with, grudgingly, some regret. The conversation he had with the black cat made him feel like there were finally a few cats in the Syndicate who actually weren't either shy, overly optimistic, or manipulative. He didn't fit any of those definitions. It was a "defying stereotypes" type of situation, though Arrow didn't think of himself as the type of cat to defy a stereotype. The only reason he was even still in the Syndicate was out of fear. He guarded himself. He gave away as little information as possible. And while other cats in the Syndicate did that as well, they were always hiding something. Some big secret that it would kill everyone else to know. Or at least, that's how it looked in their eyes. Over the moons, Arrow had discovered that these "big secrets" always ended up being not as big of a deal to other cats. Some were, some weren't. But to him, the less known about someone? The better. So maybe they were right anyways.

Though Arrow didn't like the scary-looking, secretive types that were always hiding in the shadows... kind of like himself, although he was at least polite to the other Syndicate members. These cats? In a way reminded him of Ebony, though she was a little nicer then he had suspected. Trust was earned - not given - and so once she had proven that she had earned it, he would be willing to open up to her. If she were manipulative and cruel and used information against him, well... then Arrow could leave the Syndicate. Leave this awful place that he was confident he didn't want to stay in for much longer anyways. The Syndicate scared him at times. Yes, scared - he was frightened of the cats within it. Something he would never, ever admit, but it was the truth. Fireflies looked like stars, the only noticeable difference being that every once in a while something he thought was a star would blink, and flicker out, showing that it was one of the small insects. Beautiful creatures. Arrow could never bring himself to kill any type of animal that was so delicate. Well, there was a difference between prey and animals that didn't deserve to be killed. Other cats included. An unspoken law of the Syndicate seemed to be 'kill or be killed,' and yet the tabby refrained from it when possible. Because he found that it didn't make him happy to kill other cats. Most of them deserved to live, anyways. Good cats made bad choices - it was something he had learned long ago. And a bad choice was not something you deserved to die for. He was hoping that he would be shown some mercy in the future, if he were to show others mercy. Though that wasn't something that would get him places.

"Do you know any other cats in the Syndicate? Or are they all scared of -" He stopped for a moment, contemplating whether this was a delicate subject to go on... and at the same time trying to work up the courage to speak the dreaded tom's name, before he was able to continue. "Or are they all scared of Hannibal?" There. He had said it. Part of him wondered if speaking it was like bringing a curse on himself, though he knew that was silly. It was crazy to be frightened of a name in itself, though that particular name - just the name alone - was a frightening one. It sounded like something out of a nightmare. And seeing the cat, Arrow could understand why the parents might have chosen that particular name.

Arrow glanced at Ebony, her dark pelt seemed to blend into the shadows so well - though he could still see her, having good vision, but had he been less capable of seeing through the shadowy darkness, only her bicolored hues gleaming would have been visible. It would be something that he would not wish to see in the dark of night, when he was already worried about being attacked - and a gleam of amusement entered his own eyes as he thought about a prank involving her oddly mismatched eyes.

She almost felt as though he could read her mind, though she supposed he was right to be curious about Hannibal; plenty of syndicate cats were. He was illusive, he put on this feigned attitude of friendliness around others to lure them in. Not many knew what exactly he did when he killed the cats after he was bored of toying with them, though she was one of the few who did. Knowing what he was able to do, since he craved it so much was frightening. It was less that others were frightened of her, and more than she was frightened of bringing others into her hell. Hell was knowledge in the syndicate. If Arrow ever knew she was afraid of what Hannibal might do. Though maybe if she were just friends with him Hannibal would leave the tom alone, if he suspected no threat.

It made her want to leave the syndicate even more, to find happiness away from this place. She couldn't bring herself to do it though, at least she had something here, some sort of illusion of community. Albeit a murderous one.

She blinked as she looked over at Arrow, wondering what words would help in getting the point across. "It's not so much that they are frightened of me and my connections," she began slowly, pausing to roll her tongue nervously in her mouth, "it's more that I am afraid of dragging them into the family, closer to danger." She finished, her voice a whisper as if Hannibal could hear their conversation. The confession was brutally honest and she felt embarrassed to admit how afraid she was of her own kin, so she looked away from Arrow quickly to focus on the night and its soothing stillness. Though it didn't feel so soothing tonight, with the topic of their conversation. Every small firefly lighting its way through the night tricked her eyes into thinking they were the reflection of Hannibal's eyes in the dark. It put her on edge rather than calming her with their usual beauty and grace. She picked up her pace to an anxious trot, as though she could outrun their sight even though they flitted throughout the entire territory.

[lone]

Originally Posted by Ever

She almost felt as though he could read her mind, though she supposed he was right to be curious about Hannibal; plenty of syndicate cats were. He was illusive, he put on this feigned attitude of friendliness around others to lure them in. Not many knew what exactly he did when he killed the cats after he was bored of toying with them, though she was one of the few who did. Knowing what he was able to do, since he craved it so much was frightening. It was less that others were frightened of her, and more than she was frightened of bringing others into her hell. Hell was knowledge in the syndicate. If Arrow ever knew she was afraid of what Hannibal might do. Though maybe if she were just friends with him Hannibal would leave the tom alone, if he suspected no threat.

It made her want to leave the syndicate even more, to find happiness away from this place. She couldn't bring herself to do it though, at least she had something here, some sort of illusion of community. Albeit a murderous one.

She blinked as she looked over at Arrow, wondering what words would help in getting the point across. "It's not so much that they are frightened of me and my connections," she began slowly, pausing to roll her tongue nervously in her mouth, "it's more that I am afraid of dragging them into the family, closer to danger." She finished, her voice a whisper as if Hannibal could hear their conversation. The confession was brutally honest and she felt embarrassed to admit how afraid she was of her own kin, so she looked away from Arrow quickly to focus on the night and its soothing stillness. Though it didn't feel so soothing tonight, with the topic of their conversation. Every small firefly lighting its way through the night tricked her eyes into thinking they were the reflection of Hannibal's eyes in the dark. It put her on edge rather than calming her with their usual beauty and grace. She picked up her pace to an anxious trot, as though she could outrun their sight even though they flitted throughout the entire territory.

She was afraid? The thought that she might be afraid of bringing someone else into danger had never even crossed Arrow's mind. To him, she had seemed like a careful cat - a cautious cat - but not a fearful one. Closer to danger. Danger was a word that seemed to heighten all of the tabby's senses and especially in this moment, his eyes seemed to widen a little and he shifted his weight away from her. As it did for her, the fireflies seemed to become eyes glowing in the darkness, and even her own mixed eyes startled him whenever he glanced over in that direction. "So no one in your family wants you to be happy, then?" Was his sensitive statement. As far as he could tell, it seemed like what she was saying was that she wasn't able to have friends because she was afraid of what her family members would do. And if they wanted her to be happy - she shouldn't have fear.

"I can relate." The tabby added, more cautiously. Not too much information, right? She didn't know his siblings' names. He was trying to search for them in his memory as well, hoping that somewhere was some sort of memory with his family. Although they had always been broken and dysfunctional. No happy memory came to mind and the ones that did made his spine tingle and fur stand on end, claws unsheathing as he thought of the dark days when he had been a part of that family. The Syndicate tied him to these memories. It tied him to a lot of things. Sometimes the tom wondered what it would be like to just let go. Right now, he wasn't that afraid of Ebony. She suddenly seemed... almost approachable. Now that he knew she was scared of something. The tabby had wondered if the black cat was afraid of nothing like her brother... as far as he knew, Hannibal was afraid of nothing.

What would he have to be afraid of? It was almost like he ran the Syndicate from behind the scenes, as though Halite and Boreas had been nothing but his puppets and had done exactly as he asked. Though Arrow knew that probably wasn't the case... hopefully wasn't the case... maybe wasn't the case. He wanted to say something, although he had probably said plenty at this point. Arrow had never been the most sensitive cat, and speaking that way about Ebony's family had been out of line. Even though as far as he could tell... she didn't mind so far. There was still time, but the tabby was hoping he hadn't just messed their possible future friendship up.

[Ever]

Originally Posted by Lonestar23

She was afraid? The thought that she might be afraid of bringing someone else into danger had never even crossed Arrow's mind. To him, she had seemed like a careful cat - a cautious cat - but not a fearful one. Closer to danger. Danger was a word that seemed to heighten all of the tabby's senses and especially in this moment, his eyes seemed to widen a little and he shifted his weight away from her. As it did for her, the fireflies seemed to become eyes glowing in the darkness, and even her own mixed eyes startled him whenever he glanced over in that direction. "So no one in your family wants you to be happy, then?" Was his sensitive statement. As far as he could tell, it seemed like what she was saying was that she wasn't able to have friends because she was afraid of what her family members would do. And if they wanted her to be happy - she shouldn't have fear.

"I can relate." The tabby added, more cautiously. Not too much information, right? She didn't know his siblings' names. He was trying to search for them in his memory as well, hoping that somewhere was some sort of memory with his family. Although they had always been broken and dysfunctional. No happy memory came to mind and the ones that did made his spine tingle and fur stand on end, claws unsheathing as he thought of the dark days when he had been a part of that family. The Syndicate tied him to these memories. It tied him to a lot of things. Sometimes the tom wondered what it would be like to just let go. Right now, he wasn't that afraid of Ebony. She suddenly seemed... almost approachable. Now that he knew she was scared of something. The tabby had wondered if the black cat was afraid of nothing like her brother... as far as he knew, Hannibal was afraid of nothing.

What would he have to be afraid of? It was almost like he ran the Syndicate from behind the scenes, as though Halite and Boreas had been nothing but his puppets and had done exactly as he asked. Though Arrow knew that probably wasn't the case... hopefully wasn't the case... maybe wasn't the case. He wanted to say something, although he had probably said plenty at this point. Arrow had never been the most sensitive cat, and speaking that way about Ebony's family had been out of line. Even though as far as he could tell... she didn't mind so far. There was still time, but the tabby was hoping he hadn't just messed their possible future friendship up.

The moon hung high in the sky now as they padded along, the silence stretching after his last statement. She wasn't sure how true his thoughts on her family were, it wasn't like she truly knew that Hannibal was set out to ruin her life. She was just too deeply afraid to consider any different. The only leverage to her fear was her desire to have companionship again. She didn't make well as a complete loner in such a bustling community, but she was too honest when she did choose to speak to truly belong here. One had to be manipulative and lie to work their way to the top of the Syndicate and that was simply not the cat Ebony was.

She felt as though there was a stereotype that all cats here had to be cruel and unforgiving, but you couldn't change the way you were born. She'd always been compassionate and shunned for it. Her parents had thought she was weak, her siblings likely the same. However, when they didn't disprove her weaknesses they had shown her love, though strict they had always shown unconditional love. It was something she'd always admired in her parents. The slender black feline was lucky to have had such good parents. There were a lot of bad ones, and abandonment in this place. Many cats she'd observed seemed to act out childishly, even when they were fully grown and in the ranks because of lost parental figures. Her life could have been worse.

But that was what had made it so heartbreaking when Hannibal had killed them. They were the only good in her world and he'd destroyed it all. It had settled the deep fear in her as she was so young when he'd done it; she had never known that he was capable of such treachery. She'd feared him ever since that day.

The silence stretched on and she could feel herself relaxing again, at ease in the quiet forest. Surely her brother was fast asleep at this time of out torturing some unfortunate kittypet. He hadn't bothered her in moons, he wasn't bound to step out of the woodwork and do so now. She needed to think more logically now if she were to gain a friend. A quick glance over at the tom and she noticed that he'd put a little more distance between him and herself. Disappointment flashed through her mismatched eyes and she stuck them to the ground again, rather than letting her emotions show. She supposed she had no cat to blame but herself for him distancing himself, she had said that she might put him in danger, it wasn't like that was a warm statement that made others want to stay around her.

"What do you mean by you can relate?" She said, a little sour humor in her tone of voice. She couldn't possibly imagine his family had done him worse than hers. If they had she was quite curious to know why they had it out for him. Maybe he was the wrongdoer, though she couldn't see that... There was something about him, something different. He didn't strike her as some cat like Hannibal.

[lone]

Originally Posted by Ever

The moon hung high in the sky now as they padded along, the silence stretching after his last statement. She wasn't sure how true his thoughts on her family were, it wasn't like she truly knew that Hannibal was set out to ruin her life. She was just too deeply afraid to consider any different. The only leverage to her fear was her desire to have companionship again. She didn't make well as a complete loner in such a bustling community, but she was too honest when she did choose to speak to truly belong here. One had to be manipulative and lie to work their way to the top of the Syndicate and that was simply not the cat Ebony was.

She felt as though there was a stereotype that all cats here had to be cruel and unforgiving, but you couldn't change the way you were born. She'd always been compassionate and shunned for it. Her parents had thought she was weak, her siblings likely the same. However, when they didn't disprove her weaknesses they had shown her love, though strict they had always shown unconditional love. It was something she'd always admired in her parents. The slender black feline was lucky to have had such good parents. There were a lot of bad ones, and abandonment in this place. Many cats she'd observed seemed to act out childishly, even when they were fully grown and in the ranks because of lost parental figures. Her life could have been worse.

But that was what had made it so heartbreaking when Hannibal had killed them. They were the only good in her world and he'd destroyed it all. It had settled the deep fear in her as she was so young when he'd done it; she had never known that he was capable of such treachery. She'd feared him ever since that day.

The silence stretched on and she could feel herself relaxing again, at ease in the quiet forest. Surely her brother was fast asleep at this time of out torturing some unfortunate kittypet. He hadn't bothered her in moons, he wasn't bound to step out of the woodwork and do so now. She needed to think more logically now if she were to gain a friend. A quick glance over at the tom and she noticed that he'd put a little more distance between him and herself. Disappointment flashed through her mismatched eyes and she stuck them to the ground again, rather than letting her emotions show. She supposed she had no cat to blame but herself for him distancing himself, she had said that she might put him in danger, it wasn't like that was a warm statement that made others want to stay around her.

"What do you mean by you can relate?" She said, a little sour humor in her tone of voice. She couldn't possibly imagine his family had done him worse than hers. If they had she was quite curious to know why they had it out for him. Maybe he was the wrongdoer, though she couldn't see that... There was something about him, something different. He didn't strike her as some cat like Hannibal.

The tabby took a look around at the woods. At night they were almost eerie - dangerous looking - and yet, they comforted Arrow at the same time. The coloring might have been eerie, but he knew that there were normally very few cats walking around the territory at night. The clearing was the safest place to be. Either in the clearing or with a group of cats you trusted. The tom was half-asking himself how he had ended up out here with Ebony, a cat that he barely knew and certainly didn't trust - not fully, anyways, but he must trust her somewhat to be out here with her at this time of night. Was he being stupid to blindly put his trust in another cat? Probably. Was he going to regret it? Again, probably. But Arrow's guard was still up, and his muscles were tense... if an attack was going to come, his attacker was going to regret ever targeting him. At the moment the tabby was so high strung that Ebony's voice made him jump, or at least flinch. The feline turned around to answer, opening his maw and then closing it again.

Think. Give her enough information, the safest amount you can. It wasn't entirely his fault that he was so guarded. Others had played their parts in making him the cat he was now. In making him the type of cat that he really didn't want to be. "I mean my family made my life pretty miserable for a while. I guess. They didn't exactly - support the things I wanted to do. Didn't exactly support me." That was the closest he could get. No names. No ages. No dates. Nothing like that, which would give her the advantage. She could know that much, it was nothing to be ashamed of - there was no reason to give her the 'choices' he had made that his family didn't support. If anything, it was his family's job to be ashamed of him. Whether he thought that was fair or unfair apparently didn't matter to them.

But then again, his family had always been 'that one family' who were mysterious and rude and hard to be around. And Arrow had never liked them. His eyes settled on Ebony, and he watched her for her reaction. "Then again, I know nothing about what happened in your past. So maybe I can't relate." It sounded harsher then he meant it, and honestly he was glad not to know. He wasn't sure whether he wanted to know what Hannibal had been like back then... what had happened to turn Ebony's switch from unguarded to guarded. Some cats were naturally born that way. Arrow? Hadn't been one of them. He'd had to learn to guard himself, to keep himself safe, to make sure that no one was able to break past his walls so that he would remain safe and no one would be questioning him.

The quiet ones were normally the most deadly. But Arrow? He had just been hurt before, and he was just a cat trying to survive. He wasn't particuarly interesting to hang around. He wasn't the strongest, or the bravest, or the fastest, or the smartest. He wasn't manipulative - and for some reason cats hung around that type of cat. He wasn't flirty. Arrow was a perfectly normal, ordinary tom... and the thought that perhaps that was the reason she had invited him to come out here at night crossed his mind. Not everyone was trying to murder him. But, the only thing that bothered him now was... what could he have that she wanted? Everyone wanted something.

So what was Arrow's 'thing' that Ebony could want from him?

[goddess of ducks]

@TwinFishies

Calixto was excited for this day. He had been asked to take part in a testing for some Trainee trying to become a full fledged Fighter. He was happily doing so now and was looking forwards to it. The creamy tom cat padded towards the edge of the territory, where it bordered open forest, unclaimed by any major Clan and dominated only by wild rogues and loners. His long fluffy pelt did nothing to hide him in the shadows of the forest, but he didn't mind. Sure the dappling of sunlight on his back only made his thick fur feel warmer against his body, but he had grown accustomed to it. Besides, leaf fall and leaf bare would be here soon enough, and only then would his dense pelt come in handy. Reaching the spot that he had instructed the Trainee to meet him at, Calixto sat down by a fallen down oak tree. The tree had been part of the reason for choosing the location, as he knew that it could bring in some more variety to the battle session. Now only he had to wait for the Trainee.

[oats]

Originally Posted by woly

Saturn rolled her eyes,"Just shut up till you get to the top of the rocks, its a nice view." She wasnt surprised that Jupiter hadnt been here before; it was deep in the territory and most didnt travel this far. Despite Saturns more...self centered type of personality- she was a sucker for views. "If you climb faster then you are now maybe we'll catch the sun while its setting." the shecat mumbled as she pounced on the rocks with ease, pulling herself up along side the other fighter.She looked over at her for a moment though,"Its worth it, I promise."

"Alright, alright." Jupiter flicked an ear, heeding the other molly's advice and quickly scaling the stones, before finally verifying what Saturn had just said as true-- too true; the sun was pressed against the shallow horizon like one who had just been told they were to never see their love again. Clouds flanked the pair, the evening sky splattered with salmon pinks and spilt orange hues and Jupi's eyes widened at the sight. She turned sharply to face the molly, mouth pulled into what only could be a smile. "It's perfect-- when did you find it, Saturn?"

[oats]

Originally Posted by Beam

@corgi
Andromeda pulled her claws away from the tree, which was now crisscrossed with claw marks and peeling. Her ears perked upon seeing her pearly-white, newly sharpened claws. She turned them over, staring at her pads. By playing her role in the Syndicate, she always had to be prepared. She kept her claws sharp, her ears perked, and her training hard and fast so she was always supported with her skills. She was absolutely sure she could take on an attack, if it came her way. Andromeda dropped her paw, the dark tabby gaze down casting and her ears folding backwards, no, she wanst ready for a fight. She was still young and unprepared, she probably wouldn't even stand a chance against an ambushing cat. Andromeda's tail bushed, and she slashed the tree again, leaving long rips across all the previous tales she did. Andromeda would never be as good as anyone, she always be melting into the background shadows. She lowered her paw,she was overthinking the simplest things. Quickly, the dark tabby shook her head and rises to a standing position, without hesitation, she swept the other direction and began to quickly pad in the random direction, bobbing up and down with her faster pace. Crashing through the dim forest would clear her mind form all of the running thoughts in her head.

Jupiter stalked through the dappled forest, the evening light staining her chocolate pelt. She would have to be fast; although this was not a patrol, it was a test of her skill. Across the moss-covered floor she moved, belly-fur just brushing the green carpet. She was intent, moving quickly but silently; undetected but still very much a threat. This is what she was trained for: Coming in for the kill, delivering the blow quickly and quietly. Her stance was not a hunter's crouch, but something harder to see, more insidious, more... deadly. She could do anything, and yet, she was doing nothing. Exhaling quietly, the molly pulled herself into a more natural gait, standing at her full height and slowing into a walk. It was just another evening in the territory, after all.
The thick cover of trees thinned just a bit, and the scent of a young Syndicate cat told her that it was probably a good thing that she had chosen to walk at this time. Jupiter had been walking for a long time, and it was only now that she was seeing another feline; the she-cat walking towards her was young, and couldn't be a threat at all. Raising her head, Jupi smoothly greeted her. "Good day to you," she said, sounding rather formal. It was always a good idea to assess the situation first. "Are you hunting, or...?"

[graves]

Originally Posted by corgi

"Alright, alright." Jupiter flicked an ear, heeding the other molly's advice and quickly scaling the stones, before finally verifying what Saturn had just said as true-- too true; the sun was pressed against the shallow horizon like one who had just been told they were to never see their love again. Clouds flanked the pair, the evening sky splattered with salmon pinks and spilt orange hues and Jupi's eyes widened at the sight. She turned sharply to face the molly, mouth pulled into what only could be a smile. "It's perfect-- when did you find it, Saturn?"

She climbed next to the molly, eyes scanning the sky briefly. She had seen it all before many times, but it still was beautiful to look at. A tye dye pattern of colors, pinks oranges with clouds that littered the sky. She made her way to a side of the rock, laying down lazily. "Found it awhile ago, to deep in syndicate territory to spot." she replied briefly. "Its better when the fireflies come out." It was Saturns favorite part actually, Greenleaf brought fireflies that looked like tiny stars dancing along the ground. She usually wouldnt show this to just any cat. This place was special to her, it was a thinking spot to get away from it all. But Jupiter was an exception.

[doghouse]

[ @Little Bird ]

Horseradish was on his way back from the border after a first encounter with who he hoped to be one of his romance victims, and stopped to wash off the SkyClan scent, which he now reeked of after hanging around the border so long, and he'd prefer to keep his fur from smelling so strongly of SkyClan. He didn't want any cats to get suspicious, so he sat down and started grooming his mottled pelt, wincing at the disgusting reek that he tried his best to tolerate, although it was sometime quite difficult, and he rarely could stand it for very long, so he took his time, making sure every inch of his fur had been ridded f the reek, whiskers twitching in disgust. How can they stand that smell all day and all night? He wondered, almost angrily, since he held a great resentment for SkyClan ever since they'd been disgraced in battle by the treacherous thieves who obviously came to wipe out the Syndicate and everything it stood for. Grunting, Horseradish stood up and shook out his pelt, hoping that scent was at least unnoticeable, then looked around, realizing that the smell of Syndicate fatwas growing ever stronger.

[Sorry it's short]