Loners
larger than life in a little body
Posts: 11
Pronouns: He/Him
Played By: VioCrow
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Post by Bandit on Aug 24, 2022 0:00:09 GMT -6
★★★ Bandit ★★★ Since deciding to take a break from the others, Bandit had found himself in all sorts of strange places. He couldn't decide on what to make of this one, though. Some large... birds? Lizards...? They didn't have feathers or fur - save for a few parts on some of their bodies that varied from beast to beast - but they stood on two legs with oddly colored pelts of all kinds, in and out of shiny... things. Their vocalizations were like nothing he'd ever heard, and he found himself spending a lot of time hanging back under what he gathered to be their moving dens, trying to find some sort of pattern to grant them a proper name. Being on their hind legs all the time seemed like a key feature, but birds were also that way. Vultures had no feathers on their heads, so in a way they were reverse vultures - it wouldn't do to name them after their legs. Especially if they were birds. They played with fire for seemingly fun, put food over it and ate it scorched, laughed and talked around their tamed fires like they didn't manipulate nature. They also came and went from the place, being replaced by new ones periodically. Maybe this was some sort of resting place on their tireless travels? He was fascinated. It might earn him another name to have made such a big discovery should he ever return, so he'd need to name them something good. Something worth having a name for. Campers? No, cats made camps too... He ventured out of his hiding place, feeling bold enough to investigate them closer. He was careful to weave himself through the less active areas, keeping a cautious eye. The tall beasts could easily step on him if he wasn't careful. Tree-legs? No, that'd be an awful name. The smell of meat over fire caught his nose, luring him just slightly into the open. Right - so many of them ate meat, too. Like vultures and cats! Meat, fire, traveling, those shiny dens... “Fire-strikers!”Perfect, perfect! Striking prey for their meals, striking the day by pursuing the great beyond, all consumed by their fire - it was exactly what they were! The meow of triumph caught the eyes of a fire-striker, brown eyes made wide with what he guessed was surprise before... smiling? Something was tossed on the ground. Food? Food! Snatching the hot piece of flesh, Bandit sped off into the cover of the trees. So fire-strikers shared food? Despite their noise, he might stick around for a while. |
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Loners
i could only listen and never feel the distance
Posts: 11
Pronouns: he/him
Played By: rubykh
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Post by Moondust on Aug 25, 2022 3:50:18 GMT -6
There was nothing quite like a good travel. To the far sunrise, to the distant shores of waters unknown and untouched by landlocked paws... Moondust had been travelling for as long as he could remember, hopping hardbacks and climbing clefts to just about anywhere and everywhere. He'd been the perfect pet, the wily stray, the brave adventurer, and so much more. With seasoned paws and a mind for all his many names, it was rare he let himself stop and stay for a while. But it had been a good many moons, and in that time, he'd found himself... tiring. Not of adventuring, of course, never. Exploring was a freedom he devoted his life to, unburdened by any one connection and free to drift where the winds may take him. Instead, he'd been tiring of isolation. Just a little. What was a good many names without someone to use them? What good was being Speckles or Cosmo or Milkshake or Danny if nobody was there to know him? After spending the past few seasons in constant migration, wanting to forget the pains of an unfortunate past, his interactions had grown so fleeting that he was in dire need of connection.
That was why, with the sun and stars to guide him, he'd worked hard to follow his heart and make his way back to the outskirts of this campground. It was hard to tell these places apart; humans built things like they only knew a few set patterns, and rest stops like here were no different. No matter where you went along the winding, dark pathways of human navigation, there were countless numbers of gatherings like these. The hardbacks changed, and so did the creatures inside them, but never the general aesthetic. Always a fire, always food being cooked. Sometimes there were dogs wandering around, sometimes they were leashed to a chair or locked away from the crowds. Always, there were humans at rest. Leisurely beasts, the same as him. It was what made them get along so well, in spite of their differences. One drifter could always recognize another, and now was no different.
But no matter how repetitive, how predictable these places could all appear, blurring together into a haze. He had a good feeling in his gut. A feeling that he'd been here before, and was on his way to somewhere even more familiar, if he was in luck.
From where he'd ridden one of the hardbacks with the wide, open pens behind their masters' seats, he lifted a bleary head over the end gate to blink sleepily at the faces making up this particular stop. It'd been a long ride, with his body pressed low so that the wind didn't blow him straight out- but he was adjusted to the risks, and knew mostly how to just lie there and sleep until the shift of the hardback into stasis woke him from his slumber.
With a carefree, jaw stretching yawn, the speckled tom bunched his haunches to leap clean out of the hardback pen, landing prim by its round paws as he surveyed the environment. It was about time for some good grub- nothing was worse than journeying on an empty stomach. But just as he spotted the nearest spot to hunker down and play cute, a flash of dark ginger caught his eye, and it was running off with the handout he'd been gearing to make off with. Off into the trees, though... Well, that was no way to make your case. With a saunter to his steps, Moondust made for the treeline, slinking slow and easy among the shadows. Before he'd gotten very close to the cat (still a small little thing, huh?) he raised his voice into a lilting drawl, making his presence known far before it could be met with a claw swipe. "Well, hooooowwday. What's for dinner?" Slowing as the gap between them began to shrink, he waved his caramel tail in an approximation of a lax, happy greeting so as not to frighten the young one. "I'm passin' through. Haven't really looked at what's available, so I figured I'd ask you."
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Loners
larger than life in a little body
Posts: 11
Pronouns: He/Him
Played By: VioCrow
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Post by Bandit on Aug 25, 2022 20:41:42 GMT -6
★★★ Bandit ★★★ Despite the casual air of the voice that called out to him, Bandit's instincts put him into a fighting stance, ready for when the other cat came close enough for a strike. However, the other cat seemed... uninterested in being a threat. He didn't want a fight or his food. Just... what else was there. Did he... somehow also know that fire-strikers were prone to sharing their food? Slowly settling back down, he kept a wary gaze on the newcomer. “Uh- some sort of... round meat,” he answered. Whatever it was, it smelled good. “The fire-strikers have a lot of different types of things in their flames, I suppose you'll just have to meow at them and find out. They don't seem particularly possessive of their prey.”Bandit found his gaze being drawn down to the... thing... on the newcomer's neck. A leaf? Some sort of... strange vine? “What is that on your neck? Is it attacking you?” He unsheathed his claws in preparation, but made no move to act yet. A new thought occurred to him. This was the first time he was just... talking to a new cat. He had "met" other cats, yes, but namely in fights. How else would he have earned his most recent name? ... this cat might not realize, then, just what sort of prodigy he was dealing with here. He'd need a good way to patch that into the conversation, to show off his own status. Maybe he needed a follower. “How many names do you have?” |
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Loners
i could only listen and never feel the distance
Posts: 11
Pronouns: he/him
Played By: rubykh
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Post by Moondust on Aug 28, 2022 1:31:09 GMT -6
Round meat. It wasn't particularly illuminating, but the immediate fight response of the younger cat made it evident that it probably wouldn't be a wise idea to get any closer for sniffs sake. Not because Moondust felt particularly threatened, but because it'd be a waste to burn bridges with someone he'd only just met! Besides, from the growing scent of smoky foods in the air, there was plenty more where that piece came from. So many options that it was hard to separate one smell from another, like untangling a cluster of yarn! Almost drifting off track entirely, the tom's head tilted back towards the travellers in the clearing, roasting and toasting by the fire like gods of creation, perfectly poised to gift their goods to the two cats hanging by their divine outskirts. Before he could too caught up in his anticipation, he was pulled back with a few good questions- the first one making his eyes crinkle in quiet amusement. Guess I'm not the only newcomer 'round here.
For a moment, the loner considered the consequences of teasing the other's curiosity. Would it be too far to make up a little story about how he'd killed a stolen something's pelt to wear around his neck? Hmm... In most cases, it'd be a fun play, but it almost felt a little too mean to lie to a cat who was already so lost. Lifting one pale paw to bat at the dangling flap of his bandanna, Moondust angled his head earnestly. "This here's just a scrap I've picked up from my time with those folk over there. They like to give you presents, if they take a liking to you. Promise it's no harm!" With one more bat to emphasize the fabrics' lifelessness, he let his paw drop as he considered the next inquiry. "As for my names, well..."
It was kind of funny that someone could predict his collection off the bat! Most cats he happened across loved to stick tight and true to their single identifier. He supposed in groups, it just made it easier to address one another. But for cats taking it solo, there wasn't really a need to have any one given name, not when you didn't stick around anywhere long enough to make use of it. Maybe that meant this little guy was the same way. It brought a toothy grin to his muzzle as he swayed his tail in familiarity, happy to recognize a fellow free spirit. "I reckon I got more names than I do spots! Hard to count them all off the top of my head like that. But, ah- You could call me Crest, if you wanted." That seemed like a good one for the day, Crest thought to himself.
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Loners
larger than life in a little body
Posts: 11
Pronouns: He/Him
Played By: VioCrow
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Post by Bandit on Aug 30, 2022 0:50:15 GMT -6
★★★ Bandit ★★★ Realizing how incorrect he'd been, Bandit laid down to show a similarly casual air - or, at least, his best approximation of one. His eyes flit around the newcomer - Crest's - pelt, trying to count the spots. That was... a lot of spots. More than any cat he'd ever known, for certain, and yet...? Well... he'd heard tale that the piercings could close if left unoccupied, so either this other cat had allowed that to save himself from being a walking hole, or wherever he was from had a different custom. In any case, was he being humble by calling the "scrap" a fire-striker gift? With so many names and so casual a humility, Bandit felt almost overwhelmed with awe. Crest was like a walking myth, with knowledge of fire-strikers, their prey, and even the "scrap". It wouldn't do to have a bad reputation with such a cat, so Bandit made quick work of tearing the circular prey in half and nudging it towards Crest. “Oh! Uh, well... Crest, have some of the circle. I don't really know what it is, but if the fire-strikers eat it, it's probably safe.” He watched with wide eyes, unsure if he was filled with admiration or envy or some contorted mix of the two. Retracting his paw, he fiddled it underneath him. “If fire-strikers gave you the 'scrap', then how do you... earn it from them?” He was enticed by the oddity of the thing, the unique nature of it. Regardless of his admiration or envy of Crest as a whole, it was now clear to Bandit that he so deeply wanted his own scrap. ... well. “What is it a scrap of? It looks like some of the pelts I've seen on the fire-strikers.” |
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Loners
The cat you tell your kits about to get them to stay in camp
Posts: 23
Pronouns: it/its
Played By: Void
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Post by Marrow on Aug 30, 2022 3:58:28 GMT -6
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| Rogue - 34 - it/its
talks like "this" - attacks like this
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It was only another few moments before Marrow made its approach, having smelled the distinct scent of heated prey. It usually didn't conduct itself around the large, bumbling two-legged creatures, but there were other cats here, unless its nose had told it untruths.
There they were: two smaller cats gathered around a slice. Lovely. They'd be easy to take in a fight, but that wouldn't be Marrow's approach with non-clan cats. Besides, it'd expend more energy than a simple hunt if it did that, and it's motivation here was to save as much energy as possible for its trip back up the mountain with its sibling. Perhaps even bring along a few recruits.
After a moment, it spoke up, "care to share with a third?" It rumbled as it approached, keeping a calm air about itself despite the scarred half of its face, "I can go hunt my own prey if I'm unwelcome, but I've got a long trip ahead and would much rather save the energy if I could."
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Loners
larger than life in a little body
Posts: 11
Pronouns: He/Him
Played By: VioCrow
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Post by Bandit on Aug 31, 2022 13:58:18 GMT -6
★★★ Bandit ★★★ Pelt prickling with the coming of a new cat, Bandit eyed it up and down, trying to size it up. He was a rather small cat, and it was… quite the opposite. Still, he wasn’t really one for just doling out his prizes to any cat that looked tough. Crest’s pale pelt remained in his peripheral, though, and he was forcibly harkened back to the mythic cat’s humble salutation and friendly demeanor thus far. Maybe returning the favor would seem impressive, and help him earn his scrap from the fire-strikers. Stifling a sigh, he tore a large chunk and nudged it towards the large new cat. With all those scars… well, they may not be indicative of names, but they served the purpose of showing more battle experience than moons Bandit had been alive. This was probably the safer option. “What name will you be using?,” he asked, trying for casual over the palpable tension that was instinct to him when meeting new cats. |
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Loners
The cat you tell your kits about to get them to stay in camp
Posts: 23
Pronouns: it/its
Played By: Void
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Post by Marrow on Aug 31, 2022 17:08:54 GMT -6
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| Rogue - 34 - it/its
talks like "this" - attacks like this
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Marrow stared the other cat down for a long moment before it turned its attention to the offered meat, a clear, silent expression of its displeasure with the question, “I advise you not to ask questions like that so carelessly.” It rumbled, “up in the mountains that is equal to calling me weak. But I will let it slide since clearly you are not from these parts.”
It began to tear into the meat after it considered itself done speaking, though paused after a moment, “you may assign me a temporary nickname, if you so choose, but my name is not for your ears to hear until you can prove yourself worthy of it.” |
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Loners
VOICE OF CLAWS
Posts: 36
Pronouns: Any
Played By: Artificial_Radiance
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Post by Humble Bone on Aug 31, 2022 17:32:58 GMT -6
▸HUMBLE BONE◂
SPEAKER OF CLAWS "Steady yourself, brother," came the calm voice of an only slightly smaller cat slipping into the open to stand beside Marrow. Its pinkish eyes landed on Bandit a moment later, scrutinizing him before it looked at Moondust and did the same amount of studying. "I apologize for my sibling, it has a preference for tooth and claw rather than pleasantries... You may call me Humble Bone, and it can be known as Finesse. What brings such... fresh faces to these territories?" She easily took a seat, not bothering with the meal; there was plenty being shared right now, and she wasn't hungry.
▸ speaks in "bold #e176e0" ▫ attack in bold italic #e176e0 ◂
© Artificial-Radiance |
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Loners
i could only listen and never feel the distance
Posts: 11
Pronouns: he/him
Played By: rubykh
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Post by Moondust on Aug 31, 2022 23:50:33 GMT -6
Crest's reply came delayed after a good period of watching the exchange between the youngest cat and their new arrival, huge and hulking and scarred over like one of those warriors cats or whatever that lived down in the presumably nearby territories. It didn't take long for him to figure out that wasn't the case, with the strange mannerisms and foreign beliefs that it- Finesse?- expounded to the both of them. Although there was a remaining air of tension past the initial introductions, even with the second arrival of another giant cat, it seemed that the opportunity for violence had at least passed for the time being. Chewing slow on his meat piece, the loner let the conversation come to a natural lull before reaching out in a greeting of his own, if only to kill some of the awkward strain that'd been created with the hostility arisen between the two points. "Howdy there, two of you. You can call me Crest."
It was a friendly enough greeting, casual and collected as if he hadn't just watched a fight break out. But then, that was just how he was. Even eyeing up the big, broad figures of the Humble Bone and xeir brother, Crest was moreso just happy to have gathered a party of interesting cats to spend the given moment with. Mountain cats, no less! They surely looked the part, not that he'd ever gone to such a mountain to have been familiar with them or their honor system. Smiling briefly at the youngest cat (relieved that things hadn't come to blows), he then refocused on the question at hand. "I just met this one here. We'd only begun getting to know each other before you guys got here, but presumably we're both on our own paths forward. At least, I am! Only stopping where I am now to grab a quick bite. Don't suppose you're itchin' for a meal, too?"
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Newbie
Posts: 5 
Pronouns: He/They
Played By: Nightrose
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Post by Pebble on Sept 1, 2022 13:55:30 GMT -6
Paws Take Me Home,
Mentions:
They had roamed for a while trying to get slightly more familiar with the area that held their siblings attention what a moment it was when they heard familiar voices and the smell of food though different in some way. The tom listened as they skirted around the others currently gathered to look at the two-legs and their odd behavior "Why do they gather like this?" they questioned with a tilt of head before turning and coming closer to the other ones. It seemed their appearance wasn't expected their eyes easily finding the two forms of their siblings before looking at the other two "This seems like a different gathering." they mumbled before flicking their tail forward as they sat settling it around their front paws.
Txt "Speech" Attack
Somewhere Among the Snow Touched Peaks |
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Loners
Posts: 9
Pronouns: He/They
Played By: Nightrose
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Post by Ram on Sept 2, 2022 9:56:31 GMT -6
Mentions:
Ram was keeping his distance unsure of how many cats wood come out of the woods. His eyes pinned to the young tom from afar the slight shine of his piercings ones that matched the style of his own by the way the tom spoke as his mind wandered back, making him wonder if the young cat came from the same group. He had left the group when a new comer had taken lead of it not liking the changes that were to be made already with three names identified only in one piercing the others began to see he as to different and he never truly enjoyed the group so he let his paws wander not wanting to stick to this group in particular. Now he enjoyed being on his own though when he did find himself in the company of others he did not shy away and right now it was only to see who he would have to keep an eye on more then because he was scared.
Txt "Speech" Attack
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Loners
larger than life in a little body
Posts: 11
Pronouns: He/Him
Played By: VioCrow
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Post by Bandit on Sept 3, 2022 20:49:01 GMT -6
★★★ Bandit ★★★ He felt… unusually tense. It wasn’t a familiar emotion for him, ego came naturally to him under most circumstances. These cats were… large. Much larger than he was, for certain, and it seemed more and more were keen on joining. With a wary, wandering eye, he shifted his position to be more comfortable - and to subtly move closer to Crest. The one cat he was certain had no other agenda for this meal, or at the very least who didn’t seem to be liable to attack if he slipped up. After all, what was the talk of proving himself worthy of hearing Finesse’s name? Did it really only have one? All those scars and nothing to show for it, so it had to hide under an alias? “… I’m just trying to earn another name,” Bandit responded, keeping a wary gaze on the fire-strikers. “You can call me Pride tonight.” He would not be outdone by nicknames of achievement, and so he would reveal one of his virtues. They didn’t know his first name, and he still had another hidden. It’d be okay. |
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Loners
The cat you tell your kits about to get them to stay in camp
Posts: 23
Pronouns: it/its
Played By: Void
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Post by Marrow on Sept 4, 2022 4:10:35 GMT -6
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| Rogue - 34 - it/its
talks like "this" - attacks like this
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"You certainly seem it, young blood." It huffed, taking another bite out of its meal - it had to admit, this was good, but approaching two-legs never ended well for a marked cat - before allowing its eyes to meet Pride's again, "more prideful than you have any reason to be."
"What's all this talk of earning names, anywho? Something from your culture?" It inquired after a moment, "to us in the mountains, names are sacred. Powerful things that must be kept under wraps when possible. To reveal one's true name is a sign of incredible trust," it paused a moment. "You earn one name in your life and must make it strong with your accomplishments, taking another is considered heretical at best."
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Loners
i could only listen and never feel the distance
Posts: 11
Pronouns: he/him
Played By: rubykh
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Post by Moondust on Sept 7, 2022 5:56:21 GMT -6
Crest didn't miss the slight shifting of Pride as the young cat moved in towards him a fraction, seemingly just as attuned to the hairlength by which he'd dodged a spat. Although not necessarily eager to play allies with someone he had only just met, the speckled tom kept his peripheral on the other for a moment while Finesse began to explain. Although not a kitten by any means, the cinnamon was still fresh into life, and while not an active peacekeeper, it was certainly bad for morale to see a little guy get pushed around. Crest hunkered down as he made a silent decision to mind the atmosphere, getting nice and cozy on his pale haunches as he finally tuned back in, although now without a snack to occupy him. I'll tend to that later.
It felt like he ought to try and contribute something, but interfering with two strictly defined cultures didn't strike him as much his style. Rather, he stayed quiet as he listened.. although he felt, with increasing certainty, that there were more than just the three of them here at the campsite. While he settled in, he let his green gaze roam nonchalantly, probing among the shadows of the treeline for the extra presences that he determined were just beyond his vision. At the very least, they were more likely to be shy folk than any substantial threats. Cats knew better than to fight near humans, who bore the power and might to turn the turmoil into an opportunity of their own to strike. While Crest was awful comfy with their charity, even he knew that a bipedal could turn on you in an instant, same as any other beast.
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