#slatenose

[wulfwynne]

fuckin... more cats dude why not. ones a redesign. ones new. theyre brothers. little homie gayasses.

[cac-gildedclan]

GildedClan | Moon 9

“Hello there. Weaver, I assume.”

The white tom in question froze mid-step, hesitantly turning to face Slatenose.

“Owlgaze asked me to speak to you, if you have the time.”

“Oh…” The reply was quiet, Weaver’s head dipping enough that Slatenose felt tempted to ask what he’d done to assume Slatenose meant harm. “Sure. I’m not busy.”

Tap-tap-tap Weaver’s paws moved.

“You’re alright, nobody’s upset.” He soothed, sitting and curling his tail over his paws. “She mentioned you were struggling with the company here, I reckoned I could help if you’d want it?”

“I’m just not much good at it, I’m sorry. It’s just how I am.”

“Maybe that’s true, I don’t know you. But I have to say, I also thought I wasn’t much fit for Clan life before I started living it.”

“It’s just. Nerve wrecking. Being around cats so much.” Slatenose couldn't help but notice how the other's eyes scarcely met his, despite his own slack posture.

“Well, why do you think so?” He probed gently, attempting to seem more comforting by mirroring the slouched posture, as uncomfortable as it felt in what was meant to be a calm conversation.

“It’s easier when I know what someone wants from me.”

“What if nobody wants anything from you?”

“Everyone wants something from others, though.” It seemed to almost work. He thought so anyway. Weaver's retort was sharper than before, more. Sure. Even if it was in the wrong thing.

“Well, what do you want from Owlgaze, then?”

“I… I dunno.” Weaver withered again, hopefully in thought rather than fear this time. Slatenose let himself relax a bit and sit up straighter.

“That’s how Clans work, just about. Everyone hunts for and defends each other, but at the end of the day nobody expects more than someone can give. Whoever you are, you're enough just like that.”

“But this isn’t a Clan. I’ve never even seen a Clan.” Weaver dismissed it with a shake of his head, perhaps more to himselt than Slatenose.

“If you’d like, I’m sure Owlgaze would be happy to have a friend along. We aren’t exactly MoorClan perse, but we still treat each other like Clan cats.”

The invitation was met with silence, enough so that Slatenose could hear the drip of water over by the window.

“Do you just… take in whatever cat you pity?”

“It depends. We don’t have a leader, so really it just depends on if we want someone along, and they want to join us. And I’m sure you’ll be rather welcome already.” He spoke softly, trying not to overstep or make the timid cat feel too pressured.

“I’ll think about it, alright? I’m sure you’re a busy cat, I shouldn’t take more of your time.”

“I’m not doing anything, if that’s your concern. But I’ll leave you be if you’d like the alone time. You can tell Owlgaze your decision if it makes you feel more comfortable.”

Slatenose could take a hint. He left Weaver to his own devices for the time being, not to push too many buttons at once. Owlgaze certainly lit up when he finally deigned to tell her how the brief conversation went. Not before he felt Weaver had been given time to think, of course. Wouldn't do to have Owlgaze pressing for an immediate answer.

- - - - - - - -

The journey had been long, but uneventful. After a certain point, Kristopher's paws fell into the same invisible pawprints he'd traversed dozens of times, until the road, fences, and houses came flooding across the view ahead. He always seemed to sleep so much more soundly when he knew home was practically a whisker away.

It wasn't unusual to find cats near the outskirts either, mind you. But he'd scarcely ever seen one desperate enough to chase crows when it wasn't the dead of winter.

"Rough week?" He asked, casual, probing. Safely out of reach in case the yellow cat was the type to swipe first ask questions later.

The tomcat seemed startled, hackles raised for a brief second. Kris had seen it, even if he was only 'supposed' to have seen the confident puff-up that followed it.

"You would not believe, dear. Looked much easier through a window." The tom still stood almost protectively over the catch, as if Kris had anything to envy about a scavenger bird.

"Your folk don't let you outside much?"

"Heavens no. Not intentionally, certainly. Us housecats aren't meant to run loose, I fear."

"You haven't met many housecats, then." He could only laugh at the idea, knowing how many of the local troublemakers spent their nights indoors. "I know the place well if you need help getting home."

"No." The offer was rejected immediately, without even a second thought. "No, thank you, dear. I'd like to take my chances to see the town myself."

"Suit yourself. But they're probably looking for you, you know."

"Most likely. They do love me so. It's not all bad, you know. If you've never had your own."

"Mm. I was on the way home to mine, actually." He half-turned in place, tail flicking to the dead bird under the yellow tabby's chest. "And. Word of advice. Crow does not taste good."

- - - - - - - -

She weaved between mama and mummy like a weasel, crashing down onto the brown leaves that littered the ground. Giggling when they crunched, huffing in disappointment when they didn't. All the while her little tail swung side to side like a metronome, her pouncing and hopping never quite matching the beat.

Whatever the adults were talking about never quite reached her, much too enthralled by everything else. The clouds, the open field, the leaves, the chirping of bugs… The weird giant boulder up on the hill. It was only when they got closer that she realised it was actually a cave. Kind of like one of those stories mama told about fighting off bears when she was younger. Fox hoped she got to fight a bear. Maybe that's why they were here!

Except when she tried to bolt towards the entrance, mummy pulled her over instead. "Stay close, dear." She valiantly tried to fight off the hairless paw on her shoulder, but it didn't much work. Which was incredibly unfair, because mama always said she was really big and strong for her age!

"Are we going to fight a bear? I wanna fight a bear. Or, oh, a wolf? What else lives in caves?"

"Some nice cats agreed to let us stay here with them, remember? It'll be warmer in there than the woods." For a moment she was disappointed. But then she remembered that meeting new cats was loads of fun! Or at least meeting mama and mummy had been very fun!

Mummy gave her another quick squeeze before starting to walk again, but it took everything Fox had in order to avoid barreling passed both her and mama. But she was doing a very very good job at following politely, even with her fur fluffed up.

It was very weird inside the cave. Definitely spooky, and darker than it ever got outside in places. Or maybe those were walls. Were there black rocks like that?

But then it couldn't be rocks because a cat walked out of there! Woah!

"Heyy! Last trip?" The big cat chirped at them. Fox decided he sounded fun. Mama didn't seem to think the same.

But they didn't stop her when she dashed to the new cat, so it was definitely fine. "Hi! Hi, I'm Fox!"

"Oh? 'Fox', I like that. I'm Fir!" The big brown cat dipped down when he spoke back to her, which she thought was rude. Because she was soo big, she didn't need aany cat to crouch to see her proper.

"What's a Fir?" She puffed her chest out, stretching out her legs to be as big and tall as she could get.

"It's a tree. They have spikes for leaves and they're always bright and green."

"But mama said the cold bites all the leaves off the trees." And everyone knew mama was always right.

"Not these ones, they're special trees. If the cold tries to bite them, they just Jab it!"

"Nobody ever said there was special trees!"

"It's true. There's trees that stay green in winter." Mummy chimed in. Which meant this other brown cat wasn't lying! Wow!

"Mama, have you ever seen a special tree before?"

"Plenty. I've even fought some. Remember that pinecone I gave you? It's a tooth I knocked off it." Mama overcame her grumpiness enough to respond, only grinning when Fox gave her an outraged gasp in response.

"That's not fair! You never told me you can fight trees too! Or that teeth had- trees had teeth."

"It's dangerous knowledge, little Fox." Mama's big paw ruffled Fox's head, making her squeak.

Fir shifted out of the way when mama walked off to the dark area.

"Mummy said there was cats here! Is there more of you?" Fox recovered quickly, stepping in front of Fir again without hesitation.

"Oh, many! You'll probably meet most of them if you stay long enough. But. I'll have you know, I'm the most fun cat here!"

"Nuh-uh." Fox shook her head, despite how proud the Fir cat looked. "Mama is the funnest cat ever."

"Why am I surpriised, you're just a little mini of your mama, eh?" Fir stuck out his tongue, and Fox answered back with the same out of spite.

"Uh-huh! I'm big and strong and I could beat anything up just like mama. I bet I could beat up a tree or a bear!"

"A bear you say?"

- - - - - - - -

As soon as he got the humans to finally open the door, Kristopher got the treatment of a true king. Carted around, lavished in affection and attention, free kibble on demand. The whole works. It was odd how much such nigh timeless beings noticed his time away every time. Had he not seen their kits grow larger over years he'd think them timeless.

But none of that was really the goal in returning, even if the perks were (for the most part) pleasant. He'd taken the nearest opportunity he could to get loose and plop down next to the heater with the older black tomcat.

"Hey, Mal." He chirped, headbutting gently before picking his own spot right next to him.

"Kris!" Malcolm purred back, leaning over to start grooming him as if an unruly kitten. "It's good to see you're unharmed this time. It's not good for my heart you know."

"The humans can fix anything, it's fiine. Important bit's just getting home." He knew Mal didn't seem all that convinced of it, but Kris at least hadn't yet seen them fail. Like Henry next door, getting his leg up in tip-top shape even after a nasty break like it was no problem.

"Mm, well you picked a good time to be back. Won't freeze your ears off out there for once. Miracle they're still straight." Kristopher cackled when Mal reached them, nipping at the fur at the base to help get rid of any bit of tangles.

"Maybe I just have a knack for finding ways to sleep warm."

He surrendered eventually, in the form of returning the favour of grooming Malcolm at the same time, taking turns telling stories of whatever either had missed over the time apart, like how Mars had found a mate recently or Charlie had gotten reclusive again. At least until Kristopher's attention snagged onto movement by the cat tree like a burr to fur.

Before, at a glance, he'd thought it was an awkwardly sized plush toy, probably left there by one of the human kits. But evidently it was an actual cat.

"Who's the big guy?"

"Cody. They brought him a few months ago. He's a bit sensitive, so we can ease him into getting used to you a bit later, okay? Don't crowd him."

"This mean I have a brother?"

"Sure, we can put it that way." Mal chuckled.

…

It didn't take long to realise the warning had indeed been a very serious one. While Cody seemed to at least tolerate him - answered back when spoken to, didn't shy away from eating together or playing near each other, it was the kits that had proven to be the biggest issue. So much of what Kristopher had learned long ago to filter out and ignore seemed to effect the poor golden-brown cat greatly. The yelling, the running around, the picking up and carting around. All of it spooked Cody.

Kris tried doing what he could, of course, to help. Attracted the attention his way so he'd be the one they messed with when Cody wanted to hide, or ran about underfoot to make the kits slow down a bit when they got too rowdy in the living room. If nothing else, it did seem to make Cody like him more.

Even a few days later the humans kept the door stubbornly shut, no matter how much he yelled at them. There wasn't much better to do than work on introductions and getting along. Apparently Cody wasn't all that old yet, despite how big of a cat he already was, bigger than Mal easily and twice as broad. At first the shyness had reminded him of Weaver, but Cody came around much quicker, started to initiate. Kris started to tell stories, of course, of all he'd seen out there in his years. It was sad how much Cody's life had been confined behind walls and windows. Even if the idea of needing to look out for dangers and fight for food looked to frighten him. He could learn. Baby steps.

He had plenty of practice hunting toys anyway, Kris saw how good his instincts for it could be whenever one of the humans set out one of those self-moving toys or lead around a dot erratically. Real prey was much more predictable than that.

…

Kris had convinced Malcolm to bring Cody outside with him on a warmer day, one of the last of its kind.

"It felt so much brighter outside, but it's so cold." The caramel tabby commented as soon as they came back in, shaking each paw in turn. Especially comical to watch for both older cats, since there wasn't any snow outside yet to shake off.

"It'll get colder in the next few months. The humans keep outside warm for us, so don't worry." Malcolm added.

Kristopher countered almost immediately. "You can get used to it, especially if you go outside a lot. Couldn't be hard with all that thick fur you've got."

"I dunno. Will they let me back inside if we ask?"

- - - - - - - -

"Ohh so you just go to the same places every time, you're not travelling just away all the time."

"The same cycle, yes, if we can help it. If someone breaks off, it makes it easy to find them again."

Huckleberry weaved in and out of the trees with ease on his now near-daily circuit. With the leaves good as gone it wouldn't be long before the first few cats passed through on the way to the winter hideout. Best not to miss them. Owlgaze kept to her own tradition, staying out in the grass and sun.

He'd always expected more questions now that his family became important to know about, so the only surprise had been how long it took for them to start properly coming through. Especially with how dull the work must seem for the time being.

"So what happens if you come back and someone else lives on your territory?"

"We usually share. Failing that, there's enough of us to be intimidating. I've heard stories of us having had to find new places before, but it hasn't been within my life at least."

"Do you ever fight? With other groups of cats, I mean." Owlgaze padded along in zigzags not unlike his own, though tighter due to the lack of obstacles. Occasionally he glimpsed her spinning in a circle to avoid getting too ahead.

"We avoid it. No use spilling blood. We can defend ourselves if we must, but foxes and coyotes make themselves more frequent enemies."

"But you seem pretty protective of here, right?"

"The spirits that live here don't want trespassers. I merely do as the Crown would to keep peace with them."

"Jaguarcrown hasn't explained much. Is that like his ancestors that live in the stars?"

"Ah, well. I have no ability to commune with spirits myself. But they don't live in the stars. They live here. That's the danger - if you anger them they can simply retaliate."

"Oh. That's definitely interesting."

The line of questioning continued, morphing topics until Weaver, what with Huckleberry's assignment to keep an eye on him, got naturally brought up. Only for crunching to break the chatter up abruptly as both cats stopped to gauge the sound.

"Pretty sure it's a cat." Owlgaze mumbled, having crept closer now.

"You think so?"

"Saw orange. And stripes. So it couldn't be a fox."

…

Normally, Huckleberry wouldn't have bothered following this deep into the wood. It wasn't the Crown's or the spirits' domain anymore, but this time he needed to know if the passerby was familiar.

The, apparently, ginger tabby was much faster than he'd hoped. Owlgaze had gotten turned around a few times before they got from just tracks to actually finding the cat responsible. Unfortunately, as he got closer it was rather clear this wasn't anyone he knew.

"Hello there, traveler." Huckleberry greeted.

"And who the blazes are you two?" The ginger bared teeth immediately, pelt fluffed in a defensive display. Looked quite young.

"We saw you passing by and wanted to ask if you know a large travelling family of cats perhaps. They ought to be migrating through here and I'd awfully appreciate the visit."

"Never heard of one."

"Thank you, then, anyway."

"Aren't you too young to be all on your own?" Owlgaze spoke instead. The ginger balked.

"I'm old enough to not need no mommy and daddy following me around bloody everywhere."

"How old are you then? You look like an apprentice at most." She pressed, almost concerned.

"Like 8 months. Grown."

Now, Huckleberry was well aware plenty of cats went on to live on their own at, what, 6 months old? But that had always seemed like far too much of a stretch to himself. He'd rather not think of this young cat meeting his first winter without assured shelter. "Winter is coming. If you would like a place to stay out of the wind and lack one, we may be of assistance."

"I'm not that bloody helpless, you know." Still, he looked to be considering, posture slowly relaxing and eyes wandering. "But heck, man, if I like it, I'll crash. I like havin options."

"I'll lead the way then. Come along Owlgaze, and..?"

"Carnation, if you gotta know."

- - - - - - - -

It took some convincing, approximately 16 days of it in fact, before Kristopher managed to convince one of the humans to let him outside again. They always got so darn clingy whenever he was gone a while. Still, the important part was that he got out, even if one of the kits watched him a while to make sure he didn't bolt out of the backyard immediately. But they always get bored, as kits wont to do, so the boy vanished indoors before too long.

And Kris jumped the fence not long after. Luckily, Mars' house wasn't exactly that far, so all it really took was finding a spot to lay down and wait. The sun was still pleasant enough, even if the warmth was waning.

…

The little golden cat crashed into him, and he played as if surprised, 'defending' himself in a violent yet harmless tussle. Maybe Fir really had helped him keep in practice for these.

They were both not far from winded by the time they fully separated. "Did you really miss me that much? I was barely gone this time." Kris snorted, flopping back down onto his side as Mars settled into a loaf on the cold wood beside him. Twin balls of bushy fresh winter fur.

"Just because a year ain't long for you, doesn't mean it ain't long for the rest of us." Mars huffed, headbutting his shoulder.

"You have a point. I've got like. A whole brother now and, what, a cousin in law?"

"You mean Az? Maybe if you stick around longer than a week you'll meet 'im."

"Well actually I've been home for at least 2 and I still ain't met him."

"You know what I mean."

…

Before they knew it it was nearly sunset, though by then Mars had gone to get the rest of the family together for a meet up. Well, at least Alexandra and Cooper, since Charlie wasn't one they could quite get ahold of.

The recounting of the whole uniquely weird circumstances he'd found himself in these past months had been especially long. He'd never tended to try to keep it all that brief, and the details jumbled and were added in odd orders. But it was easier than organising his brain beforehand.

"Well, you sure had quite the adventure." Alexandra chirped, sat between her two kits.

"Dude, that's insane." Mars in particular jumped up as soon as he'd been done.

"I know! So I have like. A kingdom now. I mean, I doubt most of 'em are actually gonna stick around. But I know Huckleberry really wanted to. And it's a really neat place, even if it's y'know, a lil drafty, buuuut I do think the place's haunted, though. Crazy thing, I know."

"What makes you say that?" Cooper was still wide-eyed after the whole overwhelmingly dense story to begin with, looked a bit taken aback by the accusation.

"Well, when I was there I just didn't really wanna leave? Like something was keeping me there, not like usual."

"Ooor you just liked it there and wanted to live there. No ghosts required." Mars added.

"Maybe. It seemed a little crazy when I got my head screwed back on straighter. Still, I just get the vibe, y'know."

"I think you really should spend the time at home a bit more, kiddo, it'll do you good." Alexandra leaned in, cuffing him over the ears playfully, though not as rough as he was used to Mars doing.

"Yeah yeah. I know you lot don't believe in ghosts." He rolled his own eyes, leaning back.

"Ghosts or no ghosts, are you going back then or what?" Mars rounded right back onto him instead, butting into his line of sight.

"Well, I do want to. At least to talk to Cam, not leave her hanging. I said I wouldn't be longer than a couple months."

"If you're so scared, maybe you need a knight your Majesty." The title was a tease, and somehow caught him off guard enough that he burst out laughing.

"Yeah, sure, sure. First we'll need to figure out how to knight you, Sir Mars."

[cac-gildedclan]

GildedClan | Moon 5

"All clear!" Owlgaze's voice rang out.

That brown tail drifting this way and that like an autumn leaf in the wind as the young molly scouted out the path diligently, reporting back here and there, if only to make sure he and Yarrowshine had not vanished in the interim.

None of them earnestly knew where they were going. But the travel felt like doing something. Felt like there was a destination somewhere. So they went.

It had to be stressful.

Slatenose himself had certainly been stressed. To go from being surrounded by friendly cats all day every day, buzzing like a beehive, to just their little group of 3 stragglers had felt like the end of the world.

But then, he'd grown up largely alone. The old instincts and habits had bubbled to the surface eventually, once the shock wore away. But Owlgaze had spent her whole life in that Clan. Owlgaze had siblings she suddenly didn't know the fate of. Poor kid...

At least Yarrowshine was handling it well! Er. He thought so at least. She was rather difficult to read, but she'd never really complained or seemed frightened so. She was probably fine. At the very least it was probably better now that she didn't have to hear his anxious rambling.

Granted, Owlgaze hadn't exactly vocalised being stressed either. It was just clear to see. The constant need to be doing something, the need to protect and be responsible. He'd tried to remind her several times that all 3 of them were equally capable and nobody needed to take more responsibility than the other. He'd stopped some days ago when Yarrowshine told him to leave it alone.

The days certainly felt a lot slower now. Greenleaf offered plenty of prey and herbs. Much of their time was spent either slowly travelling in whatever direction felt right, or stopping to gather whatever they could and rest. Never taking more prey than strictly necessary. The comforting scent of various herbs filled his mouth and nose. Birds, rodents, insects, filled the world with gentle noise in all direction. Occasionally Yarrowshine's ears would twitch one way or the other.

It was so easy to let his thoughts wander at times like this.

But what would become of them when Leafbare set in?

- - - - - - - -

Okay, so sure, maybe things were going better than initially anticipated. Fir was still completely in tact at least, save for a few tufts of fur lost during overly enthusiastic jackrabbit-esque scraps.

Still, Huckleberry couldn't help but feel like it was only a matter of time. Eventually his cousin would push too far and get kicked out. Or worse, invoke the wrath Huckleberry clearly warned him might be coming over and over again, despite how little Fir wanted to listen.

It was oh so difficult to play damage control for a cat who believed there was no such thing as a social faux pas. Just because Jaguarcrown entertained his antics often enough didn't mean he didn't still expect respect!

And the tomcat was remarkably difficult to get a hold of - asleep, away, busy. Never a good time to poke for answers. Or offer apologies.

It felt like the spirits had finally endulged his pleas when the tom himself suddenly asked if he wanted to come with him on the way out.

Except it got more and more awkward the longer he stuck to Jaguarcrown's side, unsure when or how to start. But, then, usually excursions together meant hunting together and they hadn't separated yet. And he seemed so focused on something else whenever Huckleberry tried to start speaking, so he didn't want to break his concentration either. What if he interrupted something more important by accident!

... Then he kept catching the golden tom staring at him.

"I just wanted to apologise for Fir's behaviour. Truly. Thank you for being so patient with him. He's used to being around family and. Well, you've met him."

"...So I've heard. You two plan on leaving? When?"

The king was clearly...distracted, giving Huckleberry the bare minimum attention. Not like he usually did. Fair enough then.

"When the rest of the family are heading back. They'll come to collect Fir, maybe another 4 or 5 moons from now? Truthfully, if we've not overstayed our welcome by then, I would like to stay, at least over the winter."

"I did already tell you you could stay. So did you see anything yet?"

"Oh. No?"

Huckleberry froze, scanning the nearby grass and the distant treeline for any trace of whatever he was supposed to have been looking out for.

He was rather sure he wasn't told to look for anything at all, actually.

Things went quiet after that.

Then, he spotted white fur through tall grass moments after he was signalled to circle around.

A cat, too distracted with their head in a hole to notice the approach, apparently. Huckleberry managed to get within reach of a shifting brown tail before he got any indication as to what the king's plan was.

"Helllo there!" Jaguarcrown yowled, leaping out in front of the stranger, startling him into recoiling right into Huckleberry, left frozen in the middle of the pair.

"It's rude to ignore royalty on their own land, you know." Jaguarcrown pressed on, before the stranger even had time to respond. The white cat looked bashful, clearly caught between them both.

Huckleberry, for his part, stood up straight in his best imitation of a bodyguard.

"Oh, terribly sorry, friend. I didn't know anyone owned here. See, I was just looking for a place to hunt... And the rabbits seem to like here..."

Huckleberry almost missed Jaguarcrown staring at him over the flustered tom, the prompt dropped when it earned no quick response.

"I take that means you don't know each other, then."

Ah.

"No matter. This isn't the first time I've seen you around here, but we can smooth this out nice and easy, yeah? As penance, lend your claws and teeth in service to the crown until the first snows. And you're free to run along afterwards at your leisure... Of course if you don't agree, I'll have to come up with a different means to settle things, without your input."

For all the harshness if the words themselves, the king's words were smooth and sweet as fresh prey blood. He'd seen how forgiving he often was firstpaw, however, perhaps that alone was also why he could sense no malice.

"Oh, that is... I'm not much of a fighter, but. I mean, I can hunt enough to share, if that's alright?"

"Perfect! Now, if you're not opposed, I can show you around the castle - where you'll be staying at. Your new neighbour Huckleberry here can keep an eye on you, I hope? He doesn't bite, ask him for whatever you need to your heart's content."

"Of course, Jaguarcrown." Huckleberry dipped his head in turn. The weight of responsibility was familiar enough. Couldn't be much harder than keeping kittens (...and sometimes adults) out of trouble like the last however many years.

When Jaguarcrown started herding the muddied stranger away toward home, he followed along a tail's length behind, withholding a smile to maintain the serious appearance. He was actually trusted!

- - - - - - - -

It was usually time to rest when her paws began to ache. Or was that the thorn she'd dug out from between her toes before?

Either way, the sky overhead, where it was even visible, looked to be turning gold. Best to find somewhere safe to den before the coyotes began to roam in search of an easy meal. They didn't have the numbers of a full, well-rested patrol. And a pack of coyotes was something even a whole Clan would sometimes fear.

Part of her ached with the urgency to make sure Slatenose and Yarrowshine were still following behind. She couldn't afford to lose the last scraps of her Clan. But. Slatenose was right. They knew how to take care of themselves.

So she steered herself forward yet, ears swivelling wildly in search of any trace of approaching danger as she honed in on a place to stop and rest. The others would have caught prey for them all by the time she found one, probably. She'd learned already that hunting on the way just created surplus to abandon by morning. Most days.

The trees were still confusing, no matter how many scattered nights spent among them. Forced to wind in zigzags, never a true straight path forward, never able to see far. Maddening beyond belief. How Slatenose and Yarrowshine seemed to take no umbridge to it, she could not possibly understand.

Her eyes caught on a gaping hole below a tree while she grumbled to herself. Immediately, she dropped lower, holding her tail straight out to not stand too far out, and crawled towards it slowly.

There was no trace of predator scent in the tiny clearing around it, though she could see the odd tiny bone from a mouse or bird discarded and forgotten in the grass.

The den was deep. No doubt belonging once to something else. Perhaps a fox? It was hard to tell, the scent of earth mingled only with cat even from up close.

She leapt backwards just as sharply as if it were a fox all the same when something gold appeared from the darkness, wide blue eyes fixed on her.

"Hi!" She chirped automatically, ears pulled back sheepishly as she realised she'd been caught trespassing on someone else's...camp?

"Who... Are you exactly?"

The stranger's voice was measured, though with no aggression behind it. Even as the masked molly drew herself out of the deep - Owlgaze couldn't help noticing how small she was, subconsciously lowering her own head to avoid appearing threatening - there was no raised hackles or bristling white & gold fur in sight.

"Owlgaze. Of MoorClan. Me and my Clanmates are looking for a place to den for the night, if you'd happen to know a place."

Blue eyes narrowed. But she couldn't quite tell if it was suspicion, anger, or confusion. Not all cats knew what a Clan was, or at least Yarrowshine said so.

"How many of you are there?"

"Three! Me, Slatenose, and Yarrowshine."

"Right..."

The smaller molly hummed, scanning the area.

"You can stay here. A friend of mine might be able to offer someplace more comfortable. If not l, the fox den has enough room. For tonight."

There was a reluctance to the invitation, but it was understandable. Even if they weren't planning on kicking her out of her home. It must be awkward to share home with several strangers.

"Thank you, thank you! How could we repay you, kind stranger? Would extra prey for your fresh-kill pile be enough?"

The stranger seemed quite amused when Owlgaze stood up straight, tail raised straight up, bouncing on her paws in preparation to find the others.

"That would be lovely. And you can call me Cam."

- - - - - - - -

By the time the tour finished and the tall cat vanished off to somewhere, Weaver was feeling a little dizzy, his head buzzing with the muddled directions, names, and other chatter from the past several minutes.

He'd already said yes, though. So what else was there left to do than settle in, so to speak. Still his paws brushed idly over and over against each other, brushing drying specks of dirt off rather ineffectively just for something to do.

Huckleberry had seemed satisfied enough to have settled on the... Well, he wasn't really sure what that was? It wasn't made out of stone like most of everything else, he could tell that much. Some of it on the bottom looked like wood. Definitely like wood.

They'd probably tell him when they needed him to do something. Just gotta wait and hopefully he wouldn't have to ask for how to get somewhere alone. If he was gonna be guarded, they'd probably come with anyway...

How many of them was there anyway? It sounded silly to assume it was only uhhh Jaguar? Something? and Huckleberry of course. But then he hadn't seen anyone else.

Eventually he just accepted nothing was going to happen just yet and took to mirroring his warden in grooming himself, washing the taste of grass and soil from white fur.

It gave his mind the room to untangle whatever the heck had just happened, and what he'd potentially agreed to to begin with...

A peace that unfortunately did not last long. It may as well have been thunder with the way the sound made his fur bristle.

"Heeyyy, Huck, are you back yeeet?!"

The shout echoed before a massive tomcat came barreling right in like a boulder tumbling downhill.

"Oh, hey, cousin. You're new!" Weaver's hope of not being noticed was dashed when the tabby's eyes fixed right on his frozen form. And. Cousin? He was quite sure they never met...

"Jaguarcrown found him hunting his rabbits. Remember what I told you about me having to hunt for trespassing?" Huckleberry thankfully provided an answer while Weaver straightened up, untangling his own limbs, pressing one paw on his own twitching tail.

"Ohhhh. How long you in for?"

"Uh.. 5? Moons? Til the first snow..." Weaver finally found his voice. Part of him screamed danger as both tabbies stared at him, even as the rational half reminded itself everyone was being friendly... But being outnumbered just never ended well for a lone cat, not on someone else's territory.

"Hellooo?" His mind focused back on the brown one as the stranger leaned in, half yelling in his face, making him flinch. "Your name?"

"Oh! Weaver, sir."

"Pleasuure to meet ya, Weaver. Call me Fir!"

His haunches raised as a front paw looped over his shoulders, half-grappling him.

Except he was never toppled over.

Or at least not before Huckleberry stepped in to get Fir off him, giving Weaver the opportunity to retreat while they... Argue? Close enough. So long as they kept each other's attention it didn't matter much.

- - - - - - - -

The aftermath of an afternoon nap left Kristopher feeling divine after the interruption in the morning. He stretched out like a worm, with no joints to hold it back.

Ah. But one issue.

When he opened his eyes, there was no trace of the sun to grace the room, the sky outside already dark, dotted only in stars.

Well. Surely Cam wouldn't mind a late visit, right? Nowhere to go this late... And it wasn't like she had other company.

...

The, admittedly cooled, rabbit he brought hadn't yet attracted unwanted attention in the woods either, not by the time he deposited it by the opening of the old fox den. Only to drum on the earth in an agreed on pattern, where it wasn't quite so thick, repeating until he sensed movement from below.

The light smack to the nose he got once Cam appeared earned a faint huff of laughter, whiskers twitching.

"I know, I know. I'm late."

Kristopher hopped away, giving her ample space to come out into the open, fur shining in the scattered moonlight like a fallen star.

"I've been entertaining some guests waiting to meet you, actually. Almost thought you weren't going to show up."

The statement caught him off guard. So much for a quiet night away. It seemed he had a particular part he still had to play. A little warning would have been nice, but oh well.

"Guests? Well, I've had a few to entertain at home as well. Seems just about everyone is interested in this little chunk of heaven lately."

He sighed threatrically, leaning to one side nigh enough to topple over. It earned him the chuckle he wanted.

"Say, is it always like this? I assume you've made your bed here long 'fore I showed up."

"Oh, definitely. Plenty of cats pass by in the warmer months, it's winter that tends to attract the more frightful sort of beasts here." Cam nodded, before gesturing with her head back down the hole. "But if you're so worried, they sound like they're happy to keep moving anyway."

"Hmm. Nah, plenty of space. It's like a mansion in there, y'know. I could show you sometime."

If his house guests get along, it's even better, really. Better than having to keep every lonely cat company at once.

"No, thank you. I'm quite happy in my own den. You know where to find me."

She waved him off with a flick of her tail, not that he was surprised. The disappointed droop of his head was played up too, continuing the little 'game'. At least she knew he was acting.

"Aye, I can respect that. Where's your little guests then? I take it you haven't tossed them out to the moon's mercy like you would me."

"Of course not. I let them get comfortable in the fox hole. I'll go tell 'em you're here, you dramatic furball."

"Aww, I how come I'm still not allowed down there? You're welcome at my home."

Kristopher leaned in closer as he teased, hovering an outstretched paw as if to step towards the void in the earth.

"Oh, shush."

Just like that she disappeared into the earth again, like a spectre to returning to its grave.

He waited, sat and patient, scratching his ears or drumming his paws against a small stone in a makeshift rhythm.

He scanned each cat that later emerged, evaluating whatever he could find. The first looked open, friendly - tail up and body language lax, even if the odd ears confused him at first. He offered a smile back, now an unwavering part of his face, for the time being.

The second eyed him with some caution, and hovered near the cold-faced last.

"Pleasure to meet you all. Most folks know me as Jaguarcrown, I live in the stone structure in the clear, along with my. Companions, let's say." He started once he was sure no other cat would materialise like a rabbit from a magician's hat. Trippling the roommates that quickly was certainly not what he anticipated.

He couldn't help but notice how the tabby seemed to be bursting at the seams at the mere mention of his name. "I heard you lot were looking for a place to stay on your journey?"

A beat, and the dam broke.

"Oh my stars! I never thought we would find another Clan all the way here! We're from MoorClan, far far away! If it's not too much trouble, could we speak to your medicine cats? We lost our Clanmates, see, and we'd really like to ask StarClan if they're doing okay!"

Kristopher stared, the confusion not showing in his face. Even as he tried to quietly untangle what she was talking about.

It was probably better to just keep his own narrative unchanged.

"I'm sorry, but I've never heard of a medicine cat, or of StarClan. I would love to hear about it, but. Perhaps at a later time. You're still welcome to a stay at the castle all the same."

The excited molly deflated in front of him, despite her brave face, and his attempt at a gentle tone.

"Oh. I'm sorry for assuming. Your name just sounded like a Clan name. Like mine, Owlgaze."

The grey tom nudged her shoulder encouragingly before offering his own name.

"Thank you for having us, I'm Slatenose. If you have any minor ailments you need treated, I'd be happy to help. I don't have many supplies on paw, but I'll do my best."

"Yarrowshine."

The last voice was confident and curt.

But those blue eyes boring into him made a wintry chill creep faintly across his pelt despite the warm night air.

Something to remember.

He let his own gaze drift away for now.

"We're all quite well, thank you. And we needn't keep Cam up any longer, though, eh? We could continue this at the castle, if you'd just follow me. Planning on staying the season or just a day or two?"

The way Slatenose's eyes flicked quite obviously between both of his companions after Kris' question, presumably in a silent plee for input, was telling of the lack of a clear hierarchy between them. Not like Huckleberry and Fir.

"How long would you be willing to let us rest our paws?"

"Oh, as long as you like, really. Plenty of prey to go around still."

"Then could it be left up for later discussion, please?"

"Sure!"

...

While the trio collected whatever they'd left behind in Cam's den, Kristopher polite friendly mask drooped to the lax half-smile he'd made a habit out of showing around his new friend.

"If I said you owe me the right to visit again tomorrow, would you honour it?"

"Only if you show up on time this time."

"If Fir doesn't interrupt my morning nap again... You really attract the weird ones, eh, Cam?"

"You're still the oddest here, I'd bet."

"Oh, I never said I wasn't!"