This Odd Pair // [Blizzardshard]
Nov 18, 2013 22:04:26 GMT -6
Post by Meese on Nov 18, 2013 22:04:26 GMT -6
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Small questioning scuffles turned his attentions to the small tom at his side. Roderick was all kit fluff and blundering paws at his age, no match for the potential dangers of loners or rouges. The reaction the Siamese tom got for his narrow gaze only solidified those facts as the silver kit shriveled under her eyes. No, they couldn’t -not as the odd pair of physically lacking loner and three month old still practically kitty-pet kit- chance the risk of meeting up with these cats. And with the stench that hovered fresh in the path before them that would be nearly impossible if they ventured this way much further.
“T-Torque…?”
The bigger cat shifted minutely in his crouch. The brush they had taken cover in was a thick mass of short leaves; it rustled with even the smallest movements. In retrospect it hadn’t been the best choice. Lately the tom had been making those mistakes; acting without entirely thinking. There had been better options available to him, he just-
“Smell that.” And the silver kit at his side seemed to shrink at the tone. A flash of emotion the loner couldn’t quite place clawed at his chest but he breathed through it silently. There was a short silence before he heard a quiet ‘Okay’ stuttered back at him. More uneasy then the tom would like to admit he gently swung his tail around to lay against the cowering body at his side. He hoped it was comfort enough as he took a small breath before adding, in a tone he hoped wasn’t as terrifying -honestly he didn’t see how his voice scared the kit in the first place- “Hard to miss. We aren’t going this way.” He just barely caught the small face twist in a way one would eating a bad piece of food as he turned back to the path; at least his nose wasn’t broken - although the same could not be said for his nerves.
“Come.” He slipped out of cover as quietly as he could manage, Roderick right at his heels. It was almost worthy of laughter how tiny his companion was compared to his sleek form.
Out in the open again he could feel the body beside him tremble. Whether it was from the chill of the coming winter or fear of being exposed wasn’t quite clear but Torque could say with certainty that it was probably both. He didn’t open his mouth to do as such though, merely let his tail sway against the kit every so often as they trekked through a portion of land growing in abundance of trees and undergrowth. The stench of this Clan was just as strong as any other, though in truth the tabby tom couldn’t name their groups; he had been too careful in his endeavors to have learned them.
It was here, where the smell resonated the strongest, he stopped again looking back to Roderick and meeting his eyes. “Here,” and his voice was quieter then he had anticipated. The light colored kit met his gaze nervously, round eyes widening as he no doubt caught the scents.
“T-that’s lots.”
Torque nodded. “Several; one of their border patrols.” He lifted his head, maw parting to scent the air again. Good, it hadn’t been long since they came this way. It was unlikely they would round up another group so soon to check their borders. Considering how little he knew of these Clan cats he was pretty certain of this, as well as their treatment of trespassers. What could be called a grimace for Torque was just barely a twinge of his whiskers. Clans of cats that had their own code; he could hope that they would take the presence of a kit better then those without one.* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
They hadn’t been long in the territory, Torque making the most of his experience in stealth. Of course Roderick wasn’t all that helpful in that appeal but at least the kit could stay quite, even if he was constantly moving to scan the area fearfully - the scent billowing around him in a cloud. Torque didn’t comment on it, far too focused on just getting through the area to teach. So they traveled in a tense silence, only pausing when Torque needed to take status on the surrounding area.
It was one of these times when the tabby’s attention was snapped to the sound of a small scurrying heartbeat. He froze, blue eyes caught on the tremble of young ferns as a mouse skirted along their bases. Torque stood parallel to a mess of foliage, half crouched as out of habit he tracked the small body moving several tail lengths away. Roderick was still under cover, right by the bigger cat’s side but well hidden in the mess of undergrowth. The kit had frozen at Torque’s sudden snap to attention, remaining still and quiet as he watched the loner with large, anxious eyes.
The mouse was doing a fantastic job at being oblivious; the wind blowing its scent back to towards the pair at an angle that cut the tom’s coat into swatches of raised fur. Torque realized, with sudden clarity, how easily he could take the small morsel. He felt himself start to fall into the familiar mind set of the hunt, his focus narrowing until it burrowed into the prey so hard it was a surprise it didn’t just fall over and end itself.
He shook himself out of it. There was trespassing for the sake of safe passage -oh how ironic- and then trespassing and hunting. One would be a lot less forgiven then the other. That wasn’t something Torque wanted to have to deal with now or later; not that he had Roderick under his care now. He blinked, making to turn back to the kit now that the mouse had been dismissed and forgotten but as quickly as his attentions had shifted the small shuffling of prey turned into something a lot louder and more dangerous.
Something bigger and much heavier, like a wall of rock, slammed into him. As surprised as he was it only showed in his unprepared stance, although he was quick to protect his venerable areas as he and the other creature tumbled away from the brush and into a more open section of the forest floor. He could feel the deep rumbling snarl through his fur and flesh, the other cat -yes, a cat by its sound and feel- stuck to him by tooth and claw. Pain flashed through his coat as the other fought to keep his hold as they stuttered to a stop, Torque somehow managing to be rolled to the top in their scuffle.
He had no wish to fight and it was all he could do to simply shake himself of the other’s claws and bring a satisfying distance between them. The other cat, a long haired grey tom that reeked of the clan, was already on his feet in front of him. Quick and big. A tightness wound itself in the loner’s gut as they faced off, a hollowness sucking at his throat and inside his chest. But his voice was as clear as ever, if not lower then usual as he stood down as much as he was able. His coat slicked down flat and he relaxed his stance just enough to perhaps diffuse another attack.
“Move.”
And it was then he knew why it was fear that rang through the blood in his ears and clenched his chest tight. This massive tom -stronger then him by far, no matter the situation- stood between him and Roderick. He wasn’t sure if it was just his focus on the tiny kit, but he was sure he could hear his frantic heartbeat from here. Roderick was helpless in every sense of the word; he was no doubt frozen in fear. Torque took a single step forward. “Move. I’ll leave.” Pride mattered little when there were far more important things on the line. If her son was hurt by his foolish decision Torque would never forgive himself.
