The Return |Open|

[wolf]

Stupid road. What was it with this place? He sat down at the side of the road, for all the world looking like a statue as he stared at the dirt. Though his eyes, his golden-brown eyes looked distant, as if he were seeing through the road as if it were a transparent piece of matter. Perhaps he was looking into the pits of hell, where the tom thought he belonged; It almost called to him… Not unlike a sailor is called to the sea or a movie director to his own film’s screening. Instead, though, he was still bound to the gray area between the two that pressed from either side, or so it would seem. So it seemed.

But not all things were as you saw them. Perhaps the tom wasn’t looking to what he thought his fate ought to be, but simply giving his eyes something to do while he thought things through in his head. Or perhaps he was merely sleeping with his eyes open. Never thought of that, did you? Ha! Really, did your days as a stray never teach you to suspect the unexpected? To plan for the worst, but hope for the best? The brown tabby never got anywhere with the latter. He found that while he was planning for the worst, it was impossible to hope for the best. If only hope were something tangible that he could feel… Perhaps then he could hoped while he planned. But, as for now, he believed that hope was useless. He would rather be out and about, doing something to get him which he wanted, rather than praying and hoping for it.

Really, he was quite the cat of action. So why could he not act? Why was he bound to the round by chains and shackles again and again? For what? To revisit memories? The murderer, returning to the scene of the crime? The latter was more likely. The spot where the old Wolf was killed and the new emerged from the torn fragments of hope. Though, the new being that rose from the ‘ashes’ wasn’t whole. He was merely an imposter in the skin of his former self, with a puppet master in the back of his head, unforeseen, but slowly gaining power as it manifested into something truly fearsome. His own mind, his own body, rejected that inner conscience that had made him… Him. Without the tattered fragment of himself, what was he? A corpse with no meaning. Of course, at this moment, he had no meaning. No reason to keep going. So why did he want to leave this road? Why not just lie here and slowly await death? Perhaps that would stop the shadow from taking over. Perhaps it wouldn’t follow him to death, whatever awaited him.

And that, ladies and gents, brings us back to our earlier reasoning. Plan for the worst, but hope for the best. Well, if Wolf went by that, was able to believe in hope once more, this is how he would see, this is how it would play out behind his eyelids: He would plan that Daisy was no more. She had perished. Died, in common terms. There. He tried coming to terms with that, tried to wrap his mind around it, but it was and unfathomably hard thing to do. He shook his head, dropping his attempt. Alright, first part of the saying failed… Perhaps if he got an ‘A’ on the next part, he could settle for a ‘C’ on the overall thing. Hope for the best. The best being that Daisy was alive, that he would see her one day… He willed his body to produce that spark of hope that he had felt slowly dwindle away to nothingness over the past… What was it now? Weeks, months, years? He settled on months, though to him, it seemed like decades. Months. His hope had survived months until shriveling up until it was nothingness and ceased to exist.

His head started to throb as he was jolted back to the present by a car that came speeding by. Blinking his eyes and scowling, he stood up. Becoming instantly light-headed, he closed his eyes and swayed for a second or two before standing up straight, looking for all the world like he was right as rain, with nothing troubling him. Just a simple brown tabby stray, trying to make it in the world. Well, whoever thought that was naïve and stupid and should learn that not all was as it seemed. Nothing ever was. Everything deceived, told lies, the like. He smirked at his own bleak outlook on the world. Nothing was ever just black and white, no, never. ’That’s how the world works, folks. Sorry I had to deliver the news to you, but hey, cheer up, have some ice cream, we’re taking a break and we’ll be back to it in five. It’s question and answer time up next, so don’t miss it.’ Yes, he was well aware that pretending he was giving a lecture was insane, but he had decided to embrace that. It was part of the Wolf he had become.

[amber]

By the loss of one he could not replace;
Holding his last breath, believing;

Ebony paws lay down on the red brick road as a silent fae made her way down the old street. Her golden eyes were blazing, reviewing her most current past happening, the meeting with Haven. Her opts filled with grief, caused by how much he loved her. They hadn't known each other before that day, and not even after an hour or so did they know they were meant for each other. The contrast of their pelts, the melted orange when there eyes met... it was just so perfect. Nothing could go wrong, right? She would bear his kits, and wean them, and they would grow into a wonderful family, full of love and freedom. Nothing could go wrong, not if heaven and life were on their side.

The ebony's ears flickered at a low noise that would be hard for even a mouse to detect. The feline couldn't detect what it was herself, only that there was someone else here. She is not one to get territorial, or even the slightest bit offensive, but what if this cat was? Amber's whisker's quivered as a chill went through her body. No, she wasn't scared, it was just the wind. Mother Nature's yearly winter had arrived yet again, like every year. And although it wasn't as cold as most winters the Nenbrook cats went through, it was near freezing. Even with her thick coat, the slightest breeze that touched her sent a thrilling shill throughout her whole body.

Amber's paw steps showed up on the road, for the snow was falling now, heavily. The tracks left behind showed her slowing pace, firstly fast, and now more paced and slow. The dark femme held her head high as she marched down the street, unaware of what was in store for her. Her amber touched orbs shone brightly, a lone maroon feline outline in the distance just barely visible. Narrowing eyes, quickening pace, and swaying banners; all caused for the curiosity about the feline figure on the side of the road. Hello? Her voice called out, but she hypothesized that he couldn't hear her; for, her voice was fairly dry and weak, the cold winter cough finally getting to her.

Closer she went, interested in the brute who was not far from her now. She cocked her head to the side, for she was close enough to see the facial expression on the brown rogue. It was blank, is if something important was on his mind. Yet, there was a slight displeasure, or, maybe sadness, in it. Amber's eyes softened, even though she had not yet met this unusual tabby of Nenbrook before, she could tell he'd had a long life. And not just a long life, but a cruel, or unpleasurable one. Not wanting to frighten the concerned tom, she circled him to the front. Her eyes met his, although he didn't even see her. Sadness flooded over the ebony cat's body. She didn't want to hurt this cat any more than he already had been, but it seemed as if he needed to talk to someone. And with Amber being resentful, pleasurable, helpful, and most definitely reassuring, she might be a good shoulder to lean on.

Hello? She repeated her earlier question, her voice hoarse and rough, making her sound more masculine and strong. She sucked in her breath, blocking any passage that air would be able to travel in through. What would this tom do to her? Would he hurt her? Or would he be nice, compromise with her, or even befriend her? This poor, poor feline desperately needed some friends though, and Amber would keep trying over and over, no matter how hard. She reached out with a quivered, unsteady forepaw, directed toward the brute's shoulder. Hello? Again, but more of a whisper this time, too quiet for even her to hear it...

Word Count;; 642
Muse;; Slightly more than average
Comments;; Poor Wolf!

[pandakat]

He honestly wondered what was beyond that road. Did it just keep going on and on and on and on and on until it fell off the face of the world, or would it eventually lead to a place that had sane people, cats, and dogs? Well, it wasn't that this place was unpleasant, but everyone was so, so different. Other dogs that he'd met in his lifetime had usually barked or yipped their heads off at him, instead of addressing him politely and kindly. It...it was kind of cool, actually, but just a little creepy. And then there was the two cats he had met. Total spazzes who couldn't keep still or quiet. To add to that, they had the most ludicrous ideas (like making a cake in a dump) and were both female! Well, there was nothing wrong with she-cats, but was it odd to just hang out with cats of the opposite gender? Sable wasn't really sure himself, as he hadn't ever had friends of his own kind before. The real problem was that they were both insane. There had to be some sane cats he could talk to around here.

So Sable made up his mind to try and find some sane beings that he could observe, just to be sure that there were such creatures around here. And, at he least, he could get a break from Juniper and Moon's babble. Unfortunately, he had turned out at the old road, which didn't seem the best spot to find other cats. However, he was already tired from wandering about and couldn't think of anything to do besides plod along. '...Am I lost?' He wondered after a bit, before shaking his head. No, not anymore lost than he was usually.

'I wish it wasn't so chilly,' Sable thought to himself, frowning. He preferred dozing in a nice, warm sun with little to no wind, but it seemed the seasons didn't care about his personal preferences at all. Maybe it was about time to head back and find a warmer spot to be, if there was any. The only concern was...where was back? He could probably just turn around and just walk back the same way, but he wasn't sure which direction he was going anymore. He had turned multiple times already and couldn't recall the number. 'Well this is great.' Sable remarked, plopping onto the ground. There had to be some way of telling. 'Maybe I could get a better view if I were on the road itself.' But the very idea seemed crazy, which he didn't enjoy at all. However, he didn't have any better thoughts.

Cautiously, he peeked out into the road, turning his head side to side with ears swiveling about. There didn't seem to be anything coming immediately or in the future. So far so good. 'I really think Juniper's insanity has infected me.' He mused to himself as he cautiously hopped onto the road and peered about. The view wasn't much better, but it looked as if there were some buildings to his right. Turning said direction, he picked up a brisk pace, moving along the road. It was much harder under his paws, but he had to be sure he was going the right way.

As he continued on his way, he could've sworn that he heard the faintest voice. But Sable soon dismissed it as the wind whistling by, or perhaps the first traces of the silly madness he may have contracted. However, he heard the voice again and could distinguish it as a question, although he couldn't tell the gender just yet. Was...was there a ghost around here? His paws instinctively quickened their speed. No, there's no such things as ghosts.' He laughed to himself, although he felt his fur raising. 'Okay, you're overreacting now--what was that?' He could hear a quiet whooshing behind him and a slight roar, similar to that of--'Car?!' Sable caught a glimpse of the freakishly fast vehicle as it sped towards him from behind, seemingly oblivious of the small cat in its path. The feline sped forwards in his instinctive haste to flee, his mind barely being able to catch up with the reaction. When it did, however, he realized that there was no way to outrun a car. The best option was to get out of the way and to the side of the road, obviously.

Sable leapt to the side, paws flailing about as he sailed through the air, eyes shut tightly for the fear that he hadn't jumped soon enough. But soon he felt the barest traces of ground beneath his paws, and immediately adjusted to landing, although he still kept his eyes closed. As most cats did, he hit the ground on all fours before continuing to run due to the momentum. However, his whiskers told him that running forwards wasn't a good idea at the moment, as there was something in front of him that probably wouldn't be pleased with a cat plowing headfirst into it. Sable stumbled and tumbled to a stop, during which he finally opened his eyes and found himself peering up at two other felines. He stared up at them, blue eyes wide.

{{Somewhat predictable, but here you go. >>;}}

[wolf]

When all the others were just stirring awake[/I]

What was this? A tingling, almost unpleasant feeling that he felt as if he needed to do something about… But surely it wasn’t coming from the world he had barricaded himself into at the moment, the sealed off corner of reality that only he inhabited… It was a hermit’s dream, really, but only an insane or desperate one would be able to achieve such a feat that Wolf had. Perhaps he was in his own little self-induced coma, oblivious to the rest of the world, unconsciously protecting himself from what lay outside of his head. Although, what lay inside of his head wasn’t exactly a pretty picture, either. But this feeling… What was it?

He was curious. He had to know what this strange sensation was. The saying did go ‘Curiosity killed the cat.’ Well, Wolf was in a position to take these kinds of risk. So, slowly, deliberately, he cleared the path to the outside world. As he did so, his senses coming back to him, he had the overwhelming urge to huddle back into that sanctuary he had built for himself, where he would be safe from all of the elements being hurled his way with no sympathy. But he braced himself against this, almost in the same way he had done before with the barricade; fortifying himself against such onslaughts of cruelty that this world he had been stuck in against his own will was altogether too well known for. The world, the universe, whatever… It had a bad reputation. Wolf wouldn’t want to be friends with it. He would shun it.

Becoming aware again as he left his safe house, he realized what had been bothering him so much that his carefully constructed barricades fell like dominoes around him at the slightest touch of the stabbing urgency that had annoyed him and peaked his curiosity enough to make him chance experiencing the world once more… It was almost as if he were signing off his life as he made this decision, with small font at the bottom that he had overlooked, condemning him, laughing at him. If only he had been more meticulous, he could have foreseen some sort of trickery of that sort. That bad reputation… Wolf knew how it had gotten it now, and for a moment he stopped, in limbo between his world and the other world, in neither and in both at the same time, questioning again his logic at leaving his safe haven, abandoning all thoughts of comfort for… What? Nothing at all, really.

And, moreover, he was actually afraid. Afraid that he would forget the ignorant bliss he had felt in his safe corner of the universe and abandon it for the harsh reality of ,well, reality. Though he comforted himself with an epiphany: If he was forced into the same situation he had been in before, would he not seek shelter the same way he had just done so recently? That was obviously the way his mind worked; Wolf knew how his brain worked, for the most part. He was sure that this would be the likeliest course of events if he did, in fact, leave his little sanctuary behind as just a simple, pleasant stepping stone in his life. But now, he speculated that this sort of protection he had created for himself was becoming somewhat of a drug to him… He had remembered retreating into this sort of reality before; very vaguely. So, this meant that he would surely return in the future.

With that sort of optimistic attitude, he ventured forth into the unknown that he had momentarily forgotten in his self-constructed bliss. He suddenly realized what that unpleasant tingling feeling had been that had driven him out here in the first place. Snow.That was it? He thought for sure that a car had run over him, or perhaps, if he had gotten what he wanted for once, some sort of carnivorous predator would have eaten him. Perhaps even a cannibalistic cat, or a starving human. It would have been more dignified in a twisted way than merely getting run over by a human contraption of convenience. Yes… If he had to die, he would like it to be at the claws, fangs, whatever, of another animal. However, beggars couldn’t be choosers; He would accept death either way.

He half-heartedly shook off the white fluff that seemed intent to cling to his golden-brown fur. He frowned. If only his life was so simple as that as snow. It seemed to have a clear purpose: Fall to the earth and engulf everything in its path before spring came and destroyed it. It was a very straight-forward mission. He looked around, only just then noticing the two cats that had decided to migrate towards him. They had probably thought he was dead, or at least in some kind of coma, of course. They were half-right. He was dead to the world for a few moments before snow called him back to his current situation. He stared at the two cats for a few seconds as life flowed back into his limbs, eventually reaching his eyes, which had a faint speck of life in them, but overall, very dull. These golden features of his face flicked from one cat to the other. He didn’t know either of them. He cleared his throat and said in a hoarse voice, “What do you want?”

I‘m trying to trick myself to fall asleep again.

[/I][/right]

Lyrics: w.a.m.s. - Fall Out Boy

[amber]

Golden eyes were layed upon her, and her own were returning gratefully. Her banner swept sideways as she stepped closer to the now awake tom. She felt herself about to stutter as she started to speak, but she quieted it as she lay her eyes upon the tom in need of help. You, uh, you seemed as if you needed help with something... maybe...? She didn't exactly know what to say, so her m=voice came out unsteadily. I mean, you look depressed... Are you unhappy?

Amber's paws moved her backward, not wanting to get in the new brute's way. Without knowing his personality, she didn't want to do anything that would be possible to make him mad. She focused on what to say next, on what to say to her answers. Her eyes went into space now; as she thought about what could have happened to this brute. Had he gone through a similar past as her? Or maybe he had lost a loved one? These were just thoughts, and either wrong or right, she'd still help him.

Who was this other cat? They'd never met before, and Amber guessed this brute hadn't met whoever the other feline was. She turned her view from the golden-brown tabby to the new incomer. Her usual welcoming gaze was now a confused and questioning. Who are you? She planned on asked her why she was here, but of coarse, she could ask Amber the same. Her golden orbs turned to slits, and her black fur flightly stood on end. Although neither of these cats looked threatening, Amber was always prepared. Currently, it would be a bad time to die, especially because she wasn't ready and was far too young. But for other reasons as well... 1. She was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with Haven Frozenpool... 2. She was pregnant with Haven's kits.

Word Count;; 310
Muse;; low
Comments;; im soooo sorry, my muse has been very bad lately.

[pandakat]

He quickly got up and, with the flick of a tail, composed himself. Or attempted to anyway. However, Sable, being a rather nervous fellow at times like this, was more preoccupied with keeping his ready-to-flee paws under control than looking as serene as he would've liked. It didn't help that neither of them seemed very friendly.

"What do you want?"
"Who are you?"

Sable's ears flattened slightly at the questions, as he was not at all pleased with finding that one of the cats sounded like he had swallowed a box of coal while the other one was giving off an unfriendly sort of vibe. The cat then mentally shook his head, trying to remind himself not to naturally jump to conclusions. After all, not all cats were as chattery or friendly as the ones he had met. Instead, he focused on finding an appropriate response to these felines. They were complete strangers, so was it safe to tell them his name and his intentions? Of course, he hadn't really had a super secret goal to begin with, but...well, he just didn't feel like it.

"Frankly, it's none of--" He broke off shortly as the thought that it might be better to be polite entered his head. Now what? "...the...snow's business." Sable frowned, not quite sure what to say or if he should continue at all. Instead, except for the occasional betraying flick of his antsy tail, the ebony tom was silent and still, a furry little statue being layered with soft snow. He didn't enjoy that fact at all.

{{Sorry for the supar short/bad post. :C}}