[ti]Open[/ti]Beyond these Walls

[noctemq]

Cherryhawk felt the leaves crunch beneath her pads; she had originally left camp with the idea of going on a quick hunt, but it slowly drifted into an adventure. Mothclan's territory had grown familiar to her senses, every step around every rock becoming muscle memory throughout the moons she spent training as an apprentice. Her paws itched for the unfamiliar, something outside of the routine. Sure, she had just been made a warrior, but Cherryhawk found her duties to be exactly the same, except she didn't have to ask for permission (not like she did, anyways) to go and do what she wanted. She raised her nose up in the air, allowing the lazy winds to aid her in sniffing out what was ahead. The young torbie recognized the strange scent of the Thunder Trails up a few rabbit paces away. She was taught to be very cautious of them, so she had never bothered to go within a certain radius of those monster tracks. Something, maybe bravery, but most likely stupidity, called her towards the Thunder Trails. What was beyond it? Rogues? Better grounds for prey? 

Hesitant yet curious, Cherryhawk approached the trail. She looked down the track and back up it. Everything seemed safe so far.... so she placed a paw on the cold, smooth surface of the track. Nothing bad yet? Like a ghost from the Dark Forest was behind her, she suddenly sprinted forward until she was on the other side of the trail. Her heart felt like in was in her throat, and it took a second to realize that nothing bad was going to happen. She had successfully crossed the Thunder Trails! Cherryhawk looked behind her, common sense telling her to go back before anything bad could happen. Well, she had managed to cross safely, so she might as well scope out what was on this side of the trail, right? She took one step forward, then another, until she was cautiously walking forward. See, everything would be fine. She told herself that she'd start heading back to camp once the sun began to set just to be extra careful. 

[mewmehh]

Keen eyes like gemstones twinkled from where they peeked out beneath dense shrubbery. It was a curious sight, seeing the ever so enigmatic form of a clan cat cross the Thunder Trails when they had such an ample expanse of wilderness to call their own. It sparked a flame of excitement within her belly as the spy's paws twitched with the itch to leap out at the tabby.

The spying on Mothclan had started only a few moons back, but Tallulah had found herself tripping around the twoleg place for seasons now. Without so much as a friend to focus on, the curly red kittypet had found it increasingly difficult to stay home with her housefolk day after day, and finally, she snapped. With assistance from of her neighbors, she had removed her collar and took to the streets to hone her hunting and stalking. Apparently, word had it that a few of the neighborhood kits and even a couple of strays had made their way into some of the clans and weren't kicked out, and such had filled the she-cat with a strong sense of hope at the prospect of reviving her big dream.

The idea of returning to Ivyclan was a sweet and sour one; Owlstar had been so kind and welcoming and made Tallulah Rose feel at home in the forest, much to how Longwing had described his home. But then, he was the reason she didn't jump at the chance. He and his new mate? Were they a thing and he didn't wish her to know? Tallulah wasn't sure, but apparently the brown she-cat who had so aggressively opposed her had taken up the role of her kits' mother. Not that Tallulah would argue the fact now; they had been raised by the she-cat and now were likely well into their training as warriors, so in all ways except blood, Wingedkit, Mintkit, Violetkit belonged to such a stranger. Still, it filled the she-cat with just as much sorrow as it did pride.

As she inched her way closer to the clans' territories, she found from various rogues and loners that the brutish Mothclan's territory was the easiest to get close to, and despite the bloody rumors about the group, it sounded as if they had bigger fish to fry than to worry about a few kittypets poking her noses around. Still, Tallulah had heard well enough about the group from her Ivyclan friend and knew better than to believe such lies. Still, she took to spying a bit here and there from time to time at a far enough distance. She had learned their borders and kept well enough away from them, but still because fascinated with learning their patrol times and routines and was once again enamored with the idea of joining them. Brutes as they were supposed to be, she actually wondered if they were as wild as she had heard. She was wild and over the top, as Longwing often told her, so perhaps she'd fit in well there. And yet, she still couldn't seemed to bring herself to be as bold as she had been when visiting Ivyclan. No, she was much more wary of Mothclan and what they could do.

Even now, despite her excitement as she watched Cheeryhawk make her away across the Thunder Trails, Tallulah wondered if she should keep quiet and leave. But then, when would she get another chance to speak to one of them. Gathering up her resolve, the LaPerm popped out of the bushes and struck a firm pose, deep red curls flashing like wild wisps of flame in the sunlight. With her turquoise eyes on the young Mothclan warrior, Tallulah barked with a smile, "You're from Mothclan, right?!

[noctemq]

She continued forward just another step, trying to stay cautious and prepared for anything. Cherryhawk’s ears flicked to the side momentarily, her nose picking up on an unfamiliar scent. She couldn’t pinpoint what it was over the strong metallic stench of the Thunder Trails; she regarded it as insignificant and continued on. Yes, she knew this was rogue territory, but would they all really just be waiting along the clan border? That sounded almost petty and definitely a waste of time. Leaf-Fall was an important time to gather prey and get a little heavier, so they were probably busy hunting versus keeping a keen eye on their borderlines. Cherryhawk felt more comfortable when she finished convincing herself that the latter was true. Suddently, she jumped back from the rustling of a bush.

Cherryhawk had to stop herself from launching upwards in surprise when she was confronted by the bright ginger she-cat. Instead, she visibly poofed up, her eyes wide. Her fur flattened down once she realized that the other cat meant no harm. From initial shock, Cherryhawk’s reaction quickly turned to curiosity; this was the first time she had seen a non-clan cat that wasn’t ready to rip out her throat. Especially with the last Gathering on her mind, she now held a strong prejudice against those that weren’t from a clan.

”Who’s asking?” Cherryhawk responded with equally bright eyes. Her ears were swiveled forward in interest, and hopefully this wouldn’t backfire on her. She didn’t mean to sound hostile, but it was always important to take some level of precaution. This other cat had amazing fur! Cherryhawk had never seen curls before and wondered if it was difficult to groom. She pulled her mind away from such side thoughts and focused back on the subject.

[mewmehh]

Had it been moons ago that such an encounter took place, the sudden intensity of Cherryhawk's inquiry would've shaken the older she-cat, but moons or skirting roughneck strays and other dangers of the Twolegplace had Tallulah Rose's pelt prickling with excitement. It was a tone that sparked even more interest in the confidence that wafted from a warrior's coat that had her so smitten with the fantasy of being a wild cat. With a wide grin slicing across her face and ears perked high, she countered with the same force of enthusiasm, "Someone incredibly taken with your culture."

Mellowing out a little as to not ruffle the younger she-cat's feathers more than she ought to with her zeal, the loner dipped her head a little. "I've heard stories of the clans since I was a kit and they've always inspired me to hunt and fight like them. You're one of Mothclan's, right? This is their border with the Twolegplace, otherwise you'd have to be from Mistclan, and that would put you all the way over by the flower fields." The red cat wore the widest of grins, her excitement spilling out like an overflowing river after a rain at the prospect of getting to gush about her lifelong obsession. Her ears burned a little with embarrassment, however, as a smaller cheeky smile flashed upon her face, adding lightly, "Sorry, that might have sounded a little nuts. I'm Rose, by the way. I hope it doesn't sound like I've been spying- I've shared words with a few cats in the other clans and you'd be surprised how loose-lipped they can be."

Glancing back the way Cherryhawk had come, Tallulah Rose's whiskers twitched and her face screwed up a little in confusion. "I don't mean to pry, but what brings you across the tracks? You know there have been a lot of scraps here with the rogues, right? It's not safe to be here alone." Despite how one could take what she said easily as a threat, the look of genuine concern showing in the curly cat's eyes kept her from meaning anything else by her worried statement.

[noctemq]

As the she-cat kept talking, Cherryhawk felt herself growing more and more confused, and it showed on her expression as clear as a cloudless day. This was the opposite of what she expected outside of clan territory, yet she didn't really know what to expect. How was this cat so informed on clan culture? Cherryhawk knew the clans were a loud bunch, but she didn't think word would spread this far. Or maybe this cat was a special exception. Still sporting a bewildered look on her face, she sat down in order to try to organize her thoughts.

Wait, Mistclan had a flower field? Unnnnnfaaaaaiiiiir; that's prime frolicking territory right there. She wondered if Mothclan could push borders over there instead. Cherryhawk, distracted once more, furrowed her brow spots in order to stay on track. This cat--Rose-- knew so much! It was admirable and creepy at the same time, which also felt like an orange, not quite red, flag for clan security. If rogues knew as much as she did, that could grow to be a problem in the future.

"I'm Cherryhawk. I'm just doing some exploring, no biggie. I can take whatever rogue tries to come at me," she unsheathed her claws and flexed it for extra emphasis, but tried to do so casually so it would look cool; It definitely looked forced and not as cool as she thought it did. "And yeah, I'm from Mothclan, strongest clan, but you probably already know that." Again, with the bragging. Why did Cherryhawk feel the need to impress this stranger so much? Was it because of her pretty fur?

"What about you? Why are you so close to the border?" Now it was her turn to ask some questions around here. Sometimes, loners would cross it on accident if they didn't notice the scent, but most cats knew to steer clear of clan territory unless they wanted to pick a fight.... or join? Cherryhawk, as a kit, had originally crossed the border by accident, stumbled into the camp, and loudly challenged some apprentice to a fight before being barraged by the older warriors then corralled into the prison nursery. Rose's intentions seemed unclear at the moment, but Cherryhawk was also dense enough to not notice anything that wasn't outright said to her sometimes.

[mewmehh]

As the brown tabby sat down, Rose, too, found herself settling into the grass. Call it sign of peace or simply out of her own excitement in mirror the clan cat or whatever, Rose was glad to oblige when Cherryhawk returned with a pleasant boast of her own. Yess!! The loner beamed as the young warrior gloated about her clan, and while she had meant to keep it to herself, a little burst of excitement came popping from Rose's jaws in the form of a small cheer. "Yes, yes of course!! I've figured most patrols consisted of a pawful of cats, but you must be something exceptional! Coming out her on your own, and with those scars-" The red cat dipped her head towards Cherryhawk, clearing noticing the pink lines that laced her face. "You must be quite the warrior, Cherryhawk!! Your warrior name is definitely more intense than Longwing's."

She quickly took a breath at Cherrywing's question, noting how her curls trembled with great vigor. Calm down, Tallulah. Easy!! As her body settled into its seat, she sighed and met the warrior's brown eyes. "I don't mean to be threatening. No, nothing of the like! I guess I just wandered too close, but you know?! I'm happy I did!! I've got to meet you, after all!!" She swallowed a second breath, her brain buzzing and hungry for air as she rambled on excitedly. Easy, I said, girl!! Grinning with a hint of embarrassment, she continued, "I've always wanted to join a clan. It's silly, I know, but I can't imagine living like anything else. Even after hearing about all the blood and border skirmished and fights, I know it's a hard life, but it's also such a rewarding one!!" Her eyes twinkled brightly, inspired and blazing with conviction. "You stand by a code, loyal to your clanmates and leaders and protect your own. Everyone out here is so rude, so selfish and greedy. I've seen cats lash at kits' tails over a scrap of carrion and can't believe it all! No rules, no safety for the old and weak. I hate it."

Her smile had vanished, now instead a knitted scowl and gnashed teeth. Frustration and anger wafted off her in fiery waves as she ripped at the grass with her claws before, again, taking a deep breath. "Try as I might, no one listens or cares or even likes the idea of living as a unit. And those who pretend to, those bloody bunch are only after the clans like a bunch of idiots, after something like 'revenge.' They're all a bunch of nutheads, but then, you probably already know that," she snorted, matching the tabby's previous rebuttal with a cheeky grin. Looking the warrior square on, Rose stiffened her shoulders and pinned her ears back. Well, here goes nothing!!

"Cherryhawk, I want to join Mothclan."

[noctemq]

Cherryhawk licked her paw and quickly swiped it over her ear in embarrassment; she could feel heat radiating off of her face at the moment. It was usual for her to praise herself, but for someone else to hype her up as well? It felt unfamiliar and almost overwhelmingly flattering. Rose definitely knew her way around words, or at least with what Cherryhawk wanted to hear, especially since her scars were noticed. She was unfamiliar with Longwing personally, but the name did ring a bell. All she offered in response at first was a nod in order to stay humble. Agreeing with praise never looked good, even though she really wanted to.

As a cat that originally wasn't part of the clans, along with a good chunk of Mothclan, Cherryhawk could see where Rose was coming from. The warrior code and the clans as a whole provided a source of stability in her life, friends, and a reason to wake up in the morning that didn't consist of pure survival; as a whole, Cherryhawk felt much more safe within her clan. When she was what a clan cat would consider a loner, she was too young to care for herself and would've probably been left for dead before Leaf-Fall. As Rose told her story, Cherryhawk reacted every now and again with facial expressions over words so she wouldn't interrupt. At the mention of loyalty, she felt proud of her clan and a visible smile lined her face, the mention of hurting kits quickly turned it into a confused frown. Raw emotion was sparking off of Rose's pelt and she could feel it like static across her whiskers. Her bright copper eyes widened once Rose got to the point she was trying to make. Silence washed over the torbie for a short moment before she came to a conclusion.

"Look, you sound like a good cat and all, but how can I trust you? As in, trust trust you? I don't think you're one of those other cats, the rogues,... but after what Mothclan has been through, you can't blame me for being hesitant," she said with certainty in her meow. Rose hadn't given off any vibes of ill will, however Cherryhawk still believed in being careful. Better safe than sorry, especially since this was a matter that could affect more than herself. Now, in what way could Rose prove where her moral compass pointed in a way that was believable? Maybe she needed another warrior's opinion. It was already interesting that Rose knew Longwing, so maybe that was a point for her?

[mewmehh]

A flash of hurt appeared in Rose's eyes, but she still donned her toothy grin. It was an odd expression, one especially foreign on the blunt and straightforward cat as Rose was. Complex emotions weren't her forte, but they were something that had been shoehorned into her very heart the day Longwing had torn it out of her chest. Raw feelings returned to her as fluffy, fresh faces flickered through her thoughts and her smile wiggled at the corners, threatening to drop. After a moment, Rose gave a small breath in the form a sigh and relaxed a little, even more so than she had been before if possible.

Glassy orbs like tealstone glittered in an exotic glaze as Rose returned Cherryhawk's concern gaze. "No, no worries. I completely get it." Her voice was still chipper and warm, but there was a hint of a somber inflection to it. Her gaze moved off past the tabby warrior, angled in the direction of the forest. "This is probably not something I should really talk about, but I can't lie, you know. I don't hate him, but I also do- err...it's hard to explain. A warrior in Ivyclan, Longwing. He was my best friend, but he wronged me. He- he always told me about how wild I was, but that I should never join a clan. That I wouldn't be accepted. B-but I've heard stories of cats, outsiders, joining the clans. It was as if he lied to keep me away when he knew there was nothing I wanted more than to have a better life." She offered a weak chuckle and continued, "I guess that doesn't inspire trust, does it? I'm just rambling now..."

She paused for a moment before screwing up her face, her expression narrowed in thought. "I've got kin the clans, you see. I want to be like them, but also different. Ivyclan are a bunch of softies and I don't want to be like that." The waterlogged look to her eyes was no longer there, instead replaced by the former look of determination she had worn earlier. "I've heard about Mothstar and I'd love to learn from him..."

[noctemq]

"Wild? Psssssh," Cherryhawk shook her head lightheartedly. She had noticed the change in Rose's expression and Cherryhawk wasn't great at damage control, so she had decided to change the tone of her voice from defensive to something more welcoming. If Rose was hostile, they'd already be tousling across the forest floor anyways. "That sounds like some classic Ivyclan to me.But Mothclan? We're all wild at heart; the real forest cats that keep kittypets up at night," she bragged casually, as if this was fact set in stone. Her tail waved behind her, sweeping the ground lightly. Was she doing the right thing or letting her ego control her decisions? Cherryhawk, a non-clan cat at birth, was one of the last to judge an outsider for wanting to join the clans. She found herself in an awkward position since she wasn't sure if she'd get into big trouble by bringing Rose back to the camp with her... maybe a second opinion would be appropriate, but there wasn't anyone else around.

At the mention of Mothstar, Cherryhawk felt her expression go soft. She didn't know him on a personal level, but he was one of the strongest cats she could think of. "Yeah, there's a lot to learn from him." Her response was calmer than the rest. Despite his death, there were still a lot of lessons to be learned and quality advice to be found in his (sometimes harsh) words.

"Okay, how about this," a mrrp escaped her as she tried to come up with a solution. Cherryhawk felt fine bringing Rose into camp at this point..."I bring you to.... bring you somewhere. And you're gonna follow me and we'll see how this turns out? I'm taking a big leap and saying I trust you right now." She had two plans in her head. One, try to get Brackenstar or Eveningblaze to approve by somehow getting their attention, or marching straight into camp. Hopefully this wasn't a rogue spy situation.

[mewmehh]

Rose listened keenly, her eyes trained stiffly on Cherryhawk without so much as budging. Glued to every word the younger she-cat said, the loner felt her inside tighten up more and more like a spring ready to snap. She lashed her thick tail against the brittle grass, waiting for something- anything- to trigger worry or signal her to stop. And yet, the tabby kept on going, building her up more and more until she heistated and Rose felt her stomach plummet. Here it comes...

"I'm taking a big leap and saying I trust you right now."

I'm sorry....WHAT?! Rose bore a startled gaze, forgetting how to breath and somehow managing to choke on the breath she held in her lungs. With a loud cough, she flattened her ears and matched Cherryhawk's own gaze with one of her own. Brown eyes which had seemed unsure before were more resolute, more convinced and that filled Rose with more determination than she had felt in a long time. More than she had when she had made friends with a clan cat, more than she had when she had been carrying the kits of a warrior in her belly. This time, a warrior- a stranger- was judging her character and deeming her worthy. Worthy of what? She didn't know yet, but she knew it meant something. Something important; important to her if no one else.

Springing up as her insides snapped, Rose shook her head in a ridiculous nod and beamed brightly. Indeed, the red cat's whole persona was loud and overwhelming with energy, but she did little to reign it in any. No, instead she sidled foolhardily after the tabby she-cat, pep in her step and proud all the while at whatever Cherryhawk had in store for her.