Strange Stone and Unnatural Cats

[Fireflake]

Buckleap the Loner

---

A variety of different emotions dashed through Buckleap as the she-cat spoke, but his expression remained mostly unchanged. For whatever reason, maybe just because she'd proven him right, he let out a snort of amusement when she described her Twolegs. He looked around again to check if there were any nearby, keeping his ears pricked to listen to Tallulah's words.

When she had finished, he commented, "Longwing sounds very... friendly."
He tipped his head slightly and stared at the kittypet for a few moments before shrugging. The tom flicked the rounded tip of his tail and muttered, "It's not like he's your leader, though. If staying in there isn't good enough, then don't."

He couldn't really blame her for taking her friend's advice. If brutal and bloody savages were how clan cats were first described to him, he wouldn't have glanced at them from a field away. Still, going near the clans and stepping away from your fence were two different things.

"Do you at least explore this place?" he asked. The tom looked around at the Twolegplace for at least the third time since they'd started talking. This was the first time any of it seemed more than lifeless rock and unknown dangers. Down the street, a red monster lay dormant. There was a slightly less tamed building nearby, and several plants peeked over fences or walls. Above, the sky was still visible. Still clear blue. Probably full of air that didn't taste and feel strange. His mind wandered back to the fields he used to live on, and he forced his attention back to Tallulah.

"It's really..." he began, straining to find something nice to say. It wasn't exactly his specialty. "Well, I'm sure some cats like it."
If a warrior could find something nice to say about other clans, surely he could do the same for the place he was staying in? He could, he told himself, he just didn't care enough to. Hopefully it would only be a temporary home anyway. "What sort of nice things does Longwing say about the clans out there?" he wondered aloud.

---

mewmehh

[mewmehh]

The curly-pelted molly purred loudly in delight despite how Buckleap seemed to struggle with sounding optimistic during their chat. It was nice to have someone with a different view to talk with, even if they maybe had different opinions on some things. It’s was all so exciting to the kittypet.

Bouncing up atop the edge of the thin fence, she mewed,”I would! I so would!! I guess it never crossed my mind that all the outside world couldn’t belong to the clans!! How would they check it all?!” She bellowed a heavy laugh. Without so much as a hesitated breath, she leapt down from her perch into the opposite side of the wooden wall. Her paws relished in the rough feeling of the uncut grass as it itched high up along her legs. Aquamarine eyes fluttered brilliantly at the tom as Tallulah gave him a triumphant look.

”I did it! I did it!! See? Look here- I did it!!” she sang out in a haughty mewl as she pranced around on spritely paws. It took a moment for her adrenaline to simmer down and as soon as it did, she teetered to one side and flopped into the thick grass. Thinking back to the tabby’s last question, she glanced at the sky and pondered.

”Well, I guess it depends on the clan. It’d probably have to be between Mistclan and Mothclan since I’m sure he may not have heard of your clan. I dunno! He never mentioned stories of other clans. But,” She drew her tongue across one forepaw. ”If we’re talking about Mistclan, he told me that they’re really smart. Their leader, Bearstar, runs the clan very fairly. And while they may not believe in the star cats too much, they care for their own quite well. Apparently he has some friends in Mistclan, but I don’t remember their names. Clan names are confusing.

“Mothclan was newer, he told me. Formed from cats who were once part of Ivyclan and Mistclan, so I’m sure many were close friends and former clanmates of Long’s. He said that while their leader, Mothstar, was a touch grouchy, he was a good leader. He managed to pull support from both clans and lead them to form their own. Long said that it takes a lot of a strength on Mothstar’s part to keep the crowd together, but he’s doing it! Long’s really fond of clan life, I guess, if he can say such nice things about his enemies!”

She paused briefly, knitting her dark brows together as she thought back for a moment. ”Wait. No, not enemies. Rivals. He called them rivals. I guess that means something different, doesn’t it?”

[Fireflake]

Buckleap the Loner

---

"Dear StarClan..." Buckleap muttered, trying to ignore the kittypet's delight. Cats acting overemotional was annoying, and cats acting overemotional for no good reason was insufferable. He shuffled along the odd stone block onto a more comfortable spot, then began to pick the pebbles from his hind paw as an excuse not to watch Tallulah. How hare-brained would a kittypet have to be not to realize clans didn't own everything? He flicked an ear. He'd had clanmates like that.

The loner raised his head again when the kittypet called out to him. "How daring of you," he scoffed under his breath. He hadn't even been that excited on his first day outside of the burrow his family had lived in. He couldn't remember a time when he'd ever been that excited. It wasn't particularly contagious, but he figured there was no harm in humoring her. The tom looked pointedly to her paws on the ground, nodded, flashed a clearly fake smile, then settled back into his previous position.

His long ears pricked when she spoke about the clans again, and drank up the information like river water. They twitched after a few moments. Clan names were confusing? Had he heard that right? At least his loner parents had named him something that fit him, and clan names were self-explanatory! How in the name of StarClan did 'Tallulah' seem less confusing? Buckleap realized that he may hold more prejudices than he'd thought. Besides, learning about the nearby clans was more important than superficial indignation.

When she had finished saying anything useful, he stifled his frustration. Nothing had made it clearer which clan he should chase. Maybe a grouchy leader and a less defined history would make MothClan more likely to take him in. It was a flimsy basis for a big decision, but it was the best he had. Buckleap shrugged and gave his attention back to Tallulah. That was enough worrying about the clans for one day anyway.

He shrugged again when asked about the she-cat's wording. "Enemies, rivals... guess it depends who you ask," he replied. "Your rivals, for instance, would be the kits your Twolegs think are cuter than you. Your enemies would be, hmm, those small windy monsters that make leaves fly in the air?"
The tom's whiskers briefly twitched with amusement. "Mine, on the other paw, are just a whisker's difference."

The ex-warrior stretched his legs and stared both ways down the street before glancing back to the kittypet. "Now, has that patch of grass satisfied your thirst for adventure?" he asked flatly. "You seem ready for a nap."

---

mewmehh

[mewmehh]

The she-cat swung her head around, a messy mop of curly fur moving with her. Her almond eyes narrowed to thinner slits as she listened to Buckleap's taunting tone and her lip curled back a bit in offense. Why did this cat seem so high and mighty? He wasn't any better than she was, right? Tallulah had met a few peers that acted such a way, but those often came from families with bigger nests than her own. What right did this cat have to talk down to her like a kitten? Sure, he was a clan cat, but his clan had collapsed. Wasn't that what he had said? So they must not have been as high and mighty as the tabby came off sounding. This sent a prickle of irritation down the kittypet's spine.

"What makes you think you know me that well? I can do plenty more!" She stalked a circle around the former clan cat, her ears pinned backwards and tail lashing. "It's not like I'm some weak little kitty, you know-"

"Come now, Tallulah. What are you doing to this cat?"

Just as Tallulah had inched herself closer to the larger cat while attempting to tell Buckleap off, the fiery-furred cat was quickly cut off by a smooth voice. Whipping her head up with her ears still pinned back- though this time in embarrassment- the kittypet's wide eyes glued themselves to the sleek form of a familiar white and ginger cat as they moved fluidly towards the pair. "L-L-Long...wing," she managed to croak out as her skin felt like fire. Uh-oh.

There was no look of anger on the warrior's placid face as the pretty angles left him looking calm and sweet. And as usual, his dual eyes of aquamarine and gold twinkled with a certain soft fondness that made the kittypet's heart melt happily.

Raising his brows as the warrior glanced to the tabby, he stopped in his tracks a few foxlengths away and tilted his head in confusion. "My- who is this? A new friend perhaps?" He made sure to keep a bit of distance from the two as to ensure a boundary of safety for the other tom whom Longwing could only assume was perhaps another kittypet. One who may not feel as comfortable in the company of a clan cat as Tallulah Rose was.

[Fireflake]

Buckleap the Loner

---

Buckleap hadn't moved from his position laying on the block as Tallulah circled him, but had been so distracted watching her that he failed to notice another cat approaching until that tom spoke. The loner reflexively jumped up onto his paws and away from the stranger.

The tension in his crouch slowly ebbed away as he heard Tallulah name the tom and saw the nonthreatening expression. He stayed on his paws, leaning away, but the flare of alarm had settled. The loner looked from Longwing to Tallulah and back to Longwing, then shifted to a more comfortable position.

"My name's Buck," he answered, "or Buckleap if you want to use my clan name."
Buckleap nodded towards the kittypet and added, "I think Tallulah was just in the middle of telling me off for underestimating her."
He didn't put any effort into a serious attitude, but his expression didn't waver when he finished, "I clearly wasn't aware then that she could summon warriors with her mind."

Buckleap's eyes skimmed over the warrior quickly before flicking back to his face. "You're Longwing, then?" he meowed. He wasn't sure whether it was a question or a statement, but he didn't really care how it was taken.

---

mewmehh

[mewmehh]

Longwing studied Buck for a brief moment, his eyes roving up and down the tabby in mild surprise. He had not been expecting to hear a warrior’s name alongside what sounded like a shortened nickname of the same. It seemed as if this cat had been raised at least in some part by clan culture, though it appeared as if he had moved on from his wild roots. A spark of curiosity tickled the Ivyclan warrior’s insides as he offered a soft smile of greeting and dipped his head.

”I see. Ha- Tallulah, my friend, you must be quite the spirited fan of the clans. I hadn’t known you had friends in other clans.” Turning his face towards Buck once more, the tall tom purred calmly,”I suppose she could have such an ability- she’s an odd one for sure.”

Longwing had settled down into a comfortable seated position in the long grass. While he hadn’t appeared as such, internally he had become a bit anxious at hearing another warrior’s name, especially one that he hadn’t recognized, but his curious worry seemed unwarranted. Thus he quickly urged himself to calm. After all, what was the saying? Curiosity and killing cats, or something like that? He had to relax a bit.

Quirking his ears up, he tipped his slender head a bit to the left in an inquisitive gesture and continued,”May I ask what clan you hail from? I don’t think I’ve heard your name before. You could be from before my time, but you don’t really appear to be very old.”

All the while, Tallulah had reflexively plopped down into the grass, watching the two toms exchange words while she, too, calmed down. A moment ago, her adrenaline had been pushed into overdrive, and the next she had been embarrassed fully into cooperation. It was bizarre how her friend’s respect and chance of disappointment kept the wily cat in check. She never would’ve imagined that another cat- let alone a tom that wasn’t her mate- would have such control over her “free spirit,” as her mother called it.

Turquoise eyes flicked back and forth between the angora and the tabby, and for once the loud she-cat sat silently.

[Fireflake]

Buckleap the Loner

---

Buckleap finally stepped off of the block. "You may ask," he replied with a shrug, "but the answer won't mean anything to you."
The tom glanced over his shoulder. "My clan didn't live near here and it recently disbanded."

He lingered in front of the block for a moment longer, then hesitantly joined Longwing and Tallulah in the grass. His eyes flicked from one side to another. Even just on the edge as he was, it felt vaguely like running into another clan's border.

"I'm a loner right now," he explained as he focused on Longwing again.
Backleap nodded to Tallulah and added, "I was just resting around here when I saw Tallulah up on her fence and we started talking."
He absentmindedly twirled a blade of grass around one of his toes.

---

mewmehh

[mewmehh]

The lean warrior's opaline gaze bore into Buckleap's form, carefully listening to the tom's words as the tabby attempted to appear nonchalant and unfazed. But Longwing was more empathetic than most and knew there was aching, even if dulled from time, from the recently-made loner. In that respect, the ginger and white tom dipped his head.

"I'm sorry to hear that. It is a shame- I don't think I've ever heard of a clan being completely diminished before. I can't imagine the pain you must feel for your clanmates. Thank goodness for Starclan..." His optimistic smile then frowned a bit as he broke off his words. This cat was not a loner- not by choice- and sounded to have revoked his name. Or at least no longer wore it proudly. Would Starclan still grace him? Protect him as they did Longwing's own clan? He would have to remember to ask Larkbeat about it later on.

"Well, Tallulah is quite the conversationalist. It wouldn't surprise me if she had pulled you into an unwanted conversation firstly." At this, Longwing received a pointed glare from the she-cat and he only offered an apologetic grin in return. Giving his head a quick shake, he returned his attention to Buck and dipped his head in a small bow. "Sorry. I don't think I've introduced myself- how rude. My name's Longwing. I am a warrior of Ivyclan, though I'm afraid I can't really offer anything more about myself. There's not too much else to tell."

(Fireflake )

[Fireflake]

Buckleap the Loner

---

Buckleap continued to twirl the grass around his toe as Longwing spoke about the loner's former clan. He nodded slightly, but there was no other indication that he was even listening. The tom stopped to glance over at Tallulah again when she was mentioned. The grass snapped and got caught between his toes.

Flicking an ear, Buckleap resolved to ignore it for now. "All there is to tell about you can fit in two sentences?" he challenged. "You sound like an awfully interesting cat."
He shook his paw as the blade of grass tickled his pad, but it didn't come out.

"Thinking about it, I'm pretty sure I pulled Tallulah into a conversation," he added. He glanced at her momentarily. "We ended up talking about exploration. She'd mentioned that you always have nice things to say about the other clans in the area."

Buckleap shook his paw once more, then finally grabbed the blade of grass with his teeth and spat it out. It fluttered to the ground. "You wouldn't have time to tell me a bit about them, would you?"

Amusement hid somewhere deep inside of him. As helpful as Tallulah's talk about savages and MossClan or maybe MothClan were...

---

mewmehh  Again, sorry. :/
I've had very little time and about as much motivation to write, and I didn't want to just give you a boring paragraph as a reply.

[mewmehh]

The tall warrior twitched his whiskers, and keeping his same polite tone, he smoothly countered, "All I can tell a stranger, I'm afraid." He then cracked a small grin, showing his ivory teeth. "Though, I can say I prefer squirrel to mouse or vole. Not that knowing such information would do you much good though." Despite his level voice, there was a challenging twinkle in his odd-colored eyes. However, this was the extent of his teasing. He did not know this cat and, thus, his tolerance for silliness.

Longwing listened thoughtfully as Buck spoke of his conversation with Talluah and watched as he picked at some grass. Paying most attention to attention to the tabby's inquiry, Longwing flicked an ear and gave a small breath. "I see. So that's your intention. I must say, Buckleap, that you are quite bold. I give you my respect in that regard. However, I must refrain. I hold you no ill will, but I must think of my clan first. I can't, in good conscience, give you any information about my clan, let alone any of the other clans. How can I be certain you haven't allied yourself with undesirables in the Twolegplace and are on a mission to gather information on us- for an attack or something similar? After all, it sounds as if you have forsaken your birth-given name for one more suited for loners and rogues."

"L-Longwing, what are you talking about?" Tallulah meowed with a start, hopping up her paws. A look of uncertainty was plastered on her face as she stared down her friend incredulously.

Fireflake