Sunset Reflections [Open!]

[Vespera]

The borderlands were a whole new and surreal land compared to the camp. They were vast and empty - almost lifeless if a cat didn't knew where to look for food. The first snow had fallen half a moon ago. It was now thick and hard packed - icy crystals stabbing numbly at her calloused paws. They were far from any forests or patches of trees - all the birds had long gone to their nests to sleep, and all the rodents had dug deep into the earth's surface for rest and safety.
Ravenfrost hoped she'd be lucky enough to come across a tardy mouse.
This certainly wasn't the first sunset patrol she had taken, and it would definitely not be her last.
The thing about the borders - so far away from everything else - was the pure serenity of it.
She was still getting used to the landmarks - or lack thereof - and still memorizing the border. She knew she and her patrol weren't near the border yet, however, because when they reached the border, it was clear.

Ravenfrost took a moment to scent the air. There were faint traces of some rodent ahead, but they were most likely stale and drifting because of the lacking wind.

"Better catch some dinner, it'll be late by the time we get back."

She grunted more to herself than to anyone - or anything - else. At the moment, she didn't mind who was listening. In the mornings, she was cheerful and chipper. By the evening, her energy had fallen to a docile and alert level which let her keep her focus.

"When we get to the border, we'll hunt a bit. Almost there."

They were almost at the border. She could tell because, slowly, the horizon was dropping off. The distance was coming closer and she could see a slope drifting slowly down into a greater snowy tundra. That was the border. And in a couple minutes, she'd be able to follow the border without worrying about losing the trail.

Because, in a few minutes, the sun would begin to die, and the light would reflect off the glistening icy slope.
And that was one thing she loved about the sunset patrol.

((Yay! My first starter post for SR! XD Hope it's reply-able...))

[freefall]

Larkpaw trailed after Ravenfrost, her yellow-green gaze scouring the cold, white landscape. They were going to the border - or so Ravenfrost had said - but Larkpaw couldn't tell exactly where the border was, or how long they'd have to keep walking to go there. Her steps were careful on the hard ice, her paw-pads still kitten-soft and not at all calloused like that of a warrior's. The apprentice wasn't very pleased about this fact but she managed to follow her mentor (albeit slowly) across SilentClan's territory.

She glanced back the way they had came, taking note of how distant the trees were. Was Ravenfrost really bringing her to the border? The border couldn't be this far out! Larkpaw stopped and sat down on the ice - cringing as she did so - and attempted to lick feeling back into her paws. Her licks were fast and clumsy and her gaze flickered across the territory. The patrol could be so easily seen... colourful cats on a bleak, white background. What if something came for them? What if something was watching them right now? Larkpaw hurriedly jumped to her paws once more and scrambled to reach her mentor. She didn't want to be alone in this barren place.

Why wasn't Ravenfrost assuring her that everything would be fine, anyway? Larkpaw's gaze fixed on the older she-cat and she found herself curling her lip. She wasn't much of a mentor, was she? Why did Ashstar have to pair Larkpaw with Ravenfrost? Ravenfrost had only accepted Larkpaw as her apprentice because she wanted to look like a model warrior. Ravenfrost didn't care about her or her worry about something watching them; the warrior only cared about herself and her reputation. Ambition made everything more irritating for Larkpaw.

"Better catch some dinner, it'll be late by the time we get back." Larkpaw snorted at her mentor's words and her gaze slid away. Ravenfrost just wanted to feel like she was being a good mentor by talking to Larkpaw. Larkpaw, of course, would have none of it. Ravenfrost then said, "When we get too the border, we'll hunt a bit. Almost there."

About time, mousebrain, Larkpaw snarled inwardly. She wouldn't've been surprised to discover that Ravenfrost had been leading the patrol in circles as a joke - out on this bare terrain, it's not like anyone would've known, anyway.

"Great!" Larkpaw cried, sarcasm dripping from the word. "The wonderful border awaits us! I'm so excited, Ravenfrost!" She took a deep breath and let it out. "It would be very nice if I knew where this border was, though. I've heard mentors teach their apprentices about these things. That is how it works, right? Or am I mistaken?"

[Vespera]

Ravenfrost stopped suddenly. Her ears swiveled back towards her apprentice - young, tenderfooted... impatient, perhaps? Ravenfrost promptly hid her grin. She wasn't the oldest or most experienced of warriors - not by a long shot - but she had patience enough to deal with a snippy apprentice.
She turned to her apprentice and sat, hardly even noticing the cold on her black pelt.

"That is how it works."

She replied evenly. "Mentors are assigned to teach apprentices the way of the warrior. How else can you do that? By words?"

She shook her head. "You'll know we're at the border when we get there, Larkpaw. Silentclan is a solitary clan, we have a vast space that belongs to us. Not to mention, if the territory was any smaller, we'd probably all starve."

She didn't mean for it to sound foreboding, but it probably did. Her cool eyes swiveled over her shoulder, towards the sunset. The giant star was a fierce and fiery orange, the bottom just barely touching the crest of the horizon. The border shouldn't be too far away, but she wanted to make sure they could get there in time for the actual setting of the sun.

The first sunset patrol she had attended, Ravenfrost was a few moons older than Larkpaw. She had been... curious, more so than impatient, but she had nonetheless scheduled better things to do than scamper across the barren tundra. By the end of her exhausting patrol, however, Ravenfrost found she craved the sight again. Perhaps it was wrong of her to take Larkpaw on a patrol so early in her apprenticeship, but she'd hope it'd teach the apprentice how to anticipate wonder in the simplest of things.

In order to do that, however, they'd need to get there on time.
Ravenfrost turned sharply back to Larkpaw.

"Do you want to rest for a bit, or do you want to see what's at the border?"

She let her voice linger, hinting at the excitement and beauty of the decision to be at the border on time.

[chesshire -- ♥]

The vast, open terrain presented a challenge for Alkali. There was nowhere to sneak, nowhere to hide. For once, she was thrown out, her black and orange pelt like a target against the ice. It was only the flashes of white on her underbelly and chin that didn't stand out. But in the shadows of the dieing sun, she wasn't as thrown out as she could've been. Her paws made only a small pit, pat, pit, pat sound as Alkali trotted over the icy ground, unaware of the sharp crystals that lurked under her hard paws.

She was close to the border, nearing so close to it's silence. It's why Alkali risked her life to sneak out here. The voice was gone. Even the buzzing constantly ringing in her ears would be gone. Soon enough. Soon enough.

At the thought, Alkali trotted faster and was soon flying over the ice, claws extended to catch in the ice and give her grip. The barren landscape flashed past her, making her eyes water slightly. Until two shapes appeared on the horizon.

Alkali skidded to halt, back-peddling as fast as she could. She dug her claws into the ice, sending up a small stream of ice. There was no cover, none at all. It was almost certain she could be seen. Blinking eyes that never decided whether they were yellow or green, Alkali looked at the shapes. Both cats, clan cats by the look of them. Two females. One was black, the other a young light brown tabby. The first female was a warrior by the look of her.

Alkali could hear her heart hammering in her chest, and her winter-coat fluffing out, trying to make her look bigger. Alkali had a rather small build, more for running then fighting. She was only a bit taller then the younger cat.

Alkali stood her ground, instinct making her stop. She didn't run. She didn't fight. She just stared. The silence in her head was peaceful. No sound. No buzzing. No voice.

It was just ... nothing.

(( My first post for SR. Hope it's alright. ;D ))

[Vespera]

Ravenfrost continued trotting, doubtless her apprentice's lacking response, merely expecting Larkpaw to follow her. She wanted to get to the steep slope of the border in time to see the sun's last rays reflect on the slope of ice. She took perhaps a foxlength between them before she stiffened, something dark catching her eye. Her head jerked to the right, her eyes immediately narrow.
For a brief moment, she had hoped it was prey. Perhaps an ignorant mouse or a clumsy mole which had jumped out of the ground.
"Far too big for that."
She muttered to herself, staring at the animal sharply. It was definitely a cat, and definitely not belonging to the clan. At the sight of this cat, she felt something like a pit grow in her stomach. A pit from hunger? Perhaps - she had been so hopeful it was prey. But, alas, Ravenfrost had a duty to fulfill now. She had to stop this cat from entering any further into the clan territory, and she had to make sure the cat was not in cahoots with Blackclaw.

The very thought of the traitor made her fur bristle, and if any cat knew Ravenfrost, they knew it took a lifetime to make her hate anything. She hated Blackclaw, and his treachery, and this turned her normally calm and friendly demeanor into something dangerous. Ravenfrost promptly decided she would not give this strange cat a chance to run in either direction, and took her superb agility to her benefit, darting across the ice easily and sliding to a stop just close enough to where she wasn't too threatening, but could easily snag her claws into the cat's maw if it was required of her.
She had approached so suddenly, Ravenfrost was surprised by how abruptly she saw that this cat was even smaller than herself, and had wide eyes and a spray of ice surrounding her. Yes, she was a she-cat as well. As not to look taken aback, Ravenfrost promptly rose her hackles but flattened her tail, remaining calm and only showing the appropriate suspicion.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?"

She asked calmly, not wanting to frighten the cat if she was indeed friendly. Dealing with strange cats was a painful business. One could not act with hostility and one could not let one's guard down. Tricky business. Ravenfrost liked to think she was doing it moderately, seeing as she had never had any experience with a strange cat before.

[chesshire -- ♥]

Alkali took a small place back, but fluffed herself out, as if not to look as small as she really was. Compared to her, this she-cat was huge. Alkali must've been just slightly older then this cat, and only reached about the bottom of her neck. This could be a fight she could use without. That was quite certain.

Usually, in this sort of situation, Alkali's voice would tell her what to do, take over. But now, the voice was gone. The choice was her own. In some ways, Alkali felt threatened by this. But she also felt, strangely relieved. Alkali felt herself shaking, not from the cold, but from the instinctive fear to run. She dug her claws into the ground, so she didn't turn tail and run. She wanted to know why she never hear her voice in these parts.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?"

Alkali looked at the she-cat, sending her yellow-green eyes staring into her own icy blue ones. Alkali quick dropped her gaze, and padded back a few steps. She didn't turn around.

"I-I-I'm Alkali..."

Pausing, Alkali looked up at the dark she-cat. Was she possibly from Blackclaw's group. The thought was quickly dismissed. She was a Clan cat to the bone. She wasn't with Blackclaw. But neither was Alkali. They hadn't tried to recruit her, yet. She'd stayed clear of their gang, as best to her ability. But it wouldn't be long. They'd find her soon.

Alkali looked back to the she-cat catching her eyes for only a moment, again. Her tail tip started to twitch, and the voice hadn't returned. This was the longest she'd been without it.

".... I .... I don't know what I'm doing here."

Alkali looked back up to the she-cat, her eyes pleading. She told the truth.

[Vespera]

Ravenfrost perked at the increasingly demeaning sight of this small she-cat. The way she trembled out of fear, but managed to hold her ground at least showed some sign of courage... or determination. Both of which were qualities she admired. There was no chance this cat would fight her, though. Ravenfrost welcomed it.
Most strange cats who entered Silentclan territory were looking for a fight or to make trouble.
This cat, however, had no clue why she was here.
Ravenfrost quickly flattened her fur and straightened her ears, meaning to show she meant no harm.

"Where have you come from, Alkali?"

She asked, her voice softened. Although Ashstar would have deeply reprimanded her for letting her guard down, he was no longer here to be so suspicious of every cat that came from outside the borders. No... nowadays, they had to be suspicious of the cats within their borders as well.

"You don't look so well. If you need me to, I can help you find some food. You're probably not used to the tundra, by the looks of it."

[chesshire -- ♥]

Alkali watched the she-cat become softer, until she was offering her food. How strange. These cats should know better, what with the leaf-bare coming in, and all. Quite strange indeed. You voice might have chipped in, but it was gone. Alkali had the feeling of ants in her fur without it. She didn't know how long she could be able to take it. Not much longer.

"Where did you come from, Alkali?"

Quite a difficult question. But she'd herd it often enough to know she needed to lie. She didn't really even know, herself.

"The south. Very far down south. Where the winter's aren't as long, and the sun is awake, longer."

Alkali's eyelids drooped, thinking of a place like that. Somewhere, warm. Where she didn't have to rub the feeling back into her fur every night. All the cats must've longed for a place like that, when they lived in a place like this.

But it was true. She didn't look well. Her pelt made hunting hard, especially in the middle of winter. Her ribs had begun to poke out of her pelt, and her thin limbs really didn't help to keep out the cold.

"Food would be nice. But don't you have to feed you're clan, first...?"

Alkali knew this was true. The cats put the clan before themselves, and especially before some half starved she-cat. Food wasn't coming from these parts. Alkali still found it hard to meet the she-cat's gaze. She would look up, catch her icy gaze, then look back to the snowy ground.

[Vespera]

Alkali was right. There was no way Ravenfrost could hope to catch food for her clan, herself, and this strange new She-cat. Even if she could, the clan would always come first. That, and Ravenfrost couldn't permit herself to waste her energy on a cat that did not belong to the clan.

"You're a long way from home, then. And you're right, my clan must always come first..."

Ravenfrost mused softly to herself, pondering as she stared up into the darkening sky. She was almost done with her patrol, she would just need to double check the border and then return to camp. She had plenty of time to catch some extra prey for the clan.

"How about this."

Ravenfrost suggested, standing shaking out her pelt for a brief flash of warmth.

"I teach you how to hunt here, so you can get your own food on the tundra. Alright?"

((Shortness! D:))

[chesshire -- ♥]

Alkali looked at this she-cat. Was she for real? She'd waste her time dealing with a scrawny rouge, who would most liking die soon anyways? Clan cats. They really were strange. Or maybe, it was the other way around. Maybe this was something clan cats normally did, and Alkali wasn't familiar with it.

She shifted on her paws, and flicked her tail, thinking. An offer like this was not one she could pass up to easily on. Learning to hurt here would be a nice change from scavenging long-dead things, and bark. But was this cat tricking her? Would she attack the moment her back was turned? Times like this, her voice was quite missed.

Slowly, Alkali nodded.

"Thank you. I'll accept your offer."

Her eyes flashed up again to the dark she-cat. She didn't even have the smallest bit of white on her, and she still survived. Became a warrior. Made a life for herself. Alkali winced to herself. That was not the life for her. Her life was always that of a loner. And something deep inside her told her this was wrong. She was breaking some, unsaid code that loners lived by. Accept help from nobody.

Alkali took a few paces back, suddenly afraid. She couldn't go through with it. It was wrong. She couldn't have help from this cat. She took another few steps back. She looked at the she-cat, and this time, held her gaze.

"I'm sorry. I can't."

Then, she turned tail, and ran.

(( You can follow her if you want, or she'll come to her senses and return a few nights later. :D Your choice. ))