Looking At The Sky [Open]

Jester looked up at the giant pines that loomed over him as he walked through these wild territories. He had heard stories of cats climbing those very pines and attacking from above, giving little to no chance for any rogues to defend themselves or even notice them before the first blow, and to top it all, it seemed some sections of these territories were extremely hard to traverse unless you knew how to climb and travel across the tree branches instead of the forest floor…each one of these wild territories seemed to pose a different challenge.

During normal circumstances, the black tabby would’ve avoided crossing the borders of wild cat territories, even less allow himself to wander deep into them as he was doing now. However, the news of the sudden hit the clans had suffered to their numbers after some mysterious event spread like wildfire across the filthy streets of the twolegplace he reluctantly called home. Many rogues had taken upon this chance to try and snatch better quality prey from the clans that lived there, some bolder ones even had tried to claim some territory of their own and settle right under their noses.

He?

He was looking for food, yes, but more important than food itself, he was carefully looking for these clans of fierce territorial cats.

The information about them was scarce, their motives unknown, their society a mystery. Few rogues had been daring enough to try and find out more, and very few returned…and those that did only brought back some new scars. If he wanted to know what made these clans so special, their secrets, he was going to need to be careful.

His ears twitched as he scanned the nearly barren forest floor, with little to no place to hide. Each territory birthed new rumors, some more widespread than others. This specific section of the territories spoke of agile cats that could take hits without a care, only to hit back with double strength, their climbing and jumping abilities unmatched, allowing them to attack from a distance when most cats could only attack in close range. Rumors of rogues that attempted to challenge being dragged up the trees only to being dropped, falling to their deaths, were occasionally shared…he would really need to avoid that exact outcome…

"Oh, Mudmask, is that you?" A far off voice called, followed by a series of shaking branches. The tom this she-cat had mistaken him for was her lover, although he was from another Clan. So it was only natural for her to get so excited at meeting a cat clearly not accustomed to her territory. As a big and fluffy tortoiseshell-tabby gracefully leaped from a tree, she realized this cat was not Mudmask.

"Who are you?" She demanded, more so curious than defense, though she dutifully fluffed her fur up so that she appeared massive. Her thick pelt worked well to scare of enemies, much to her amusement. "Didn't you smell the scent marks? Does your nose work?" She pondered, a hint of amusement and sarcasm in her mew.

Jester took a step back out of caution as the she-cat leaped out of a tree with the grace of a squirrel. The tales were not exaggerating about these cats, apparently.

One of his eyebrows raised a bit as he was called through a name he had never heard before, for a second wondering if this was yet another of the ways wild cats called outsiders like himself, only to soon be corrected as the she-cat realized her mistake and her excitement seemed to die down almost immediately.

“I’m sorry to disappoint you. The name is Jester. And may I ask the same?” He said in a polite and calm way. Unlike the wild she-cat, his fur stayed flat and his pose relaxed “My nose works fine. I did smell the scent marks. You don’t need to worry, I-m not here to cause trouble nor to try and take any territory, if that’s what you are wondering”.

His eyes scanned the area as they spoke, looking for more cats that could pose a threat. So far, his encounter with this specific she-cat had been rather pleasant…compared to his previous experiences. At least this time he wasn’t being insulted or attacked immediately after being spotted. That was a plus.

"Momma?"

A small voice called, and a moment later, a plumy tail hung down from a branch as a ginger-and-gray splashed muzzle peered down anxiously. Orange eyes widened as she caught sight of another unfamiliar pelt. Noticing the lack of bushed up fur and unsheathed claws, she stayed rooted to her branch. "Don't you dare touch a hair on my mother's pelt-- or you'll feel my claws!" She threatened, narrowing her eyes. While friendly, she was fiercely protective of her mother.

"Mudpaw, dear, calm down. I'm fine. Breezebranch. What are you here for then?" the molly asked, sitting down and calmly watching him through narrow eyes.

Jester’s ears perked up as his eyes followed their directions to the source of the second, younger voice. His eyes landed on the younger she-cat, one of his ears flicking as the few pieces of the puzzle he had before him slowly fell into place within his head.

So…a mother and her kit. While he doubted this was why the she-cat was as calm, this meant good and bad news for him. He doubted the she-cat would attempt anything that could put her kit at risk, even if he didn’t attempt any attack, she would be careful enough to not take risks. But at the same time, this would make her easier to accidentally tick off if he wasn’t careful, risking not only an attack from her, but a double-hit from both her and her daughter.

He was walking on thin ice, and he was aware.

The similar prefix the name he had been called with due to confusion at first and the prefix of the young she-cat didn’t escape his notice as well, but he kept his muzzle shut for now regarding the subject. He had to test the waters before daring to ask any questions that could even graze the personal area.

His attention returned to Breezebranch as she spoke, mimicking her actions and sitting down in an attempt to have a less tense conversation. His ears, however, kept moving and twitching with the smallest noises, trying to not get ambushed should any other wild cats approached their location “Food and curiosity, pick one or accept both. Food is scarce as is from where I came from, and this chilly season is forcing me and others to venture into wild cat territories to hunt. Curiosity as many rumors and tales flutter all over the place about your kind, but few to no real facts are known…” As always, not a lie at all, but neither a full truth. Just as he didn’t expect Breezebranch to trust him from the get-go, he wasn’t about to reveal his own motives and secrets to her just yet.