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Post by Deleted on May 12, 2013 19:08:45 GMT
 The void of darkness that was the alleys had seemed to usher Ludwig forward, calling to him with a sweet serenade. The obscurity was oddly comforting to the snowshoe as he slunk through, enveloped in the cascading shadows. Sounds of skittering paws and screeches of predatory birds, followed by the echo of wings filled the twilight alleyways. Ludwig just slipped forward with serene silence, his paw-steps light and barely noticeable. He felt like a part of the blackout, and only his penetrating blue eyes shone bright amongst the gloom. Seeing a fellow feline stalking through the alleys, Ludwig rather noiselessly rolled out of sight.
Tumbling to his paws with impressive agility, the snowshoe tom's cold blue eyes fixed on a small mouse that seemed to be scuffling through a pile of garbage. A sigh escaped his muzzle, but he gave in slightly to the hollow feeling in his stomach. Ludwig dove toward the mouse, landing atop the small rodent and snapping its fragile neck beneath is powerful paws. The feline scooped up the mouse in his fangs before barely detecting paw-steps just beyond him. The mouse hanging limp and loosely from his jaws, Ludwig froze. "Hallo?" The tom barely muttered, tilting his head and tipping his ears to catch any reply. The words wouldn't be audible to anyone out of earshot. Normally he wouldn't acknowledge anyone else nearby, but whatever was out there seemed to have already noticed him, and might have even witnessed his kill in Iris Pride territory.
Yes, the tom was well aware that he was on Pride territory, and wasn't trying to intrude, but he probably was. Either way, he wasn't trying to pose a threat. Ludwig was merely bored and needed a quick stroll through the most comfortable part of the city, which to him was these alleys. |
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Post by Deleted on May 12, 2013 20:04:29 GMT
The young female had been bored all day, even doing her usual duties of hunting and patrolling, as well as spending time with the tribe. Now, she ached to get some rest. To be on her own away from the tribe for rest and relaxation. She loved Iris very deeply, it was the tribe she was born and raised in. She'd die for them, no doubt about it. But sometimes she needed a break. She could almost hear her father mocking her at that thought. "A break? You get no breaks in war, you fool!" She growled softly at his voice in her head, knowing that is exactly what he would say to her, if he were still alive that is. She snorted softly. "I am allowed breaks every now and again." She grumbled quietly, but stopped short when another sound reached her ears, as well as a foreign scent, below her, as she was on the rooftops.
Looking down, she noticed another cat stalking something through the alley. Her golden eyes tracked his line of sight and she saw a mouse. She crouched on the rooftop, peeking over the edge to stay out of view as best as she could while still keeping him in sight, and saw him make a swift kill. Her ears shot forward. He was fine hunter. But that was Iris prey, and she had to defend it. She saw the fire escape and quietly made her way down it toward the ground until she was able to safely jump to the ground, where she landed with a soft thud. Shaking out her dust colored fur, Marlee padded toward the other. The lynx could've walked with silence, but she wanted to make herself known, so she walked a little heavier than she normally would. She watched with satisfaction when she got his attention and came into view. She stood with her head high, tail risen as well, and ears forward. She walked with pride, like she was royalty. But her stance wasn't one that said she was a leader or any thing of the sort. But it did let the other know that she was confident.
"Hello, stranger." Her tone wasn't unfriendly, but wasn't exactly polite either. This tom was intruding, stealing prey even if he didn't realize it. She walked up and stopped two feet away, golden eyes scanning him automatically and committing his every feature to memory. Then scanned him again for possible weak points that would work to her advantage if a fight rose, which she hoped it wouldn't. Some called her weak for her refusal fight. She wasn't refusing to fight, she would throw herself into combat if it was necessary. However, if blood need not be shed, she would avoid it. "Do you realize where you are?" She asked softly, sitting down and keeping her eyes on him, refusing to miss a single one of his movements. He was smaller than her, half her size, maybe a little bigger than that. He'd be an easy opponent. She blinked, pushing the thoughts away, maintaining a calm posture and expression on her face. |
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Post by Deleted on May 12, 2013 20:55:12 GMT
Tilting his head to the side, Ludwig caught sight of the fellow feline. She was a lynx, and a very capable looking one at that. Her stance gave the message that she wasn't afraid of him, not that she should be. But it wasn't a look of arrogance, that he liked. Ludwig could barely stand the cocky ones. "Ja, I do, ma'am. Caught red-handed, I suppose. This belongs to sie." Ludwig's german accent stood out strikingly when his voice was at its average volume. The snowshoe tom dropped the mouse gently, then passed it over to the lynx with a humble paw. "Sehr lied, erm, 'so sorry' that I was hunting here. Very foolish of me to try getting away with prey from Iris Pride territory. If you'd like, I'll be on my way." The tom gave a polite dip of his head, courteous, but not submissive. His cold blue eyes hid any emotion that he might have been feeling.
What Ludwig really wanted was to join Iris Pride. He had been longing to for a while now. He was quite the worker, and could prove himself a valuable addition to the Pride. He hated having so much useless time on his paws. Ludwig liked the lynx, too. She was an interesting character, and he could see himself wanting to get to know her if he had been a member. A sudden pounding in his head brought him back to reality. Ludwig held back a grunt of pain. His head was starting up again, but for now he would ignore it.
[ Sorry it's so short. I lost it the first time I tried to post it. ;w; ] |
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Post by Deleted on May 12, 2013 21:20:12 GMT
Marlee watched him, relaxing a bit when he seemed to have no intention of starting a fight. Her muscles visibly relaxed under her kit-soft fur and her ears flicked forward further at his words, and his accent spiked her curiosity. "Or if you wish to be logical, it'd be red-pawed." She purred with amusement, trying to lighten the slight tension she was still feeling. But she shouldn't be joking with a trespasser, she should be sending him off. But she had to admit, she kind of liked this tom. He was interesting, and she wanted to know more about it. Though she would never admit, she also wanted to hear him speak again. His accent was fascinating to her. She blinked as he suddenly dropped the mouse and scooted it toward her. She lifted a paw, as if the act had offended her. But she wasn't. Marlee was merely surprised. She tilted her head slightly. "Iris prey or not, you have killed it. It is yours to consume." She said softly, picking the mouse up in her strong jaws delicately, and stepped forward before placing it on the ground in front of him.
She stepped back respectfully and watched him. "so stranger, what is your name?" She asked curiously. "My name is Marlee." She purred softly, proud of her name. To her, the name Marlee was strong, yet beautiful. As she continued to look at the male, one ear swiveling as she listened to her surroundings, yet kept her pretty golden eyes on the tom. It was then she noticed something, thanks to her great attention toward detail. "Are you hurt?" Ears swiveled toward him, concern in her eyes as she dared to take a few steps toward him. She stretched her nose forward slightly, her russet nose twitching as she sniffed curiously. "If you are hurt, I can help you." She offered, knowing of a plant whose leaves aided in driving away headaches. Her brother had shown her, but never told her how he had discovered it's usefulness. She never bothered to insist how he knew, because the plant worked without harm. |
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2013 13:37:13 GMT
With a surprised and rather curious tilt of his head, the snowshoe watched in slight awe as the mouse was placed back in front of him. "Danke, I wouldn't have expected this generosity from one whom I've just stolen from." He purred politely, a hint of a smile on his muzzle. "My name? I am Ludwig." Ludwig hoped he hadn't said his name in too much of an accent. Occasionally, people teased him for such. "Marlee. A nice name." Ludwig's hint of a smile grew slightly. Once again, however, he hoped he had pronounced Marlee's name right. His accent would get in the way of that as well. But he seemed to have said it perfectly. His head was making him dizzy now, and it was a bit more difficult to sit up straight, in the humble position he was holding.
"I'm not injured, ma'am. It's a chronic disease. It hits around two or three times a year, and it's starting now. Don't worry, though. I should be able to keep it in control." Ludwig hoped he hadn't scared her; sometimes others freaked out when he was experiencing the dangerous symptoms of his disease. It was all their right, however. The first time it had hit he had almost died, not knowing how to cope with it. "I'm afraid there are only herbs that will delay the symptoms a while. But if you really want to help, I could use some." This femme was definitely very kind in that he had just intruded on her territory. It was odd to find such a sweet feline. He had expected the lynx, when he had first seen her, to shrug him off her territory, either that or attack him. But maybe not; her regal appearance had certainly made her appear less barbaric than most, but no less dangerous of a foe. |
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2013 20:30:47 GMT
The young female watched him as he spoke. She was drawn to his accent like a moth to a flame. She realized, after a long moment, she was purring. Wanting to hear more of that marvelous voice. She was then snapped back to attention when he discussed the condition of his headache. "Come, Ludwig. I can show you where to find them so they may help." She said softly, though her tone gave no room for argument. She stood tall and decided she could trust him and gave him her back as she lead the way. Even if he was a two-faced feline, and she didn't want to toot her own horn, but she could no doubt probably take him down in a fight. She was twice his size, strength, and maybe ability. He wouldn't stand a chance. She kept her ears angled backward a little, listening. "The herb I am going to show you is called feverfew. It will help with the headaches." She explained as she reached a hole in a brick wall that led into an abandoned building.
Squeezing through, she shook her dusty pelt off on the other side and waited patiently for Ludwig on the other side before leading the way once more. She flicked her tail absently as she went to a small room. There was a crack in the floor, the sun peeking through a nearby window and falling on a plant with green leaves and white daisies. She carefully plucked a few leaves from the plant and gestured Ludwig over, putting the leaves on the ground. "Chewing the leaves and swallowing their juice will help your headaches." She nodded and stepped back so he could use the leaves. She tilted her head slightly. "So, besides hunting, what brought you into Iris territory?" She had to ask, curiosity was nipping at her tail. Her golden eyes watched him as she waited patiently for a response.
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2013 14:46:33 GMT
"Strong German Accent."
Ludwig struggled to keep from betraying his confused, and slightly surprised attitude. Though it wasn't rare for others to become curious with his accent, normally they would cower at how strong it was. This sort of reaction wasn't common. The snowshoe tom found himself smiling once more; he liked Marlee. Ludwig raised to his paws, struggling not to stumble as he followed the lynx. His paws felt heavy and clumsy, as if they were dragging him down. His eyes slightly betraying the pain of his pounding head, Ludwig staggered along, right behind the lynx, his earlier caught mouse dangling loosely from his jaws, as he didn't want to leave the fresh prey behind in case another predator were to steal it.
As the two entered the brick building, Ludwig felt himself growing hot. He hoped the symptoms would come less quickly than it seemed they would. As she stated the name of the herb, a bewildered look spread across his muzzle. "Feverfew?" Ludwig thought aloud. He hadn't heard of this herb before, and though he hadn't used many herbs in the past, he knew quite a few. "Is this a local herb?" He tilted his head at Marlee, not sure what to think. A thought had crossed his mind that she might have been making the herb up, but he mentally shook it away. The lynx had been so kind, she wouldn't try to poison him out of the blue. But he continued to stay cautious. Marlee had been oddly kind, especially since the two had just met.
As she dropped the feverfew before him, Ludwig sniffed the herb and his worries vanished. He recognized the scent as an herb, and though he hadn't known the name, he was familiar with the shape of the plant. He leaned down and nipped off a few leaves before chewing them calmly. The taste was bitter, but not necessarily bad. He swallowed the juice easily, and felt his headache ease almost instantly. He was about to thank her when she asked her next question. "The alleyways, I guess. They're strangely calming." Ludwig held off his original reply. He wanted to join, but what if Marlee didn't want loner blood in Iris Pride, or maybe he had lost his chance when he stole the prey.
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