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Post by Torn on Mar 17, 2008 13:33:01 GMT -8
Shell staggered into the barn with blood dripping from her wounds that covered most of her body. Even her paws were bleeding as she stumbled through the doorway and fell onto the sandy hay. Shell drifted in and out of conciousness for a few minutes, then managed to stay awake. She looked round groggily at the barn, then saw her mother smile at her. But one blink and she was gone. Shell moaned and wondered again where she had gone. She was probably dead now. Shell only felt guilty that she'd never tried to find her. She'd always been to scared to return to Twolegplace. Bile rose in her throat, filling her mouth. She coughed it up, along with much blood. Then her vision filled with red, then blinding white light. After many flashing colours... it all went black.
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Post by Silver on Mar 17, 2008 19:54:44 GMT -8
Alley peered into the gloomy barn. It seemed empty, beside the scuttle of prey. Alley cautiously padded into the silent barn. While wandering outside the forest, she had stumbled upon a field of wild wheat. Following her nose, she located the barn, filled with plump mice. At first, her hunger had made her want to bolt into the barn, to begin the hunt; now, fear made her stalk quietly through the piles of warm hay. Suddenly, the curling smell of blood stung her young, sensitive nose. A second later, her sharp eyes picked out the motionless figure. Alley felt her heart sink, her legs turn soft and watery. She fought the urge to flee, to run back home. But she fiercely shoved that aside, slowly approaching the figure. With the tip of her longest claw, she poked the bloody cat. It didn't move; but Alley noticed the shallow, almost non-existent rise and fall of the cat's chest. She was breathing, alive, but barely. Alley wanted to recoil, but she fought down the bile that rose in her throat. Her mother's lessons on how to survive in the wild bubbled to the surface of her mind. Poppy seed if your in pain; Spider webs to help stop bleeding; Catmint for greencough; Feverfew and Borage leaves for fevers and head pain; Horsetail for infected wounds; Garlic to keep out infection; watermint for bellyache; Honey for sore throats; Mousebile for ticks; Yarrow to expel poisens...Are you listening Alley? Abigail's voice echoed in her ears as she picked out the necessities. Cobwebs and poppy seeds for sure... maybe some horsetail. Alley went in search of these, hoping it was not too late * * * Alley sat beside the bleeding cat, which she had identified as female. Gently pressing the cobwebs she had found outside and around the barn to her wounds, the bleeding slowed. It never stopped completely, but it was much better than before. Alley had washed the worst of the blood away. All that remained were a few patches of dried blood sticking to the fur. Alley had also gathered a few other herbs, just in case, while she waited for the she-cat to awaken. Alley felt awkward taking care of an elder cat. She had also done simple things like get rick of her brother's tick, or treat Erica's infected scratches, but never an older cat, and definitely not in such poor shape. She vainly hoped her efforts had not been wasted. Hunger reminded her of what she had come for, and began to hunt, keeping an eye on her sleeping patient.
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Post by Torn on Mar 18, 2008 0:23:48 GMT -8
The first thing Shell noticed after she awoke again is most of the bleeding had stopped. Strange.... Sticky wads of cobwebs lay plastered against her, while her fur stuck up in spiky tufts. Blood stained her fur all over, while she could make out faded red ground underneath her. Her line of vision was fairly limited and she could only just make out the beams of the barn towering up and the bales of hay that were piled against the walls.
But then her whole world spun and she dimly felt her head slap against the ground again. Faintly, she could still see, and the injured feline observed a few small black spots at her paws. Poppy seeds... she thought and feebly moved her head forward to lap up the seeds. All her thoughts were jumbled up and confused, but after a few minutes of gazing round with blurry eyes, they cleared and she thought straight. First, who'd given her the seeds? And stopped her bleeding... Gathering all her strength, she pulled herself up into a position where she could see clearly. Her gaze scanned the barn for a while, then rested on a cat that was poised in a hunting crouch. Shell didn't recognise her... but she didn't seem agressive and she'd helped her, so she couldn't be too bad. But when she opened her sound, only a small squeak came out. She shut it quickly and lowered her head, she couldn't even talk...
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Post by Silver on Mar 18, 2008 12:38:57 GMT -8
Alley was too distracting by her prey to notice her patient awaken. She leaped at the mouse, by was thrown off by an almost inaudible squeak. She landed awkwardly, and the mouse tried to escape. However, it was too stupid and ran straight toward Alley, who caught it quickly. She whirled around for the source of the sound, but nothing had moved much. No one else was in the barn beside the sleeping she-cat... or was she? Alley picked up her mouse and padded over to her patient. The poppy seeds had been lapped up; it seemed as if the she-cat had shifted positions. She carefully set down her mouse and began to peel away the bloody cobwebs. She grabbed some of her leftovers, and pressed them to the wounds that still oozed the sticky red stuff. The rise and fall of the loner's chest was much stronger than when Alley had found her. "Are you awake? Can you speak?" she asked softly. She settled herself beside her prey, watching the other cat curiously.
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Post by Torn on Mar 18, 2008 13:47:48 GMT -8
Shell watched guiltily as her squeak threw the other she-cats concentration. But the smiled returned to her face as she watched her catch it. She saw the cat look round at her, and smiled, but she didn't spot it. The cat padded over and asked a few questions. Shell nodded and croaked "Just..." her eyes glazed over with pain for a few seconds as she shifted her leg, where one of her wounds were. She left it still, then flopped her head down and lay still. She was exhausted... her eyes closed and she dozed for a bit until she'd finished her hunt.
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Post by Silver on Mar 18, 2008 15:13:49 GMT -8
Alley nodded, and gently pushed her catch toward the she-cat. She turned, and when hunting once again. She caught two other mice; both were incredibly stupid in Alley's opnion. Guess they're not used to being hunted, she thought, settling beside the other cat. "Can you tell me your name?" she asked, setting her prey aside. She took a moment to actually look at her patient. She had greenish amber eyes, and a mix of balck and brown tabby stripes, not unlike Alley herself. Her ear tips were black, and a long tail. Alley watched her patient with intrest.
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Post by Torn on Mar 18, 2008 23:50:02 GMT -8
Shell heard her coming over and opened her eyes, then smiled at her and took a grateful bite of the mouse, then raised her gaze to look at the other loner. They looked fairly similar, then the other cat spoke. Shell opened her mouth and tried to speak, but it was hoarse. She gulped, then tried again. "I'm Shell, whats your name?" she mewed, but her voice was just a whisper. Lowering her head, she took another few bites of the mouse then looked up. "So, was it you that helped me?" she asked, then turned to lick her spiky and stained fur. She grimaced at the taste of her fur, but she carried on licking. She needed to get the bad thoughts away...
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Post by Silver on Mar 23, 2008 19:35:39 GMT -8
Alley had to lean closer to hear the loner, but replied, "Im Alley, and I helped you because my mother taught me I should always help others; even if there strangers or enimies," she mewed, not much louder than the she-cat who had started washing herself. It was the first time since she had left that the memory of her mother stung her so. She suddenly longed to curl up and sleep, to awake with Match and Mouse and Erica and Aspen and Wally all sleeping beside her while her parents were asleep together close by. To distract herself, her gaze traveled around the empty building. "Do you know what this place is?" she whispered.
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Post by Torn on Mar 27, 2008 3:56:31 GMT -8
Shell nodded, then looked round the barn and meowed slightly louder; she was getting her strength back. "I've been here a few times... its a place where a few loners, like me, come and rest. Theres lots of mice to eat. Its just a nice place to talk and rest. Some just stay the night, like me usually, but some stay longer. There are a few cats who sleep here permenantly." She shifted around a bit, and groaned. It was still painful, despite her healing. Shell looked at Alley and smiled gratefully at her. "Thanks for helping me, it was really nice of you. I... I don't know stuff like that." the tabby female mewed, then looked at her paws.
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Post by Silver on Mar 28, 2008 15:59:38 GMT -8
"I guess my mom knew we weren't going to be around her forever, so she taught us how to survive..." She went silent, her eyes stinging with impossible tears.(cats can't cry can they?) Then her thoughts snapped back to something else the she-cat had said. "There are other cats here? I don't see anyone," she mewed, a bit of panic pricking her fur. She lifted her nose, and sure enough, a strong scent of cats filled her senses. Some scents were barely reconizabel, while others stung her nose strongly, fresh. But looking around, she still saw no one. Were they sleeping among the hay, hidden? Had they noticed her, or the bloody tabby? If so, why hadn't they helped? Alley gulped, then asked, "Do you think you need anything, Shell?" the name fit on her tounge somehow. Alley's paws tingled, urging her to hurry out, and never come back.
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Post by Torn on Apr 5, 2008 12:25:51 GMT -8
Shell picked up slight scent of fear coming from Alley and frowned. "What's the matter? And yeah... no ones here at the moment I think, all out doing exciting stuff like washing themselves." Her voice was sarcastic as she ended, but she was still smiling at the other she-cat. Shell looked round at all of her fur, but she didn't see anywhere that Alley hadn't put any cobwebs on. Really, all she needed was a rest. "And no thanks, I think I'll just go to sleep over there." She flicked her bitten tail towards a big pile of hay, then struggled up and limped over, then collapsed onto the thick bed. The tabby she-cat then started to poke it into a nest then lay her head down, her amber gaze travelling up to Alley slightly questioningly.
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Post by Silver on Apr 5, 2008 12:49:43 GMT -8
Alley left herself relax. and smiled at Shell's joke. "If you don't need anything, I think I'll explore a bit. I've never been here," she meowed, and left her to sleep. She circled the barn twice, first outside, then inside. She repeated that, trying to memorize it. This place may become her new home, at least until she found Match again. She was about to settle down, maybe have a nap, when a thought struck her. She turned, and bounded out into the wheat feild that grew wildly outside. Her curiosity made her search every inch of ground, every stalk of wheat. Where were the other cats Shell had said lived there? She could smell then, but couldn't see them. It unnerved her a bit, but she wondered around anyways. Finally, tired and disapointed, she headed back to the barn, and curled up to sleep.
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Post by Torn on Apr 6, 2008 7:22:02 GMT -8
Shell watched Alley with one open eye as she explored, curiosity about the other cat making her want to stay awake. But soon sleep overwhelmed her, and she began to dream peacefully about a hedgehog who turned into a badger and started eating a rather rude tom she'd met a few days ago. A smile flickered across the sleeping tabby's face. A rustling beside her woke her from her dream, just at the part when the hedgehog was preparing to start eating the tom, Bobby, his name was. An amber optic focused sleepily on where Alley was sleeping. She smiled to herself, then rolled on her back and went to sleep, hoping the dream about the hedgehog would come back. A ray of sunlight beamed through a window high up in the barn, and when Shell awoke again she realised she'd slept a long time; it was well past dawn. Her belly rumbled, so she stood up to go and get some prey. But she toppled over again, her leg throbbing. She hissed quietly to herself, then watched around the barn for any sign of easy breakfast.
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Post by Silver on Apr 6, 2008 14:58:42 GMT -8
"Come on, Alley!" Mouse meowed. Alley focused all her attention on the soft grey pelt ahead of her, determined to beat him. She tore forward, her muscles burning. "Woah, Alley!" Aspen purred as she bolted past him, but she hardly noticed. She was far to focused on the small figure that she was quickly catching up to. Closer...closer... GAK!! She jumped, barely avoiding the large brush that had popped up in front of her. She could feel her fur brushing it, warning her to be more attentive. She was landing... falling... "MOUSE!" she shrieked, but it was too late. She tumbled right into her little brother, rolling in the dirt. Dazed, she pulled herself up, just to be thrown back down. "Hey!" she yowled. Mouse sneered atop her, and meowed triumphantly, "That's what you get for crashing into me!" Alley glared up at him. "Well, I'm surprised I even hit someone as small as you!" she hissed, struggling up. It was true; Mouse was a runt. "Hey! Be nice to your brother!" Aspen purred, and leaped upon Mouse, who was atop of Alley. Mouse let out a squeak. "I have too many brothers to be nice!!" she huffed, totally out of breath. "I'm offended! How could you have a cat pile without me?" a new voice called out. Alley barely managed to turn her head to see Match, right before he jumped on Aspen. Now they were just a large mass of wriggling, squealing kittens. "Mom! Dad! Come see what everyone is doing to Alley!!" Alley silently thanked anyone who would listen. Mom and Dad came padding over, Erica at their heels. "Get off your sister, boys!" her mom cried. It felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off her. She coughed, grateful of the air that filled her lungs. "You guys could have killed me!" she squeaked, puffing. But she couldn't help purr along with her siblings. It was fun, playing with her brothers, despite the pain it sometimes caused her. Her eyes narrowed at Erica. "Thank you, Erica. But we can't let you get away yet!" and she launched herself at her sister, her brothers following suit. "Kids!" her father yelled, and they all tumbled off, purring happily...
Alley knew she was awake, but refused to open her eyes. If she could just go back to sleep. She was drifting, watching the happy family scene below her. she floated lower, lower... She was so close, when she heard a soft sobbing. She looked around, confused. Everyone seemed so happy. Where was that sound coming from? She was shocked when she realized that the sobbing noise came from her. She snapped her eyes open, her breathing ragged. She looked around, hoping no one had heard or seen her. She picked herself up, looking around for Shell. She noticed the cat was staring at a mouse hungrily, and realized she was hungry too. She slunk around through the barn, her mind else where. She launched upon mouse after mouse, keeping her mind busy. She picked up two mice and padded over to Shell. "Here," she mumbled, dropping them. "I don't think you're well enough to hunt yourself yet," she mumbled, grabbing the shrew she had caught for herself. She munched on it, crunching away unconsciously. She watched Shell, making sure nothing was still bleeding. "Are you in much pain? I could go find some more poppy seed," she grumbled through a mouthful. Even though she had slept almost a full day, she was exhausted. I miss you guys... she thought, hoping her family could hear her somehow
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Post by Torn on Apr 6, 2008 23:31:24 GMT -8
Shell looked up at Alley and smiled, then lowered her head to take a mouthful of one of the mice Alley'd got for her. It tasted warm and fresh and filled her with energy. Shell felt as though she could get up and hunt herself. But a quick test of her leg proved she couldn't even walk. Alley looked upset... whispering things to herself. But Shell didn't ask, she knew what it was like. "I feel fine... it just hurts when I move my leg." She touched one hind leg with her nose then shook her head to get rid of the dust in the barn. "But that'll heal soon. Hopefully..." she lowered her head, wondering what would happen if her leg didn't heal. Alley had hunted for her today, but Shell couldn't expect her to stick around forever. It will get better, it as to. She thought detireminedly, and looked hard at Alley, wondering what was going through the other she-cat's mind. But she was no medicine cat, she couldn't tell.
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