"Prepare Yourself"

[Juniper]

Pride

Catalyst padded over the sandy ground. He had begun to see signs of habitation the day before, and the plump mouse between his teeth showed that he was adequately prepared. Somehow. His slightly large ears were pitched forward, straining forward for signs of actual life, as he was regrettably growing weary. Catalyst paused. There had been a rustle to his left. He gently set down the mouse as though it were a kit.

If this is your territory, then I have brought the appropriate gift of passage. He gestured to the mouse. If not... Catalyst struck a solid fighting pose, braced but fluid in movement. ...then prepare yourself!

In the blood legacy
Prepare yourself

[Kestrel]

You'll never ^take _me alive

A she-cat stepped from the brush, her mismatched eyes sparkling with amusement. The wind that caught her white and gray-patched fur ruffled it in an odd way, almost like the feathers of a bird...like the feathers of her namesake, the swift and fierce kestrel.

Kestrel stood with one delicate white paw raised, the claws sliding partway out; there was no hostility on her pretty, composed face, and her stance was relaxed, but the claws were a silent warning.

"What exactly is your intention, cat?" Kestrel's clear voice rang out, her words touched with the slightest of humor. This cat seemed quite interesting.

^I'm alive

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[Juniper]

Pride

I have no specific purpose, answered Catalyst calmly. He did not like the she-cat's apparent amusement at his willingness to defend himself. But he concede to himself that it was not unwarrented. He was, regrettably, rather young. But I would pleased if you could grant me a small bit of food, and a place to stay; I could work to pay you. And the gift of passage. Catalyst nudged the mouse towards the other cat. his voice was queit and even. He was in no hurry.

In the blood legacy
Prepare yourself

[Kestrel]

You'll never ^take _me alive

If this tom thought Kestrel was amused at his willingness to defend himself, he had misjudged her. No, her only amusement came from the young tom's manner, which was...well, needless to say, strange for a cat his age.

In her time as leader of RisingClan, Kestrel had grown to become quite an excellent judge of character. There was something in his eyes just then that she could not quite identify, but understood on some small level.

Out loud, she said -though her voice was softer and lower-, "I judge no cat by the moons they have lived; only through their fighting ability and their integrity." The words seemed random, but Kestrel had spoken them only because they were related to that thing she had seen in his eyes before; possibly she thought his amusement was directed at his age. Or not; she could be wrong. Either way, it was the same.
Now, in her regular clear voice, she meowed, "Can you fight, newcomer?" Her voice was even; there was no hostility, only curiosity. If he could not -though she was sure he could, that fighting pose was one that very few unlearned cats could strike to natrually- then he could learn. Simplicity.


^I'm alive

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[Juniper]

Pride

I can fight, said Catalyst. A great purpose of mine is to be able to defend my family, my blood, by tooth and claw if need be. But that is gone now. For the first time, the slightest hint of bitterness. But it quickly disappeared. And thank you for not veiling your judgement by my age. He bowed lowed, fittingly honoring a lady of some obvious stature.

In the blood legacy
Prepare yourself

[Kestrel]

You'll never ^take _me alive

Kestrel also nodded her head, this gesture meant as a show of respect to a cat of lesser rank; just because a cat did not have your power never means you can act how you want toward them. Though young, this tom was well-spoken; his words had earned him Kestrel's respect.

"You may stay, as a full RisingClanner, if you wish. I ask only that you aid us in our war with Bane and his murderous warriors," she said, a bit solemnly but with quiet authority.

^I'm alive

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[Juniper]

Pride

RisingClanner. Catalyst liked the sound of that. But he did not like the sound of this "Bane" character. Murderous warriors... Catalyst would not stand for something threatening his new home. He stood proudly and gave his reply: I would be honored to stay and fight with you.

In the blood legacy
Prepare yourself

[Kestrel]

You'll never ^take _me alive

Now Kestrel gave one of her rare smiles, reflecting briefly on how most cats she spoke to seemed to know she was a leader, whether she said so or not. Did she have an air around her? She couldn't be sure, but she figured she did.

Tapping him with her tail almost ceremoniously, she meowed,
"Then I, Kestrel, leader of RisingClan, welcome you as a full member of my Clan."

She did not always welcome a cat this way; some cats she chatted with like a normal warrior, and others she turned away -none for a long time, but there it is-. It was different every time.
But she suspected this young cat had grown up in a place of many traditions, and her official-sounding welcome was what she deemed fitting while speaking with such a cat.

^I'm alive

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[Juniper]

Pride

Catalyst bowed again. And it is my honor to be in your service. There was indeed no mistaking the air and the voice of a true leader. He straightened, and relaxed a minuscule fraction. I am Catalyst, son of Apocalypse VI. Someday I shall be Apocalypse VII. But I believe that it is for you to judge when, Lady Kestrel. He flashed a small smile that was equally as rare as hers.

In the blood legacy
Prepare yourself

[Kestrel]

|ooc| *points up* She told him her name ^^;

[Brighteye]

OOC: She did! Just pretend that last sentence isn't there...

[Juniper]

OOC: Fixed it. ^_^ Heh heh, he calls her Lady Kestrel.

[Kestrel]

You'll never ^take _me alive

Kestrel nodded her understanding. "I know little of your skill in battle as of yet, so I cannot say when you will recieve this name. I assume it is like the original Clan's warrior names; recieved only when all training has ended."
She wondered what society this tom had hailed from, and what rank one was at, once they bore the name of Apoclypse.

^I'm alive

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[Juniper]

OOC: Uh, hehe, I already posted in the battle. Oh well. *waves arms* This is all before battle....before the battle...

Pride

Catalyst nodded. In my family, I was to succeed my father as patriarch, but there were..... complications. His face briefly clouded. Now, my clan does not exist, but before that I was in intensive training in combat and codes of conduct because I was the most promising of my father's offspring. In my first stage of training, I was called Tempest. I studied, among many other things, a special attack exclusive to my bloodline, one of three. I had completed part of my second stage of training before the incident, and managed to master the second attack. As for the third... Here Catalyst hesitated. ...I have heard of it spoken in great detail, but have never learned it as it was supposed to be the last stage of my training. He sighed. It was beautiful, where I lived. A lot like this place. Like you could touch the setting sun.

In the blood legacy
Prepare yourself

[Kestrel]

You'll never ^take _me alive

Kestrel's sympathy was immediate and in earnest. She was, in truth, a very kind-hearted cat.
She touched his shoulder with her tail in a reassuring way, and for the first time in uncountable moons, her sharp eyes dulled, clouded. Her voice was a ghost, barely audible even to her own ears, when she first spoke: "At least you know where you came from."

Then it was gone; that brief moment of sadness and confusion and vulnerability, that lapse, was over almost as soon as it came. Kestrel's eyes sharpened and focused, full of a fierce leaping fire.
"I have traveled far and wide in my time on earth; farther than most twice my age. Maybe I have been past your homeland." She sighed faintly. "If I could help you complete your training, I would, but I lack what knowledge your mentors had. Maybe someday you will meet a cat who knows; one thing I have learned in my life is that nearly anything is possible."
She turned and dashed halfway up a hillside; in RisingClan, there were low hills everywhere. "Come on, then!" she called. "I will lead you to camp."

Kestrel was something of an enigma. She spoke often about travel, but never of her past. When she met a new cat, she rarely went right out and told them of her status among her Clan, yet most seemed to know somehow. She seemed calm, but it was an illusion. She spoke softly but fought like hell. She was pretty, but she was sharp and strong and passionate and sometimes even scary. She acted mature, carried an air of dignity and authority, and mostly recieved much respect though she was young. Everyone knew her; no one knew her.
But enigmatic or not, she would be remembered. She had done enough in her life for that.

^I'm alive

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[Juniper]

Pride

Catalyst dutifully bounded up behind Kestrel. At least you know where you came from... He was curious as to what that was supposed to mean, but he would most certainly not force the matter if her Ladyship did not wish to disclose the information. But in any case, it felt good to be part of a clan again. Part of a family.

In the blood legacy
Prepare yourself