Shadowstripe & Son

[whitewhisker]

Sun high, and there was a slight breeze rustling the dry wheat stalks of DuskClan border. There was only one shadow stalking the fields - Shadowstripe. He had no idea on whose borders he stood, he only hoped they were kind and fair.
A tiny bundle of white fluff hung from his mouth, its cracked pads looked rough and sore. Nettlekit was tired, hungry and aching and inwardly thanked his father for the ride. He too did not know where they were, or in fact why they were there.
A small cloud drifted across the sun, throwing the field into shadows. The two toms reached the middle of the field and sat down for a rest, the bundle of fluff was set down and immediately curled up next to his father, drawing comfort from his warmth and scent. Shadowstripe licked the small kit in between his ears before lying down on the floor with him.
'Why are we here Dad?' Nettlekit squeaked, licking himself slowly, trying to satisfy his hunger.
'Because we need a home' rasped Shadowstripe, 'and I cannot hunt enough to keep us both alive.' His voice was rough where he had not drunk for days and his belly growled louder than his voice.
Nettlekit looked up at his weary father with concern in his blue eyes. He nuzzled closer, purring comfort;
'We'll be okay Dad, StarClan are with us..'

Half an hour later, Nettlekit was once again dangling from his fathers mouth, and they were on their way. Crunching through the wheat stalks in no particular direction.

[Bloodstar]

Ah, but in Duskclan, they were far from kind and fair.

Every day Bloodstar trudged along the borders, keeping a close eye on the scent markers – he wouldn’t allow Treeclan and Stoneclan to believe Duskclan was growing weak. Every day Bloodstar padded solely along, letting his thoughts wander. Wasn’t that what all geniuses did?

A new scent reached him and he growled. It wasn’t familiar; definitely not a clan cat’s scent. With a sigh, Bloodstar trotted after the scent and came to a fluffy white thing dangling from a larger cat’s mouth. Well, well, well.

“What business have you here?” he asked the larger tom, his bloodred eyes narrow. Surprise, surprise, Bloodstar wasn’t exactly in the mood for long, drawn out backstories; he stood in front of the pair, waiting for an answer.

[whitewhisker]

Shadowstripe jumped at the sudden appearance of another cat and he was startled at how brisk and commanding his tone was. He took a few gentle paces backwards and deposited his son on the ground, out of earshot. He stepped up towards the tom-cat in front of him, and held his gaze steadily, though his eyes were strong, his shaky legs gave away the poor condition he was in.
'Greetings, my name is Shadowstripe and that -' he flicked his tail at the small white blob on the floor, 'is my son, Nettlekit. He seeks a home. A strong one. I know he is still young but he is weaned and once his strength comes back to him and he has learned your ways, he will be a fine hunter, I'm sure of it.' Shadowstripe looked back at the kit with a sadness in his eyes that seemed to darken them, make them hollow and dead-looking.
'Please, I do not ask for a home for myself. I would be of little use to you. I came to bring the boy here and leave him in the safe place I have been unable to offer him. Nothing more.' He sat down among the wheat stalks, his unsteady legs finally giving way beneath him.

He continued to watch the other cat, occasionally pawing the ground in a somewhat nervous fashion, willing to give up his only kit to ensure its safety.

[whitewhisker]

(OoC: I know you're all busy at this time of year but just to let you know, they're still looking for a home ^^)