[[emergency]]xx

[j a y d e . &]

i think we have an emergency, i think we have an emergency

A sleek darkness engulfed the rugged walls of the Stone Caverns. Only a slip of light cut through the velvet, bouncing against a gray wall of the cave. A delicate white forepaw was the only thing visible from the form of a feline. It was smashed lightly against the wall, running over grooves again and again. The forepaw drew back into the darkness, and two mismatched eyes opened up into the gloom. Silently, a pink tongue swiped over a snowy muzzle. Duchess stepped into the thin slat of moonlight, tail plumed out high over her head, chin raised. She looked over to the wall with a hint of desperation.

What kind of history do you have, cheri murs? What do these clawmarks and scores have to do with the history of these mountains?

Duchess stretched out in the light, claws scoring against the ground. She blinked, two pools of blue and green resurfacing in the inky darkness.

Has my dear mere touched these walls?

She sighed, looking out into the starry darkness above.

if you though i'd leave then you were wrong, cause i won't stop holding on


[[cheri murs = dear walls;; mere = mother]]

[[don't]fear[the]reaper]

[[-tempted to reply with Demon-]]

[j a y d e . &]

[[-waves off- be tempted, dizzy. =] it's an open thread.]]

[[don't]fear[the]reaper]

[[-shoots jaida- just for kicks =E]

An orange tabby shape stole into the cool cavern, green eyes reflecting the moon's gleam in an eerie fashion. A breeze, strong and chilly, blew into her short pelt, spiking it upwards. With a look behind her, she called out to her compainion.
"Red? Shift yerself, weather's gonna turn dam.n awful soon 'nuff. " Demon grinned backwards at her mate before facing forward. 'Nother cat's in 'ere? Pft. Prob'ly some frisky li'll thing tryin' t'get some'n t'lie wid 'em. Still, Demon was never quite sure of things...
"'Lo there, girlie. What brings you 'ere, huh?"

[j a y d e . &]

Duchess jumped back in surprise when a voice rang out. It was loud and sharp, with a distinctive country twang to it. She sprung off of her haunches, white fur along her spine bristling.

Grandes Etoiles! Pourquoi vous n'agissez pas furtivement en haut sur moi?!

After realizing the orange cat wouldn't understand her, she blushed under her fur. Lowering her face, she spoke again.

Sorry. You just startled me. I don't know why I'm here. I just am.

Duchess shrugged, blinking her mismatched eyes. You? She was rather curious about the ginger tabby. What paths had she walked in her lifetime? Who was she? Who was Red?

ooc- translation -- Great Stars! Why don't you sneak up on me?!

[[don't]fear[the]reaper]

[[You're using an online French translator, aren't you? _damn.]]

Demon's eyes narrowed at the stranger's foreign outburst, then reopened to their normal width. Shrugging nonchalantly, the orange tabby spoke in her slang-strained voice. Psh. She's a lady, alrigh'. Better use m'manners, I guess.
"Jes' anuther cat. S'ry t's'prise ya like that, ma'am. Weather's turnin' orn'ry out there, an' me'n'm'friend, Red, came in 'ere t'get safe fr'm it."
She smiled, showing her white fangs as she did so. "Name's Demon. What's yer's?"

[j a y d e . &]

Duchess nodded slowly, settling into a sitting position, plumy tail wrapping over her dainty forepaws. She tilted her head for a moment, before opening her narrow maw to answer.

My name's Duchess. Nice to meet you, Demon.

She smiled tentatively, glancing over the female's pelt. Demon looked about the same age as her, but a tad older. Duchess glanced outside as the first thick snowflakes began to fall.

I may not look it, but I'm Clanborn. The white femme burst out suddenly. She ducked her head before continuing. Perhaps you knew my parents?

Duchess tilted her head slightly, staring the ginger tabby. They shared one of the same eyes. A soft-yet-hard green, yet Demon had two of the same color. I wonder... She thought, blinking as a gust of air brushed inside the cavern.

[angels.to.demons]

"Don't order me 'round, Dem. Ya may be ma woman, but that don't mean yer ma masta," grumbled the big ginger tabby tom as he slid into the Stone Caverns, shaking off the rainwater that had sprinkled him previously. He knew the territory he was in had been his birthplace, and for that he was uneasy, made even more so by the fancy-speaking female whom was conversing with his rough-tongued mate.

He pierced the mismatching eyed she-cat before he prodded, "I'm Redblood. Kinda harsh name, so Dem here calls me Red. 'Scuse our native tongue, Missy, we inherited it from our parents'n'relatives that we was around when we was jes a couple a kids. Ya talks real fancy -- kinda pretty in a way." Appreciatively, he bowed his head, then looked questionably at Demon and heard Duchess's question.

"Well, if'n yer folks was MountainClanners, more'n'likely we knew 'em," he offered, then continued, "We're both Mountain-blooded."

[[don't]fear[the]reaper]

Demon scowled at Redblood's last statement. "Hardly, Red. Yer ma was Mountain through'n'through, an' yer da was a bit o'ever'thin', but my ma weren't, an' my Mountain-blood's more thin'n yer's." The scowl was a teasing one, though, and it quickly lifted.

"My ma was Twilightsong; dad's name were Furyscar. Nev'r liked th' long names, so I called 'em Twilight an' Fury. Red's were Flowerpet'l an' Crims'nlight; he were called Doomgus' 'fore that, though..." Demon's green eyes were mere slits as she tried to focus on names and lineages long since forgotten out of sheer carelessness. "What're yer's called? Mayhaps we knew 'em?"

[j a y d e . &]

Duchess stared at them both, taking it all in. Mates, Redblood and Demon. Nice names. She thought with a hint of sarcasm, yet Demon and Red had a nice ring to it. Umm.. Duchess blinked and thought for a moment, a puzzled looked crossing her face. Maybe it was Scarlet and.. Blood. No, not that. They had two part names like I used to. Scarlet something and... Cursedblood, I think, Yepp. She nodded softly, flicking her tail. Cursedblood I remember the most. He was mentor to my cousin, Soulpaw. Her and her brother's - Duchess stopped suddenly, eyes widening slightly. Parents were named... She trailed off, looking Demon in the eye. What were those names you just said?

[/center]

[[don't]fear[the]reaper]

Demon snorted, incredulous. "Cursedblood? That ole fella was m'dear ol' n'uncle. Ne'er really liked 'im; he allus was short-temp'r'd an' mean after Scarlet died. 'Sides, he an' m'ma never talked; they hated each oth'r. Dunno why." She shrugged, as if to emphasize her point.

"Crims'nligh' an' Flow'rpet'l. Soulpaw was Red's old'r sis. Died when th' Clans c'lapsed. Pore thing; she were a sweet'eart, she were." The last sentence was said quietly, in a voice that hardly seemed to be her own. Demon, for all her tough exterior, didn't like to see unnecessary harm come to innocents.

Go figure.

[//The/Pendulum/Swings//]

Fadingsteps slipped into the shadows of the cavern, bristling against the wind that was moving the trees behind him. Shaking the rain from his pelt, he looked towards the group, stepping into the moonlight illuminating the three cats. Hello ladies, Gentleman. He spoke softly to the group, cautious in front of these older, possibly hostile cats he'd never met before. My name is Fadingsteps. My parents were of Valleyclan. I hope you don't mind if I take shelter here. The storm's getting rough out there.

[angels.to.demons]

Redblood turned to the newcomer, his head tilting. He could see the small outform the the illumination of a strike of lighting outside, and shook his head, turning to face him. He towered over the kit in size, but his eyes weren't as fearsome as his height. "'Ey, young'un, we don't own this cave. Use it as ya like; we ain't gonna hurt ya none. Ma name's Red..." he hesitated, realizing how fearsome his name sounded. He didn't like it anymore. He used to prize his gory name, but now it made him uncertain of what he believed in.

Turning back to Fadingsteps, he finished, "Er.. why don'tcha jes call me Red."

[[don't]fear[the]reaper]

[[Uh-oh. -cowers-]]

Demon turned her head to view the newcomer. He was a polite, grey tabby tom, with green eyes that mirrored his courteous manner. The orange tabby instantly felt a sense of animosity towards him.
"'Fadingsteps'? What kinda name's 'at, kid?" She said in a rough voice. "Fadin', ya don't gotta be all p'lite wid us; we ain't them prissy-pawed clan types'd scorn y'all fer th' wrong word an' a misplaced pawstep, ya know." She locked eyes with him. If anything irritated Demon, it was an overly-polite Clancat.

[angels.to.demons]

Redblood felt Demon's hostility, and he gulped nervously, turning back to Fadingsteps. He stepped between them, knowing the beastiality of his spouse could engulf the little tom in an instant. Nervously, he chastised, "Dem, no need t'frighten t'little kid. 'E don't need ta be scarred fer life." He flicked his tail against her side to calm her, knowing how dangerous she was in her rages.