POIZUUN [Owlstar Audition]

[Rolo]

((When replying to this post:
- Please show Owlstar's thought processes clearly.
- Reply as you normally would. We're not expecting a novel. Balance quantity with quality.
- Remember, character is more important than setting or description.
- Reply to every cat that speaks (or at least acknowledge their presence if Owlstar is going to ignore them). ))


After many moons of being constantly on the move, finally Slatewhisker could see an opportunity to settle down. His step decidedly springy, he dashed back towards Owlstar and her followers, his whiskers twitching with excitement. Spotting the group leader, he ran straight towards her and only drew to a halt when he was about a fox length away. Breath quickened, he dipped his head to the former Fogclan leader.

“Owlstar, as requested I have scouted the territory ahead.” He said respectfully, barely able to contain himself, “I have good news. The surroundings ahead are a lot more hospitable than the stuff we've been travelling through. There's the trace scent of a few twolegs here and there, but it's old, and there seem to be no sign of badgers or foxes...” He realised he was rambling and shook his head, “But you don't want to know about that! There's a building there, an old barn of some sort, which smells of foreign cats. I went in to check it out and a rogue told me we were welcome to stay there for a while, because no cat gives a rat tail who lives beside them in there. There are quite a few loners in there, but it's safe, warm and full of mice. We could easily settle down there for a while... or in some of the fields around it, if you think that wiser.”

Slatewhisker felt so dreadfully important, delivering what was perhaps the best news Owlstar had heard for moons. Since their unceremonious kicking out, the group of them had wandered the clan territories looking for somewhere to stay. They had pleaded Cloudstar, one of Owlstar's supposed allies, for shelter during the harsh winter, and Cloudstar had agreed initially, only to go back on his word when the prey got short and Miststar, true to form, suggested they were not to be trusted. On to the twoleg place, where they had wandered the streets for some moons, wondering if there might be a territory to claim beyond all those buildings and twoleg structures. They suffered badly here, their diets made up of what could only be described as strange crowfood rather than fresh-kill, and they'd all decided to turn back rather than get ill from their poor menu or get run over by a monster. They'd stayed on the fringes of the clan land for a bit then, not wishing to leave their true home behind completely, but they'd been driven away by the lack of prey and abundance of predators. With luck, the Ranch would be the sanctuary they all desperately needed, if it was only a brief stop to recharge for a while.

Behind him, a young cat had obviously been listening intently to what he had said. Before he knew it, a flash of silver went past the corner of his eyes, and an apprentice appeared beside him. Mistypaw. Of all the cats to overhear, the most excitable and liberal-jawed cat in their group had heard of his latest discovery.

“A barn! With mice! Yay! I thought we'd be moving around forever! Can we please go there, Owlstar?” She bounced around with such excitement, any stranger would believe her a kit, not an older apprentice, “We can chase those dirty loners out of there and take it for ourselves! For once we'll have something to shelter under. We won't get rained on any more! We'll be full-bellied! And not because we've eaten that yucky crowfood from those silver things! Please, Owlstar! Let's go live there.”

[Poizuun]

owlstar

The journey was merciless on the last of her cats, the only ones who followed her and were loyal to her. They made it seemingly with mere willpower (and the good sense not to refuse certain types of crow food). Traveling was especially hard, though, on Owlstar. The she-cat was tired and hungry; her fur was obviously more ragged than it had ever been while in FogClan, and her skin sagged gently in places where it should have been taut over fat and muscle. She hadn't eaten properly since they left, leaving most food for the warriors and apprentices who bravely accompanied her. They only had one life to live, after all; going hungry was not such a sacrifice for a leader with multiple lives. The thought produced a humorless smirk as the she-cat sat with her back to her fellow banished Clanmates. Her head and neck hunched slightly, Owlstar sat with her ears back, whiskers and tail twitching as the thought. Owlstar constantly searched for a solution. She was exhausted, but could not sleep unless she had answers to all of the questions about their living arrangements. There were never answers, however, and so Owlstar continued without sleep. She knew her cats deserved more from her; she knew that unrelenting loyalty and faith was a high price to pay for a careless leader. It was not safe among the two-legs. Their paths and monsters were dangerous, not to mention the appalling crow food the cats were forced to eat in lieu of prey.

Her eyelids had just begun to droop when a voice broke through the haze of half-sleep and caused her to sit up straight, shoulders prickling a bit in cranky aggravation. Owlstar slowly turned to face the speaker and was glad to see her scout, Slatewhisker, return unharmed (albeit over-excited and nearly shaking with energy). Her ear flicked occasionally sideways as she listened; it was the only real sign of her impatience and agitation. She was about to tell him to get on with it when he checked himself and got to the point. Owlstar’s exhausted mind tried to keep up as Slatewhisker rambled, but when he spoke of the place that housed the rogues she practically forgot all fatigue. Her golden eyes glittered with a luster they hadn't seen in weeks. Again she opened her mouth to speak, but it was Mistypaw who interrupted this time (being outrageous, as usual). Finally, Owlstar’s temper became the best of her and she snapped at the apprentice, her tail lashing. ”We are not driving them out of their home!” She growled sharply, giving the she-cat a good, hard stare. ”They’re better off than we are. They have a set territory for themselves and obviously live well here, close to the two-legs. We have and know neither, but that doesn't give us permission to stoop to such a level.” She stood then upon her strong, wide paws.

”Thank you, Slatewhisker, for this important information.” She said, her voice now strong after her burst of anger. ”We will be moving in with the rogues and loners -- if they have room for us there. Otherwise, we can move into the fields Slatewhisker mentioned. There will be shelter there and food for all of us. But we will not be driving anyone from anywhere.” She made a point to look directly at Mistypaw, being sure that the apprentice knew she’d said the wrong thing. ”We are not going to do to them what Miststar did to us.” Owlstar took this moment to look over the various faces that looked to her now, feeling empowered by their trust and belief in her. She believed in them, too. She had to, or else she’d have no chance at her revenge.