What Have I Discovered? (Tribe Joining?) (Closed)

[Deleted]

((My intent was to join the tribe IC with this post, but I wouldn't mind company of any kind, so...))

So this is the world beyond...

This was River's first time out of the orchard, and she was amazed at just how different the plains were. She thought she had seen diversity within the orchard, but this...well...there were no words.

The feline padded through the plains, gazing at the sheer...blueness of the area. She sniffed at the ferns and flowers she came across, and something inside her mind told her they'd make good cover if she needed to hide. Hide from what? Well, she supposed she'd find out eventually.

A sweet scent caught her attention and she followed it to an area where the ground was dry and full of tiny hole leading underground. She sniffed at one, savoring the delicious scent. Was food in there?

Then another scent caught her attention - feline. Now that she was focused on it, she could smell it everywhere. The feline to which it belonged had been here - likely very recently. Perhaps she - River could tell it was female - was still around?

One way to find out.

"Hello?"

[Hazelstar]

The occult female had been watching her visitor from high atop one of the maple trees, letting the breeze of the plains waft through her thick silvery fur and draw the delicious scent of the sweet grasses and the prey to her. She leaped from her perch and stood calmly at the base of the tree, staring gently at the young aboriginal with her bright aqua eyes. "Greetings." She meowed, surprised at her own formal attitude towards this stranger. "This is the territory of The Plains Tribe, if you did not already know that. I ask that you state your business here." She meowed, her gaze become slightly edgy.

[Deleted]

It hadn't taken long for an answer. A feline - much larger than River herself - leapt from a tree and stared at her. River remembered the hiding places she had discovered, but the greeting the larger feline uttered told her she had no reason to hide. At least, no reason yet. A quick sniff told her this was the feline she had scented, the owner of this territory. It would be in her best interest to be polite, though that tended to be her default anyway when meeting someone new.

River dipped her head to the feline as she spoke. The Plains Tribe? Was that like a pack? Yes, now that she thought about it she knew that word. Tribe. A group of allied individuals not exactly like a tribe but usually willing to work together and help each other out like in most any other group she could think of. She remembered her conversation with Silva, and it occurred to her that it might be in her best interests t find a group to join. Maybe this one? Perhaps...but would it allow her freedom to explore? Was it even accepting members? One way to find out.

"My name's River, and I just came from the orchard. This is my first time out." Best to start with the truth, River reasoned. "I don't mean to trespass, and will leave if that's what you want, but I was wondering if you'd be willing to tell me about this tribe of yours?"

[Hazelstar]

Kayalee stood patiently, staring down at the black and white aboriginal feline as she dipped her head, then seemed to disappear into thoughts. "Your first time out? That must be exciting." Kayalee meowed. "My name is Kayalee, I would be delighted to tell you about my tribe." She took a deep breath of the sweet smelling air. "The Plains Tribe is a tribe bent on peace and family, we discriminate no one no matter their gender, appearance, or rank in our tribe." She meowed, a gleam in her eyes. "There are three main titles, warriors, they train for battling others if it is necessary, hunters, they are skilled in hunting, obviously, and scouts, the act as guards of the territory, they patrol borders, accompany hunters, and act as guards when warriors are out battling." She cut off suddenly. "I think I'm saying a bit to much, sorry if this is uninteresting to you." Kayalee meowed, looking warmly at the young aboriginal.

[Deleted]

She purred when the other feline responded. "It is. I never thought so many things could be so...different." Okay, not her smartest ever response, but too late now. Besides, the larger feline - Kayalee, she had said - seemed to have taken a liking to her. At least, she was telling her about the tribe. River sat and listened, noting how happy the other feline seemed when she started her explanation. Had she been wanting others to join her? Maybe the tribe was in need of members.

She pondered over the three titles the larger feline listed. She already knew she was at least decent at hunting, but the other two...well...for various reasons, they didn't seem to suit her. But she was getting ahead of herself. There was something else she needed to know.

River shook her head when Kayalee worried about the information being uninteresting. "Not at all, but I do have a question. Are tribe members confined to just the territory, or can they still explore other lands?"

[Hazelstar]

Kayalee shrugged, "Everything works in different ways, some just need to find the way that suits them over all the rest." She meowed, flicking get long, furry tail. She was glad to see that this feelin seemed to enjoy listening to her talk about her tribe, it was nice to talk about her tribe to others, even of they weren't interested in joining. Kayalee shook her head, "Of course they would not be confined to the territory." Kayalee meowed, then thought about it for a moment before adding. "But If said member is not seen in the territory for an extent of time, then we will have to assume said member has abandoned the tribe." She then had another quick thought, and again added. "I just want to find loyal members which I will be able to trust to stick by me and the rest of the tribe, and I cannot be certain a member who strays is really a loyal member."

[Deleted]

River nodded when Kayalee said that some need to find the way that suits them. She could certainly understand that, even as young as she was. She perked up when Kayalee said that tribe members could leave the territory. The larger feline added that they'd be assumed to have abandoned the tribe if they were gone too long, and River supposed she understood that. She nodded as her companion continued. "Of course. If you help them, you'll want to know that they'll help you." She stretched, her ears flicking. "If you're accepting new members, I want to join, but I also want a chance to explore and see what all's in this world. I do understand It'd be best to remain in or near the territory more often than not and return shortly when I do leave, but I'd be able to do that?"

[Hazelstar]

Kayalee nodded, "Helping one another, it's a win win situation it is." She meowed, her tail curling up happily. "You'd like to join?" Kayalee gasped, her aqua eyes opening wide in delight and shock. "Why, of... Of course you may join!" She almost, but not quite yowled. "Sorry, you are the first creature to show any real desire in being a real member of The Plains Tribe!" Kayalee meowed in a softer, apologetic tone. "Oh this is so so so so exciting!" She meowed louder, she was become very unlike herself at his moment, even though she could barely notice it because of her delight. "But, of course, you must choose either to be a scout, hunter, or warrior." She added in a serious tone. "There are of course more ranks, but a young member like yourself is not eligible to be in a high ranking position." She finished in a lighter, happy tone.

[Deleted]

She blinked when Kayalee rather...enthusiastically welcomed her to the tribe. It made sense a moment later, when she explained that River had been the first to express a desire. Surely not! But she didn't smell many creatures around here besides Kayalee. Well, except for a few faint, stale scents, but those couldn't be members.

Kayalee offered her her choice in titles, but River already knew where she would fit best. "I'd like to be a hunter, if I may." It was something she knew she could do well, that would perhaps give her a bit more freedom if she did everything right, and that wouldn't readily put her in a position to hurt a fellow intelligent creature if she happened to be in a bad mood. Not only that, hunting would allow her to work out whatever aggressions she did come across in life, so she would be less likely to attack others if they rubbed her the wrong way. It was perfect.

"Of course." She nodded when Kayalee told her she wouldn't be eligible to be in a high-ranking position. Of course she wouldn't. She was barely even born. Perhaps someday, but she'd rather earn it than ask for it. "I'm rather new to all of this. What do I do now?"

[Hazelstar]

"Hmm... A hunter..." Kayalee meowed, she lowered her large head closer to the aboriginal do she could get a closer look at her build. Ahh... A perfect frame for crouching low to the ground, muscular legs for pouncing... Perfect, just perfect! She thought, while he carefully examined River's structure. "I approve!" Kayalee meowed, waving her tail happily. "Sorry for doing that, just had to see how your bones are structured, to make sure you will be good at you duty towards the tribe." He meowed, apologetically. "What to do next?" she meowed, echoing the smaller feline, "How about we put your skills to the test and have a little hunting competition!" Kayalee meowed, "There are rodent holes around everywhere, whoever gets more in two hours wins... Hmm... 25 tribe points!" Kayalee darted away happily through the the grass, grinning.

((By two hours, I mean two posts each.))

[Deleted]

((Gotcha. ^.^ I know it's a LONG way off, but I'm thinking of having her try out for the diplomat position once she's earned enough exp.))

River watched the larger feline as said larger feline stared at her, contemplating her structure. Her head tilted a little to the side, but she remained silent and still until Kayalee meowed her approval. At the explanation, she relaxed, letting out a quiet purr. She really didn't want to have to argue for her position, or settle for something that would make her a danger. She also didn't want to explain about her darker qualities to this cat she just met. If she could keep herself under control, there was no need for anyone to find out.

When Kayalee suggested a hunting competition, River nodded. "Sounds like fun." She was sure the larger feline would win, but maybe she could at least show her skills and impress her a little. It wouldn't hurt to try, at any rate. She watched as Kayalee darted off, and then sniffed around, searching for prey scent.

[Hazelstar]

Kayalee opened her jaws wide and smelled deeply of the sweet air. Her pupils grew wide, the aqua color of her eyes suddenly disappearing into the pure black. She lowered herself to the ground and flitted like a shadow towards a rodent who was foraging for whatever it ate. She raised her tail, testing the wind, she didn't want the creature to smell her. She darted south so she would be downwind of said creature, then slowly approached it. Her muscles rippled as she got closer to her goal, suddenly the rodent's head shot up and stood on its hind paws. It had heard her. Kayalee growled and leaped forward prematurely, allowing the rodent time to flee. Kayalee hissed and darted after it, but it had gotten enough of a head start to be hard to track in the tall grass. Kayalee sighed and slowed to a walk, she would catch the next one for sure.

[Deleted]

While Kayalee went off in search of her own prey, River did...pretty much the same thing in another direction. It was always best to split up unless you were hunting a single piece of prey with someone else, she figured. If she strayed too close to the other feline, they'd only get in each others' way. Besides, it was easier to hide one predator scent than two.

River detected a scent and followed it until she saw a tree with tangled roots. The scent seemed to be coming from the roots, so she drew closer, making sure she was downwind so it wouldn't detect her until she was ready. Keeping her pawsteps light and quiet as she could, she inched forward, spotting the rodent eating something - a seed, perhaps - near the base of the tree trunk. She studied the root - searching for likely paths for the creature - and leapt onto one of the roots that formed a small arch and possible exit, making her presence known.

The rodent took off, heading under a root that formed a larger arch. Exactly where she wanted it to go. She pounced - clearing the root easily, and landed nearly on top of the rodent. She was able to pin it down by its tail before it could get away, and she quickly bent down to make the killing bite before it could pull free.

River picked up her prey and buried it near the tree to collect later, sighing at her near miss. Her intent had been to kill it with the pounce itself, but she supposed it was for the best. This kill had been harder, but cleaner, and left most of the meat intact and uncrushed.

She would have to do better with the next one.

Once her prey was buried, she scented the air. There were no other prey scents nearby, so she walked to another location to try her luck there.

[Hazelstar]

It was almost time to go back to the place where she had met River, and what had she caught? Nothing. Nothing! Kayalee grunted irritably, the rodents were so tricky, and she wasn't used to hunting in her new form. Excuses don't fill bellies. Kayalee reasoned with herself before continuing on her search. She scented the air, her ears turning this way and that to pick up the smallest scamper of paws. A lizard was napping on a rock nearby. Better than nothing. Kayalee reasoned, leaping on the Lizard, killing it in its sleep. She buried it by the rock, then again sniffed the air.

It took her a while to follow a trail that lead her towards a large bush, she sniffed again, a rodent was nearby. She crouched low and creeped around the bush, she saw it digging, quite obviously preparing a new home. She leaped at the figure but it scampered under the bush just in time to evade her large paws. Kayalee bared her fangs and hissed loudly. She slipped her paw under the bush and smashed it down. She heard a squeak, she had hit the rodent's tail. She pulled it out and killed it with a quick bite.

She ventured back to where she had buried the lizard, took it from its hole, then padded back to where she and River had started the competition. She was fairly certain the young cat did better than she, but it was up to her to judge that when she saw whatever River had been lucky enough to catch.

[Deleted]

River hadn't gone very far when she could hear a sound overhead. Turning, she spotted a bird on the lowest branch of a tree. The bird remained up there only a moment before flying down and dipping its head below the grass. Was it looking for food, too? Well, al that meant was that it was distracted, which would make bringing it down easy.

River crept forward, keeping light and quiet as always. She was almost upon the bird when it noticed her, and - with a startling cry - it flew up toward the tree. Without thinking, River leaped at it, acting as quickly as she could before the bird could get very high. She was lucky - she managed to get her body over the bird's for only a second, and that was enough for her to bat it toward the ground again. She swiped at it, caching a wing. The bird cried out and fell, hitting the ground a moment before River.

The feline watched the bird for a moment. It seemed to be trying to fly, but the wing she had hit wasn't moving very much. Had she broken it? Joy filled her, followed by revulsion that she'd be happy about causing suffering. One pounce and one controlled bite later, the bird was put out of its misery and River walked off to bury it beside her other catch. By that point, it was nearly time to meet Kayalee again, and she would have been satisfied with just her two kills, but she happened to spot another rodent nearby, so she went for it, pouncing and killing it before it had a chance to run. The rodent was small and lean - it was easily apparent that it hadn't eaten in some time and was close to death anyway. That made it an easy kill, even if it was a pathetic one. Food was food, though, right?

But now it was definitely time to return. She gathered her catches and headed back, dipping her head to Kayalee when she spotted her and presenting the bodies to her. "I'd say I caught three, but this--" she poked at the scrawny thing she had killed last, "--this makes it more like two and a half."