;x; Sea of Chalupas ;x; {Rocketto/Rockmask}

[Blair ;;]

Cyanide leaned down on his front paws, stalking a giant wild turkey. It was a male, and he had never caught a turkey before. Was never taught how to, either. Like he cared. He was going to catch it anyways. He licked his lips.

Cyanide moved closer and closer to the wild turkey, and, as soon as it turned to him, it made a loud 'GOBBLE!' sound, and tried to flee.

Oh, but that didn't stop him. He bolted after the turkey like animal, his claws unsheathed as he tackled it to the ground.

He insured it with a death bite, and the old turkey was dead's a door nail. A smirk came upon Cyanide's face.

They were near the water now. They, meaning the prey and himself. His eyes glinted with hunger as he sat the turkey elsewhere and looked around for other signs of prey.

Cyanide could hear a squirrel beside a tree, nibbling on a nut. It was stupid and didn't run off when it heard him stalking the turkey, or the turkey's yowl.

Cyanide located the sound and moved into a hunting crouch. He had caught many squirrels, and this one was no different than the others.

A smirk appeared on his face when he jumped at it. The squirrel, fat as anything, didn't expect it, dropping its nut and not having any time to react.

Cyanide made the kill of the squirrel and sat it beside the turkey. Good hunting day, Cyan, good hunting day.

[Rockmask]

Rockmask sat at a bit of a distance and calmly watched the male warrior known as Cyanide stalk a large turkey. From his stance, she could tell he'd had no real teaching of how to catch the thing. She watched him pounce and chase it after it had been startled and shrieked in its' own way. She stood up and craned her neck in time to see him bite the bird's neck and drag it off. After they had disappeared from her sight, she went back to her business collecting herbs. She of course expected them to be much different from the selection at either of her old homes, and they were. After making sure that her pile of herbs from the are was starkly neat, she wandered off a little ways to find a different plant with larger leaves. She had gone as far as to catch the warrior again with the turkey, but this tme he was after a squirrel. Ah, she thought, someone's eager for the kill. Seeing no reason to observe further, she plucked the leaves she needed gingerly and took them back to her pile, untouched. She proceeded to clip the leaves under the pile and wrapped them, satching them up and briskly heading back to the river. Perhaps that warrior needs help.

[Blair ;;]

Cyanide didn't notice her for a slick moment, his eyes looking over his prey, his tail lashing from behind him. Oh, yes, was he in a good mood. It was a good day for catching prey! It was a great day for catching prey! His eyes twinkled with happiness.

Cyanide looked up and heard the medicine cat approaching, the smell of herbs on her fur. He turned around to greet her.

He saw who it was, Rockmask, the Siamese cat looking medicine cat was approaching behind him. Her eyes were a light color of blue, and her face looked black. Beautiful, yes, and she was a perfect medicine cat, I guess you could say. But it didn't matter. He did this a lot when he was in a good mood; observe other cats.

"Hello, Rockmask." he responded, a dip of his head occurring. He smelt the scent of cobwebs or another herb on her pelt, and he must have been watching him for a while now.

"How are you today?"

[Rockmask]

Rockmask approached warily with the herbs in her jaws, and noticed the warrior studying his own kills. Then, suddenly, he looked up and greated her. She was slightly startled at this. He dipped his head as he greeted her, which made her smile slightly but it was hidden behind the leaves.
Then he asked, "How are you today?"
She responded through her teeth and around the leaves, "I am well, thank you..."
She paused and looked at his mini kill-pile, and continued,
"I should ask how you are as well, but it seems you are quite satisfied." She chortled a bit through the leaves, which crackled slightly as she breathed on them, and continued further, "Ah, but I wanted to ask if you needed help. With... that," she nodded at the turkey and squirrel, the scent of fresh kill waftng up towards her, making her briefly fall silent in her reverie of recollection. She snapped herself back to reality though, and blinked at Cyanide.

[Blair ;;]

Cyanide nodded towards Rockmask as she spoke. He didn't really need help, but he guessed that it was alright to have some. I mean, a warrior can always use help. But if she's busy with her herbs. .

"If you're not busy you can help me carry the turkey. ." was his response, flicking his tail slightly, standing back up again, then looking back where she probably would have a large thing of herbs.

"But if you have a lot of herbs to carry I can help you with those. The prey can wait." Cyanide laughed softly; there was so much prey that the prey did matter, but not as much as taking care of a warrior's health. Rockmask was definitely more important than the prey.. Well, her herbs.

"But I mean if you're busy I can make two trips or something." Cyanide's soft side didn't want to inconvenience the young medicine cat, if she was busy or something.. It was fine on him carrying it by himself. He was strong enough for it.

[Clove]

Splashtide strides across the ground in that confident way of his. It sometimes earns glares, but he just doesn't care. No one is as great a warrior as he is. He practically prances with his head held high. He doesn't need humility, with his handsome gray fur and powerful hind legs. His green eyes scorch over the pelts of the cats ahead. He barely registers their meaningless, lesser pelts. He slowly makes his way toward them. He takes slow paw steps. They aren't careless steps of course. He doesn't want to scare the prey away. Why rush? They'll probably end up being irritating anyway. He hopes to catch some snakes. They're his favorite. He scans the area eagerly.

A snake slithers through the grass. Its motion entices hungry eyes. How strange the way it moves. Splashtide has spotted his soon-to-be prey. He immediately and gets into a crouch. He is a hunting expert. He will catch this snake! He licks his jaws. He can feel his thick leg muscles aching to run forward. He mentally wills himself to have patience. He wants to catch this snake badly. He just loves catching them for hard to explain reasons. Other cats don't need to know his business anyway. They can keep out of his and mind their own.

He focuses on the shiny and strange skin of the snake. He moves carefully toward the oblivious creature. He decides now is the time to get it. He springs off his hind legs and runs in an odd but effective motion. He is upon the serpent quickly. He pounces on the slithering reptile and sinks his claws in. The snake whips its head up, showing small teeth. Splashtide grabs the snake's head in his teeth. He tears the inside of the snake's neck in a quick motion, and it lays limp. He carries his prize over to the other cats. Though it's a tough thing to carry at its fairly large size, it is completely worth the struggle.

He drops the snake down with relief. Such a hard piece of prey to carry, but it will feed many. It wasn't that much effort. He's just being an idiot and exaggerating. He holds back a laugh. He expects praise later, maybe now. Anyway, the thing felt good in his teeth and on his tongue. He finds he very much enjoys the texture of the snake, though it's odd. The snake made a loud noise as it hit the ground, he recalls, not that that means anything. He nods to the weaker cats, a slight glare in his eye.

The Medicine Cat keeps the clan healthy, he knows this. It's just, he couldn't imagine what it would be like not hunting and fighting. He shudders. He sits down in the grass, somewhat exhausted from carrying his catch. He is sitting high and fierce-looking however. He prefers not to look weak even if he feels so. Not even in front of his own clanmates. He is better than they are in many ways. "Hi!" He meows as if he's happy to see them. 'Losers,' he thinks, trying to not roll his eyes. He doesn't really feel like naming the reasons that were sort of mentioned before. He's entitled to laziness sometimes. He works so hard for his ungrateful clan.

He sighs audibly. "I could catch so many of these, but there don't seem to be that many around today," he half-boasts, staring at them without much expression. He crinkles his nose slightly at the smell of herbs. He turns away with his head up a little, trying to look thoughtful as an excuse. They don't need to know smells effect the small muscles in his face. He notices the turkey suddenly. "Well, that's kind of impressive," he informs Cyanide, flicking his tail toward the turkey. 'Well, snakes are better. It's good there's more of them. They help the clan be a bit tougher, such weaklings,' he reassures himself. That made complete sense. His catch is so much greater. That cat will get praised, but he will get praised more. A snake is a tougher capture.

[683 words. lol win]

[Blair ;;]

Cyanide looks over Rockmask, his eyes looking over her pelt once again. Her whole pelt looks like it is slightly matted, but not noticeable enough for another cat to sneer at it. She was probably too busy with being a medicine cat to groom her. He would groom her, but he didn't want her to think that he.. Y'know, liked her like that. He didn't. She was too old for him. Not that it was a bad thing of her age. He was just young.. Too young. He thought back to her pelt, and remembered that his own was probably dirty as well. His eyes flickered to his side where they were grey. It looked like dirt, like it always did. But it was like a birth mark. His eyes flickered back to Rockmask and looked over her; her blue eyes weren't watching him, but something that must have been behind him. And out of curiosity, Cyanide looked as well.

And what Cyanide's eyes saw weren't exactly in awe, but in annoyance. A cat, who he believed his name was Splashtide, with the biggest attitude in the book. He annoyed him, and he made him want to spit. His claws unsheathed with a severe hatred occurring. Something in the back of his mind told him, told him to calm down. That he was in a good mood before, and that this stupid warrior wouldn't get him out of something that was a good mood. But his bipolar attitude took with hold of his inner sanity, and he wished to lash out at this cat. It seemed to be sneering at his catch. Sneering. At HIS catch, of all things! It took all of his self control to keep him from tackling this warrior to the ground and giving him a good pain.

But of course Cyanide kept his patience as the warrior looked at the large turkey with what seemed to be awe, then the boasting attitude that was in this warrior's blood. That he had caught the better catch. It made his blood boil so badly.. He kept his cool within reason though as the cat spoke. His tail wanted to lash out and smack this younger cat in the face. Either he was younger, or he was just an ignorant.. Don't finish that, Cyanide, keep your cool. Don't tell him off, keep your cool, don't do anything.. Rash.. His eyes darkened as he looked up at the cat. Rockmask seemed to be virtually ignoring the soul. Something he wished he was able to do.

"Thank you." He responded, without much tone in his voice. I guess you could call his voice heartless, although you could barely tell what had made him so pissed. His claws re-sheathed, and it was un-noticeable that his claws had been unsheathed. His eyes were meeting the other cats, and he didn't even notice any of the cat's pelt like he had Rockmask. This cat, he didn't deserve someone to look at his pelt, he thought bitterly. "Although a turkey can feed all of the queens and their kits, and probably a young warrior or an older apprentice. Snakes don't have enough meat on them for them to provide a healthy meal." His eyes flickered to the snake, and back to the other warrior.

Usually, he would have added when he was in a good mood, 'I mean, A snake is good, though. I'm glad you caught it.' or something of the sort. Well, take that back. When he was in a good mood -- even around this little... Don't finish that -- he wouldn't have said that at all. But this cat put little Cyanide in a bad mood, little bipolar Cyanide. And he could blow at any given moment, despite what everyone else could have thought.

[632. xD]

[Clove]

Splashtide loves the feel of the sun on his pelt. The warmth flows through his body. He takes a deep breath of the fresh air. In contrast, The cold makes him shiver involuntarily and in his mind, he's afraid it seems weak. He doesn't like to seem weak. He's not weak at all. He's a strong, persevering cat that would starve for his clan if need-be. He would die for them on the battlefield too. They just don't understand his dedication. He could run away. He could become a loner or a rogue and never look back. He knows they'd be sad. He's a great part of the clan and his mouse-brain clanmates probably don't realize it. He can tell.

He wonders why Cyanide is watching Rockmask. That's sort of strange. Does he..? No. It's not possible. Then he expels the thoughts quickly. 'Why should I care anyway? If I mind my own business they'll mind theirs,' he reprimands himself mentally. As he obviously knows, Cyanide isn't much older than him. However, Rockmask has to be over 40 moons. If she wasn't aged and a medicine cat, he'd almost consider thinking her attractive. Since she is fairly up there and the code prevents medicine cats from having mates and kits, the thought is simply ludicrous. He won't waste his time dwelling.

His focus is on the ground for a little while. He looks back up and notices Cyanide seems annoyed. He rolls his eyes. What's this cat's problem? He even complimented this cat. He didn't need to do that. He could've just not said anything. He rarely gives compliments. Every cat should accept them as special gifts. They usually don't though. He does everything he can to get honor and respect. Yet these cats act like he smells like foxdung and avoid him like they do twolegs. It makes him sad for them. They don't know how to appreciate things. If he just up and left they would regret it all. He won't though. Not all of them are bad. He is a servant to the clan and Starclan, not a kit eating badger that cares about nothing but its rumbling belly.

The silver tom's clanmate speaks with a dead tone. Splashtide's eyes glimmer as his eyes narrow suspiciously. He can't wait to hear what this irritated cat has to say. He notices his eyes seem distanced, as if he's looking through him. Splashtide won't stand for that behavior. He deserves to be noticed. This tom here is probably so happy with his feathery turkey that he doesn't have the decency to compliment him in return. A small growl escapes his throat. It's not mean or angry, it's just.. a growl. That's it.

"Well obviously," He responds, laughing,"I'm not an apprentice or a mouse-brain. I've been around long enough to that. In my opinion it's good there's not too many fat turkeys running around, or every cat in this clan would be lazy and soft." He raises his nose up slightly.

It's completely true. He knows Cardinalclan isn't exactly friendly, and who knows what the other cats are up to. Turkeys are no smarter than mice and easy enough to catch if you know how to do it right. Hunting harder to catch prey that is often smaller is better for the clan. The smaller the prey, the harder the warriors have to work to catch enough to feed the clan. This cat lacks the brilliance to know such a thing. He is aware Cyanide isn't all that much older than him, but he doesn't seem to know much. He shakes his head and stares. He decides to be the bigger cat. A sharp thought passes through his mind,'This cat won't get the best of me.'

"Though a juicy turkey is good every once in a while for hard-working warriors, apprentices and especially the wonderful queens who are bringing future warriors into the world," He meows honestly and tilts his head in a friendly way. It's not necessary to make this cat angrier. He's not afraid, it would just be best for the clan if its loyal warriors didn't fight. That would definitely make them weaker. If tough times call for battles, then he wishes for his clan to be as strong as it can get.

[original: 609 words (too much fail..)]
[edit: 666 words (LOL)]
[final product: 710 words (woot)]

[Blair ;;]

Cyanide was staying quiet for a moment, his eyes no longer on Rockmask's. This cat was going to mind his own business as far as he was concerned. He didn't really care about Rockmask any longer, just the fact of this.. arrogant warrior at the front of him. His tail slightly lashed, but only barely. It didn't move any longer as he looked into the other warrior's eyes. The gray warrior wasn't very nice, as he could see. Well, he was a good warrior, he guessed. He looked strong, although Cyanide was bigger built than him. He could tell already. A slight smirk appeared on his face when he realized what he was thinking; that he could beat this cat in a fight. Well, if he ever did fight him. It wasn't likely for a cat of the same clan to fight unless it was against the warrior code.

And the cats of this clan, he knew, followed the warrior code. They didn't let it fall aside like the warriors of CardinalClan did. And in some ways, he thought, it was a good point. He didn't want to be in a clan where every one lashed out on him. Nay, that was his job; to lash out on every one else. He would never admit of his bipolar attitude: How it could take him over and made him lash out. But he knew that something sometimes overcame him to do things that were apparently out of his control. But he didn't care; the thought made his head hurt.. That he was bipolar. Although he knew that it was true, he would never admit it to another cat. They would find out for themselves.

Something flashed back to his mind, when his mother died.

Cyanide was sitting in the medicine cat's den, pacing. His claws were unsheathed, and his ears were tilted back to hit the back of his head. It was pure shown that he was in a pissed off mood. His tail shook, as he looked over to his mother. Her pelt was matted down with sweat, and she was breathing heavily. She was barely breathing except the faint movement of her stomach. Her whole life was on the line, and no one was doing anything about it. Apparently, they couldn't. Any normal cat would have given her death berries, such as a cat in CardinalClan. But Cyanide wouldn't allow it, not on his mother. He wasn't going to let them do that to her.

Dovetail, was his mother's name. She was beautiful: Her whole body was grey except her chest, which had a white patch on it. She usually had a fluffy pelt, but now it was matted down with sweat from how weak she was. She could barely even speak. She couldn't move, or do anything. In the back of Cyanide's mind, he wanted his mother's life to end. So she didn't have to fight. Just go to StarClan, and live a calm rest of her life, watching over him, keeping his good side going.

But Cyanide wanted to keep her alive because he couldn't imagine life without her. A life without her living with him, a life without her staying beside him and supporting him. She was the only friend he had ever had. His heart burned for passion for his mother. He loved her with all his hurt. He didn't want her gone. He looked over to her. But she seemed that she was in so much pain.. He heard her cough and he was automatically beside her, nuzzling her, not caring if he caught the disease. As long as he got to stay with his mother..

She began to try and speak in her sleep. It was so low he could barely understand it, but he heard her questioningly saying his name. His ears perked as he licked her softly. "Y-Yes, Dovetail? It's Cyanide.." He whispered, his tongue rasping over her ear, a soft smile on his face. But only barely, was the smile on his face. He was smiling because she had finally spoke, not because he was happy. He couldn't be happy without his mother beside him, cuffing his ear and laughing with him..

"C-Cyanide.. I love you.." As soon as she said this, she began coughing so loud that it alerted the medicine cat. She ran in, and took a glance at Cyanide, telling him that he had to leave. That he had to leave his mother.. That.. Something was happening. Something was happening that he couldn't control. Cyanide yowled like a kit, losing his mother. "You can't drag me away!" he screamed, almost clinging to her bed. "If you don't leave, you'll catch it too!" The medicine cat yowled, pulling him off.

In the end, Cyanide never knew what happened. He was dragged off by the leader, the deputy, the medicine cat, and a few warriors. It took all of them to hold him back as they probably killed his mother with death berries. Her pain was unbearable for her now.. And then she was gone. Out of the real world, and up to StarClan..

Cyanide gulped at the thought, his claws slipping out of their sheathed position.. One of the warriors that held him back was this one. He wanted to kill him. The murderous thoughts ran through his mind, but his mother, in the back of his head, told him with a soothing voice not to. It kept his good side out, but only barely. He was taking all of his self control to not murder this cat so harshly that it begged for mercy..

"Yes, yes, I guess you're right. But I think both of our preys deserve justice, don't you think? It doesn't matter how one catches it; what matters is that the clan doesn't starve."

[Final Word count: 965. Woo.]

[Clove]

Splashtide notices as Cyanide seems to become distant. He must be having a flashback. The silver warrior turns his head sharply when his white-gray clanmate speaks. He nods at the justice thing. That makes a lot of sense. He narrows his eyes at the next part. He's not sure if he agrees completely, but the tom does have a point. Yes, the clan getting fed is very important. Splashtide mourns for every clanmate that is lost, even if he doesn't really like them.

A tom elder and a younger tom yowled. They're names were Scorchfur and Snakefang. They were sitting close together in front of the Medicine Den. Splashtide padded over to see what's going on. He recognized one as the father of his old mentor and the other is his old mentor's mate. Something must be wrong with the dull she-cat. Her kits recently became apprentices, Graypaw and Birdpaw. Not the most creative names ever, but of course their mother isn't particularly intelligent.

"What's going on?" He asked Snakefang. The brown warrior stares at him with wide yellow eyes. The other, old tom, a dark gray tom, is hunched over, his head ducked. Splashtide decided he wouldn't bother the poor old thing. He waited for the younger tom to find his breath.

"Mousewhisper is dying!" He screeched. Splashtide flinched, not expecting such a loud reply.

"I'm right here!" Splashtide meowed in annoyance. Snakefang gave him an apologetic look. "Anyway, what happened to her?" He asked Mousewhisper's adoring mate. What he saw in her, Splashtide wasn't certain.

"She got bitten by a snake on her neck. The Medicine Cat s-says she's p-probably not going to m-make it," Snakefang stuttered, his body convulsing with pain for his beloved mate. Splashtide liked this warrior, he was fierce and smart. He licked the cat on the shoulder.

"I'm sorry," He told the two toms lamely. Scorchfur was shaking. Splashtide peered into the den. He instantly wished he hadn't. Mousewhisper was wheezing heavily, her body shaking and convulsing more than her worried father and mate. There was some kind of gross wound on her neck that was hard to describe. It didn't look comfortable. He knew that there was no saving this cat. Feeling a shocking twinge in his heart, he slinks into the den and licks her across the ear.

"I didn't mean to be so unkind to you," He told her, staring at his paws. She smiled weakly. It was a horrifying moment when her eyes rolled back into her head and she went limp. He was only 14 Moons and had never witnessed a cat just .. die. He didn't know what he was feeling. He came out and stared at her family with a telling sadness in his eyes. The elder cat just sort of shuffled in while the younger cat, who was yet older than Splashtide, ran in wailing. He never felt so bad for any cats before.

He ran a claw over his prize's scaly hide. Even though the long, legless creature is dead, the scales that aren't covered in blood still shimmer in the sun. He plops down beside it and focuses all his senses on the surroundings. A bird flits across the ground on his left side. It is a good stalking distance away. He sees a mouse scurrying by the tree. He feels a snake slither over his paws. It is much smaller than the snake he killed, but it is much deadlier. He recognizes the horrible reptile as a poisonous one. He holds down its neck with his paw. He bites down on the head and rips his teeth through the scaly skin. He smiles with satisfaction and it ceases to move. He flicks his eyes between the bird and mouse, unsure which smaller prey item to go after.

His mind sparks and idea. He goes around the tree to where he would be going left if he walked to it. He crouches down and moves quietly. The mouse gets distracted with eating something. Splashtide's paw almost hits a stick. He lifts it away and shifts it over top the stick. He continues moving in a smooth motion. He breaks into a run suddenly. He pounces on the unsuspecting mouse and bites its neck. He buries the prey quickly and looks up. The bird is still there. Excitement makes his tail twitch. He places his paws fast but still silent. The bird takes flight unexpectedly. Splashtide jumps into the air. He lifts off the gruond with ease. His claws hook into his prey and he does a mini backflip. He breaks the bird's neck and buries it as well.

Splashtide was out hunting with some random tom named Pebbletail. He was a fair deal older than Splashtide, but he was much smaller. He was mostly white with gray paws and tail. His apprentice was Birdpaw, the less intelligent of Mousewhisper's two daughters. It was her first hunting expedition and she was asking too many questions. Splashtide had a pain in his head.

"How do you put up with her?" Splashtide asked in a whisper to the young cat's mentor.

"I don't know. I just thing that the more cats that know how to hunt, the better!" Pebbletail chirped cheerfully. The cat always seemed to be so happy, even in Leaf-bare. Splashtide glared and shook his head at the older warrior. He didn't have a fitting response.

He saw a bird flutter to the ground. He turned to Pebbletail. He put on a serious face and nodded. Splashtide paid no attention to the conversation between the two cats of how a bird was caught. He already knew, so what's the point of listening to the jabber? Birdpaw started to stalk the flying creature. 'How appropriate,' Splashtide had thought with a smile.

Then it went wrong. The bird flew up into a tree, but the brainless apprentice named for it wouldn't give up. She climbed the tree though her mentor told her not to. She ran across the branch clumsily. Splashtide gaped as the weak branch collapsed. Birdpaw landed in an awkward way on the ground. The two warriors dashed over. She was breathing heavily. Her eyes were fogged over. It appeared that her neck had sustained injury. She was flexing, trying to lift it up, to no avail. Pebbletail licked her head and said quietly but loud enough for his clanmate to hear.

"Close your eyes little one. Everything will be fine," Pebbletail meowed softly. She did as told this time. She had learned her lesson the hard way, that was for sure.

"At least she can be with her mother and grandparents now," Splashtide muttered, scuffing the ground with his paw. He didn't care much if the apprentice and her mentor heard him. He watched the small cat's body shudder with one last breath before holding still. Pebbletail was too broken, so Splashtide had to carry her back to camp.

After listening to the wails of Graypaw and Snakefang, he disappeared into the Warrior's Den. He knew Birdpaw was a sad loss, and her life ended far too soon. He's sure Starclan had some good reason for taking her. She is better off with them anyway. She won't ever have to feel physical pain or really emotional pain either. He wonders if Starclan cats are sad when their living family dies, or if they are happy to finally be by them again. He'll only know when he- well, that's far away, hopefully. He intends to live a long life hunting and fighting for his great clan. He plans to think about the present and not the dreadful future ahead. It doesn't matter.

[1261 with the flashbacks.. 488 without]