Tribe Meeting (open to all EO!)

[Fin]

It had been an uneasy start to the month. His beloved mentor, the previous Stoneteller, had died due to a rotten seabird. He knew his tribe held fears for poisoned food, but he proved their theories wrong with his brother shortly after the incident. There was no other trace of poisoned food in the water, and that the seabird had been crowfood that somehow found its way into the cave. Now the dusky brown tom sat on the rock in which the healer usually addresses the cats. His paws felt comfortable on the coarse rock, battered by raging seas many moons ago when the tides reached these heights. Sighing a breath of relief, warmed by the sun that shone through the gouge in the cave ceiling now, he decided it was time for the meeting to begin. With a loud, but not shrill yowl, he called out for 'his' cats to gather - it felt strange to call them all together, but it felt right.

He waited many moments for his tribe-mates to settle, allowing them to find comfortable positions and to interact with each other, as his previous mentor once did. He would consider these things, which made him a good leader, one that he missed and wished he had the guidance of. Dust's thoughts were not betrayed to the cats that now waited beneath him, with a flick of the ear, he began.

"Welcome, my brothers and sisters. This moon has been tough on all of us - I share your grief of the passing of our stoneteller, and he will be missed." Glancing over at the burial site of his mentor, he paused, his throat suddenly dry. Swallowing, he looked down at his tribe and continued with gusto: "I promise that I, his once to-be, will devote my life to protecting you. He has taught me well, and I hope you approve of my leadership."

Looking down, he spotted his brother Gull sitting near to a cat that he wanted to speak to, but he wanted to save that ceremony until last. Clearing his throat once more, his voice was now strong as he accustomed to speaking on the high rock he sat on.

"Recently, our prey-hunters have scented a strange cat wondering around our tribes home. Now I do not in any way condone violence towards this cat - if he is as gentle as I suspect, we can leave him alone, and he will leave us alone, but if he is scented close to the cave I want to know. Kit-mothers," he addressed the small group of she-cats, "I want you to be on full guard, but always have faith in our cave-guards - they are experienced enough to keep us safe."

The small amount of uneasiness that swept through his clan like the tides of his home left as quickly as it came - his cat's were peaceful beings, and they knew better than to attack a cat if it hadn't approached them with claws outstretched.

"In other news, I take this opportunity to announce my choice of to-be." Waiting for the cats to settle beneath him, he spoke again: "I hope you will all support my choice. Although we have not tested any kits, there is one cat in particular who has earned this right. Abandoned as a kit, this cat seems to have been destined to take her place as my to-be, and ultimately your future healer." Casting his eyes down to next to where Gull sat, he gazed right at the one-sighted cat warmly, preparing the she-cat for what was to come next with one, simple look.

"Sun that Sets on the Sea, come forth." He meowed, leaping down from his place upon the rock with ease, as if he had done it for many moons prior.

[Ruby]

Sun That Sets on the Sea

Sunny heard Place Where Dust Settles' call. She was one of the first to respond to their new Stoneteller. Many of the tribe cats were still in mourning for their old Stoneteller. Sunny missed him especially, he was the one who allowed her to enter the tribe with welcoming paws. She had grown fond of him as she grew accustomed to her sight problem and recovered from her ordeals while she had been out with her brothers.

She wondered vaguely what had happened to them but soon pushed them from her mind. She had chosen her tribe and she would not let thoughts of her brother cloud her judgment.

Sunny sat near the front and looked up at the new Stoneteller, Dust. She was familiar with him because he had been around when the passed Stoneteller had tended to her and her siblings. She remembered fondly playing with the tom as a kit. She had always loved to bat at his striped light brown tail with her small pink padded paws. She purred at the happy memory.

She was joined by a large black and gray tom with a scar across his left cheek and another scar on he left foreleg and forest green eyes. She knew this tom well. She purred and touched her pink nose to his shoulder before returning her attention to Dust who was just starting to address the tribe.

At the mention of the reason of the Stoneteller's death she felt an overwhelming sense of sadness and loss. The image of the old tom came to her and she shook her head to clear it.

The loner, she had caught a scent of but never seen. The cat seemed to grab a couple of mice then run off. The lone cat didn't seem to go for crabs or the sea birds. Sunny didn't really see the cat as a matter of concern unless the cat started bringing others and taking greater quantities of their prey.

Dust began about the new to-be Stoneteller and Sunny looked away from him. The orange she-cat didn't think she would have any need to listen to this. Dust would pick a tribe born cat, it was only fitting that it be that way. When Dust said '...abandoned as a kit...' she shot her shocked amber eyes to Dust. 'Oh dear Tribe of Endless Hunting, he isn't really choosing who I think he is, is he...?'

'Sun That Sets on the Sea, come forth.'

'DEAR TRIBE OF ENDLESS HUNTING HE HAD!' Sunny was a little more than shocked and nervous, her paws were shaking. She was surprised to find herself stepping forward and not falling flat on her face.

She glanced over the tribe cats and found herself feeling completely exposed. Wouldn't some cat object to her being To-Be Stoneteller, she wasn't of tribe birth after all? She glanced at Path of Gull's Flight but quickly turned her attention back to Dust.

[~Ravenpaw~]

Stars that dance in the Night, or Night for short padded out gracefully, her night black pelt shone brightly in the sun of that day, the light almost making her fur shimmer with a dazzling glow. Her light blue eyes looked to the voice that called it was Place Where Dust Settles, she headed over quietly, her fluffy black fur easily noticable, her light blue eyes like diamond stars that fills the sky each and ever night, the look of pure softness was in them. Night was a kit-mother now, she gave up her life as a Prey-catcher after her little adventure with Sparky, she was always amused by that name, he hated it but it was better then calling him it or you!

Sparky and her had ended up in the came two-leg den and had tried to escape together, but in the end he got separated from her, she wondered where he was, she often did that. He was often on her mind that Sparky, he was a curious one. He was indeed, he would always listen her to stories about her home here, when she last saw him he could have passed off for one of them, he was very good at hunting, she found that out when they were travelling back, he was the hunter and she the story-teller. A meal for a story was their law. She kinda missed that law a bit, it was nice at first, lovely near the end but now, now it didn't exist anymore, Sparky was here, he was somewhere else that she didn't know of. Would she ever see him again?

Night was a kit-mother so when he looked at her she dipped her head gently, she would be careful, she would have to be now, but she trusted the cave-guards, she trusted everyone in the Tribe. Everyone was so nice. She smiled softly and was happy for Sunny, "Congrats" She meowed softly keeping rather quiet so as not to attract attention to herself.

[Fin]

With his chin held high, his tail slowly making a sweeping motion across the stone underfoot, Dust never took his eyes from the young she-cat stood before him. A final glance over at his brother, Gull, he turned his attention to the crowd around him as he settled in one place. He was almost a tail-length away from the cat, but he could feel the excitement radiating from her. His gentle, honey eyes would warm the heart of any nervous cat, and he focused them on hers before addressing the tribe.

"My brothers and sisters, it brings me such joy to present my choice of to-be to you. In the last moon, whatever we have suffered will be replaced by joy - joy we will feel for this young fire burning for the heart of the tribe. It took a great deal of decision to choose this cat, with many fine cats in the tribe, all of which very capable of the job." He paused, whiskers twitching, ears flicking before continuing, "The test of life has been more than enough to prove this gentle cat's worth, and so by the paw of the Tribe of Endless Hunting, I rest our future on you." In the last part of his sentence, he turned directly to look at Sunny, all of his movements stopped. "Sun that Sets on Sea, or to your family, Sunny, do you take this path, knowing you can never return paw to the life you once knew?"

With a calm expression, he waited for her answer, before continuing, his head raised even higher now above her, casting his eyes across his tribe. "Then so be it. I call upon the Tribe of Endless Hunting to respect my choice - Sun that Sets on Sea, you are now the healer to-be, and one day, perhaps the Stoneteller of this tribe." Stepping toward her, he rested his head on the top of hers, hoping that Gull had informed her of tribe tradition. He anticipated her licking of his chest, before pulling away.

"Come now, my brothers and sisters, let us feast!" He then turned to Sunny with a dimmer expression, but with the fire still in his eyes, "Like myself once experienced, you will sleep tonight on an empty stomach. The path ahead is dark, and you must be empty of your past life." He didn't want to scare her, but they were almost the exact words that the previous Stoneteller had said to him. Though the cat would not change physically, or in terms of personality, they would have to detach themselves from tribe-life. Never to have kits was one of the laws, and there were many others barring the normality of a tribe-cat's life.

Nodding to his brother, he twitched his ear letting the darker cat know he was finished with Sunny. He saw the happy look on his brother's face, and started to realise what a grim future the two might hold. Sure enough, a Stoneteller could have a mate, but would the ban from kits ruin their relationship? He knew his brother would do the right thing.

"I fancy a big, meaty fish, what about you fellows?" Dust meowed loudly with an amused expression on his face to a group of cats.

(will post for gull, ruby, and to anyone else your cat can be one of the "group of cats" if you'd like xDD )

[Fin]

Through the entrance of the cave, a large dark figure emerged. His pelt, marked and smudged with many shades of grey and black, glistened with water. He had just been out in the ocean, out for a run along the shoreline. Whenever he wasn't on duty on his post, it was where you would find him. Making sure to shake himself dry before he was near any of his clan mates, the young tom cast his eyes over to where his brother was approaching the big rock.

Flicking his ear once of some moisture left behind, he listened as his brother called out for the tribe to gather. The tom grinned, knowing exactly what the meeting was about. He had spoken with his brother that very morning, calming his nerves. His choice was superb, too. Making his way through the growing crowd, the dark figure pushed his way through to where a familiar, and not to mention lovely young she-cat was sitting. It was Sunny, the prettiest cat in the whole tribe. He began purring heavily when he got close to her, turning to sit heavily beside her. He returned the gesture when she pressed her nose to his shoulder.

When his brother, dust, mentioned the passing of their old Stoneteller, it was clear the tom held little sadness. Nothing changed in his forest green eyes. It was not him being merely cold hearted, but the fact that he had found his peace with the old tom's departure by discovering the cause of his death and settling his clan. In habit, he flicked his tail over to where Sunny's lay, curling affectionately around it. He knew how harshly the she-cat had been taken by his death.

The smile returned to Gull's face when his brother announced the coming of a new to-be. Without giving much away, Gull's green eyes sparkled as he risked a glance over at Sunny. Would she appreciate it? He had persuaded his brother... a little. But to any other tribe cat, the choice surely would be worthy. Letting go of her tail when she was summoned, Gull couldn't help but purr deeply, meowing a encouraging "Go on" when she turned to him for a second.

There was nothing but pride in the young tom, now sitting up straight with his ears flicked forward. Any cat wouldn't miss the heavy affection he felt for her, and it was a wonder why no one had approached them about it. Even the gossiping kit-mothers were quiet. When the ceremony was through, Gull was first to rise and bound over to Sunny, pressing himself to her side.

"Well done, Sunny!" He meowed, almost inaudible against his heavy purr. Glancing over to where his brother was walking off towards the rest of the crowd of cats, Gull once again turned his head to the wonderful she-cat: "I will not feast with them tonight, I will wait until tomorrow... with you." He added, slightly nervously at the end.

[◦ʜʇʎɯ]

Little One with Small Tail

Little hated being the midget of the tribe. He was pointed at, laughed at, jested at, stood on, tripped over, pounced on, sat on, ran over, pushed over, pulled over, dropped on, picked up, had something drop on him, and so forth. Why hadn't his mother chosen a better, bigger mate? Someone who hadn't produced such a feeble, weak little kitten, smaller than even some of the younger kits. Little, though still a kit, wanted to be, well, a to-be. His siblings were all to-bes, why couldn't he be? He wanted to complain, tell Dust he needed to start training or he'd stay a midget forever. Little looked at his paws - blocky and massive. He frowned at them; they belonged on another cat, not him.

Little sighed as he watched the other cats from his nest, before sitting up and padding out, eyes darting around to make sure no one pounced on him, thinking he was some kind of rat or seagull. With his tail hung low, his ears flat, he approached slowly, cautiously, when... BLAM, down came a foot. Little squeaked loudly in alarm as he was squished underneath some blockheads foot.

"Hey! Get the flip offa me!" he squeaked underneath the foot.l

[Ruby]

Sun That Sets on the Sea

Sunny was surprised that no cat seemed to object to her. This made her happier than she could even imagine. Her tribe loved her even if she was blind in one eye and wasn't tribe born. She stood with pride as Dust spoke.

"Sun that Sets on Sea, or to your family, Sunny, do you take this path, knowing you can never return paw to the life you once knew?"

Sunny's thoughts drifted to Gull. She looked in his direction and seeing him with a look of pride made her realize that he wanted this for her as much as she did. She turned back to Dust and made her decision that would change her life.

"I take this path of my own will." she meowed with confidence in her voice.

When Dust stepped toward her, she lowered her head and gaze in respect. When he placed his head on hers she licked his chest as a finally right of becoming the to-be healer and Stoneteller.

Dust's next words made her more aware of what she had chosen. When he told her she couldn't eat, her stomach chose that time to growl in outrage. Embarrassment had her but she lowered her head in respect and meowed "As you say, Dust."

When Dust moved on she turned to Gull at his call. She fidgeted in embarrassment. She could never seem to relax around him. "Thank you, Gull" She purred and walked up to the dark tom.

"It's okay, Gull. You don't need to skip dinner because of me. I'd feel better if you ate." She purred rubbing her head on the toms shoulder.

--------

Aster that Blooms on the Shore

Aster never liked clan meetings. They were too dull and depressing. 'Sure the tribes in hard times but do we really need to spend so much time on it?' the small she-cat muttered. She was about to leave the caves until she saw Little one with small tail make his way through the tribemates. Waving her tail suspiciously, she got an amusing idea. She stalked after Little quietly and when she found an opening, she pounced on the kits tail. When Little yowled she stepped off.

"It's okay, Little. It's just me. Besides, your tail is so small I thought it was a mouses tail. I couldn't help but put my prey-hunter lessons into practice." the she cat purred in amusement.

[Wildheart]

A brownish pelted she-cat sat on the outskirts of the tribal-cats that sat around in small groups at the meeting. Twitching her ringed tail, the she-cat gave a small hiss of agitation when Dust brought up the loner issue. A dog like growl escaped from her tight lips and she couldn't help but bend her ears back and lash her tail. Impulsively, Vine that coils on Rock's claws unsheathed and tried to root themselves into the hard surface of the cave. Don't mention the cat who first reported the loner! She thought to herself, glaring in the direction of the leader who was to far away to notice anything. Because after all, it doesn't matter who found the trespasser. We can all live in harmony with a cat we don't even know and who steals the food of the tribe during fall. That makes so much sense. No wonder you are the all mighty Stoneteller. Vine thought dismissively.

Vine sat near the entrance to the cave and could feel the sun glare off the fur on her back but she ignored the feeling and listened lazyly as news that Sunny was the new to-be was told to the whole tribe. Vine rolled her eyes, but she had to admit that Sunny would be a good enough to-be. Just what the clan needed. Drama. When she saw Dust jump off of the great rocks that the Stoneteller commanded from, Vine slipped away from the group of cats. The warmth and energy emanating from them gave Vine a sense of disgust and jealousy.

From the cave entrance she turned back when she heard the sharp high pitch yowl of a kit. Glancing back, she saw Little and Aster some where nearby. Vine was tempted to turned back to the outside world and continue as if she did not see it, but Vine remembered when she was a kit and how she had always been rejected by everyone and everything that ever came across her. Everything that happened, her brother was always better. Memories of her past made Vine's emotions black with pain and jealousy that spiked her claws and teeth and made her eyes as sharp as sea urchin spikes. Stalking up to the two cats before she even realized it; Vine gave a small hiss to Aster. "Maybe you should pick on someone your own size; or does everybody always win against you so you have to degrade yourself to picking on kits?" She asked the other she-cat; fully amused by the conversation. She didn't very much care about standing up for the small kit, but if she could get a fight out of it, it was worth it. Secretly inside Vine knew how Little felt.