to love the sun that warms our pelts-

[Fin]

The sound of the morning waves crashing against the sandy beach echoed faintly through the rock cave. There was little activity in the tribe's cave, few cats up and about. Earlier that morning, a group of prey-catchers had gone out looking for something to eat for the day before sunrise. Last nights ceremony was a success, a common opinion by all of the tribe-cats. Beneath the great rock lay two figures, a heap of patchy grey and black fur, and a smaller heap of orange fur. The bigger cat had his tail around the smaller cats body, in an effort to keep her warm.

Raising his head sleepily, the tom yawn widely as he woke, looking around the cave groggily. The first rays of sunlight were escaping into the cave through holes in the roof of the cave, a circle of light falling directly on where they slept. It would be a while before the great rock cast a shadow on the floor below. Green eyes glancing around, he decided not to move until Sunny was awake so that he wouldn't move her. On the edge of his vision, he saw a movement from the Stoneteller's cave. It was his brother.

Purring when he saw the brown, grey, familiar cat, Gull caught his brothers attention with a flick of his tail. "Good morning, brother." He meowed warmly.




Dust had spent the night in his den alone, spending most of the night sorting out the place for another cat to move in. The herbs had been pushed closer to the far wall, and Dust had managed to shift his own den up a little. The to-be's den was in a little alcove to the left when you walked in, a slightly rounded dip in the wall that offered a little division between the two nests. After he got some rest, he had been up for a while sitting, thinking of his decisions and the night before.

Emerging from his den, the tom was ready for his routine check on all of his cats. His first stop would the nursery, making sure all of the kit-mothers and kits were present. The other dens would follow shortly after, and finally he would circle the whole cave outer perimeter. It was a fine morning, as he could scent from the air.

Adjusting his eyes to the brightness of the outer-cave, he noticed the two cats sleeping beneath the great rock, where he had held the ceremony the night before. Sunny had held her vigil, and his brother Gull had stayed with her all night. His briother was already awake and beckoning to him.

Dusty padded over happily, his pawsteps chirpy. "Good morning to you too, Gull." Glancing over at the she-cat, he added: "You can eat now. I will fetch you for guard-duty at sunhigh." Leaning over to touch his nose to his brothers cheek, the brown cat took a left and padded toward the nursery with a final look back at his brother.




Gull nodded his head when his brother greeted them, still not moving from where he lay. "We will, thank you." He wouldn't lie about it - he was starving! But it would have felt so wrong to eat last night without Sunny beside him. His brother had given him duties for sunhigh, which meant he could spend the morning with her. In his mind, he thanked his brother as he nodded to Dusty.

After he had gone, Gull licked the she-cats head besides him in an effort to wake her up gently, purring as he did.

[Ruby]

Sun That Sets on the Sea

Sunny was having a beautiful dream. She was in the kit-mother's cave with little kits nestled to her side meowing for her attention. One was colored like her, one like Gull and the other was dark like Gull but had specks of her orange pelt in it as well. She purred and licked each kit happily. She had Gull at her side looking as proud as he had during her to-be Stoneteller ceremony.

When she thought this however, the dream changed drastically. Her kits were gone and she was in the Stoneteller's den. She stood frantically and looked for her dream kits, wanting them by her side and missing the warmth of the last scene. She ran from the den and looked over the cave. What she found hurt her deeply. Gull was with another she-cat with kits that resembled them both. The she-cat was nestled to his side and the kits were looking at her with haunting eyes. "No!" she yowled.

Just as she yowled a wave crashed through the caves...
-----


The moment she felt the water hit her pelt, she woke to Gull's purr and the sound of waves on the shore.

She bristled slightly but quickly recovered and returned Gull's purr. "Good morning, Gull." She purred groggily.

She yawned and stretched her front paws without standing. She settled back next to the dark tom and noticed his tail wrapped around her.

'He kept me warm...'

She playfully batted his tail with hers and touched her nose to his neck then regretfully stood. She stretched and felt her orange pelt ripple with her movements. She licked her paw and groomed her face then, when she was satisfied, she looked to Gull.

"I suppose we should eat. I bet your stomach is upset with you for neglecting it." she purred in amusement and licked the tom's head affectionately.

As she did so, her stomach made loudly its protests at her own neglectful actions towards meal. "I guess mine is as well." She meowed with a hint of embarrassment and humor in her amber eyes.

She then turned but then seemed to have another thought. She looked back at Gull from her right so she could see Gull with her right eye and gave him a smile, "You coming, or not?"

She waved her long tail to get him to follow her.

[Fin]

Gull was surprised when he felt the cat beside him bristle as she woke, as if startled by something, but was relieved when she seemed to calm down almost as quickly. He licked her head once or twice more before moving his head back. Through amused, forest green eyes, Gull watched her bat his tail a few times before he flicked it, swiping at her lightly with it. Tilting his head when she nosed his shoulders, he felt the warmth leave his side as she stood up. Yawning widely again, Gull heaved himself up. The cold air from the ocean had cooled the cave, making his joints ache.

Placing his front paws firmly on the ground, he stretched hugely, his hind going up in the air whilst he lowered the front half of his body to the ground. Standing back up right, Gull scented the air before following after Sunny. He grinned when she spoke - there was truth in her words, he was quite hungry, but he had a sense of happiness in his heart from what he did. Padding after her, Gull caught up and walked beside her.

"Hold on, I'll get us something. Why don't we eat on the beach?" He meowed to her, already on his way over to the pile of fresh-kill. He picked out a fish big enough for the both of them and carried it in his mouth over to where she was. He padded past her, flicking her shoulder with his tail as he went by.

Between the cave and the beach were a few tall, rubbery grasses that were easily travelled over, and soon he spotted a place that would be nice to eat. A tall rock sat slanted in the sand, giving shade over a small area. He walked over to it and waited for Sunny to join him before sitting down to eat.

[Ruby]

Sun that Sets on the Sea

The idea of eating with Gull on the beach had Sunny not only embarrassed but excited. Her heart was doing flips. "That's sounds perfect." She meowed after the tom with a flick of her orange tail.

When Sunny saw the dark tom pick a fish from the pile she was even happier. She loved fish more than any other prey that she'd come across. "You know me too well, Gull." she purred as he came toward her with the fish. She followed after him when he passed.

When they exited the cave the warm light bathed her orange pelt and she purred at the warmth. It was a nice day. Sunny followed after Gull after a few seconds of taking in the sun.

He picked a nice place and she hung back as he sat down under the shade. Sunny suddenly had a nice idea. She was in a playful mood so she decided to follow through with her plan.

She ran up and took the fish from Gull then playfully ran with it. She turned to look at Gull. Her eyes were glinted with a challenge and amusement. She prepared herself to jump away from him if he tried to come toward her.

[Fin]

A grin formed on the tom's face as soon as the she-cat stole the fish, running off with it. The black and grey tom growled a playful "hey!", chasing after her with slowed pawsteps. He ran straight for her but she jumped out of the way before he could reach her. Thinking his strategy through, he leapt back, his tail raised in the air with the thought of a challenge.

He ran around her to her side, diving on her with outstretched paws, but with his claws firmly sheathed. His size was an advantage he was happy to use in this situation. He grappled with her and managed to push her to the sand, careful not to put much of his weight on her, but enough to keep her down.

Gull laughed heartily, his forelegs over her side. Flecks of sand covered his pelt, but he didn't care. He grinned down at her before realising the situation they were in. A red flush instantly came to his furred face and he looked right into her eyes. He nervously cleared his throat.

"Uhmm.. sorry." He said quickly, lifting his paws up from over her and standing up quickly, too embarrassed to shake off the sand from his coat.

[Ruby]

Sun that Sets on the Sea

Sunny dodged the tom with a swift move to her left. She had to keep from laughing or she would drop the fish. He looked very strong as he struck his stance. She prepared herself but he moved quicker then she thought he would be able to.

He went to her bad side, her left and before she could turn she was down with the dark gray tom holding her down. He looked happy and he had clumps of sand in his pelt but he didn't appear to care about that. It was only then she realized their positions.

Sunny felt her face grow hot and Gull seemed to notice as well and when he got off her apologizing, she wanted to laugh. She put the fish down and did just that.

"I think you win the first bite." she meowed as she stepped over to him and removed some the clumps of sand from his pelt. When she was content with the removal of the sand she went to the fish and brought it to Gull and placed it at his paws. "If you would have the honor of starting." she meowed playfully.

[Fin]

The heat of the sun was no match for the blush that spread across Gull's scarred features. He averted his green eyes quickly, noticing he was lingering on her face. He had never really noticed her blind eye, never seeing it as a ugly feature or distracting, instead it made her seem... more beautiful. It might have seemed odd to another cat, but Gull didn't look at Sunny like 'another cat'. Though he was sure she didn't know of his affection, he was always looking out for her. It was why he prized his job as a cave guard.

Having recovered slightly from the previous moment, his thoughts were interrupted by the sudden feeling of the other cat grooming the sand out of his fur. Gull was about to object, but something held him back. His mouth stayed agape before closing again, realising she had retrieved the fish.

Grinning as he nodded, Gull replied with a 'thanks' before tucking straight into the fish. He took a reasonably sized mouthful, then moved back so that Sunny could take a bite. He lay down in the sand, his tail curling as he did by habit.

(worst post ever LOL)

[Ruby]

Sun that Sets on the Sea

Sunny happily took a big bite out a the fish and waved her tail back and for happily. The fish tasted better than usual to Sunny. 'Is it because I'm eating it with Gull, or that I haven't eaten in awhile?' the she-cat decided that maybe it was a bit of both then turned to Gull.

She couldn't help but admire the tom. His dark pelt seemed to shine in the sun, and his green eyes stood out even more vibrant than usual. His curved tail was graceful and gave him a sense of dignity. She felt herself bursting with pride for Gull.

She felt like going for a swim. Walking up to the tom she swatted at his tail playfully then ran past him to the ocean. "Let's go for a swim!" she called behind her as she ran over the warming sand.

[Fin]

and I would answer all of your wishes, if you asked me to

Having not eaten for a while, gull was understandably hungry. He somehow managed to wait patiently for Sunny to eat, then followed suit by sharing some of the fish. Leaving the biggest, last piece for her to eat, he chewed on the last of his meal. Glancing at the she-cat beside him once, he averted his eyes once again. It was acceptable for a Stoneteller to have a mate but... so soon after the ceremony? He wondered how the tribe would react, instantly recoiling at the thought of them rejecting Sunny for his own selfish needs. His ears flattened at the idea, raising again when he heard her speak.

A swim? He nodded quickly to her, standing up almost as fast. She did want to spend time with him, he pondered, but did she love him? Friendship and love were two very different things. Would such a relationship stand the trials of the tribe? The more he wondered about it, about where it would go, the taste in his mouth became more vile. Shaking his head from the thought, he raced after her, trying to catch up.

The ocean was like his retreat, his true calling. He had once heard a cat speak of how he detested water - what a preposterous state of mind. It was their home, their food, their love. The instant his heavy paws hit the water, he grinned. The water was warm, but he could tell it wouldn't be for long as the cold months approached. Treading deeper into the water until it was up to his dark chest, he stood still in the pebbles, his reflection on the calm surface. Gull cast his eyes over the cave in the distance, thinking of his brother and his tribe, before his eyes returned to the she-cat.

Didi he love her? Gull wasn't sure. The need to be with her the need to protect her, was that what the toms on guard spoke of? Or what the elders mewed stories of, their eyes growing warm? His face remained the same, a happy glint to his features.

Having let the warmth of the ocean soak through his fur, he grinned his teeth as he began to run for Sunny. His big paws sent up sprays of water as he ran, his tail flailing behind. Diving out of the deeper water into the more shallower area where she was, he created a huge splash that jumped up into the air like an exploding volcano.

"Hey Sunny, you're a bit wet!" Gull meowed, laughing heartily as he did, jumping around her splashing about, all of his previous fears gone.

He guessed he was in love, after all.

but if you denied me one of your kisses, I don't know what I'd do

[Ruby]

Sun that Sets on the Sea

Sunny loved the water. It was somewhat warm today which made the water even better. She liked cold water too but warm water was more... comforting. She felt the bits of sand wash out of her pelt, and she purred happily. She looks to Gull just in time to see his bolt toward her succeeding in getting her pelt further soaked.

Wide-eyed at Gull's sudden attack, she felt like laughing and getting revenge on the tom at the same time. Her left ear twitched and she glared competitively at the dark tom. The she-cat knew how to use the water to her advantage. "Be prepared!" she meowed courageously.

Sunny took her long tail and placed it on the surface of the water. She then turned her body and swung her tail over the surface of the water, creating a mini wave to splash the tom. After this she used what little leverage she could get from the water and jumped in the direction of the tom, causing a wave like the one Gull himself had done. When she was done she stepped out of the water and laid down on the shore in the sun and relaxed.

She looked at Gull in amusement and her heart felt like it was about to burst. 'I really love this tom, don't I? It's so much fun being with him. I can't picture being without him.' Her thoughts drifted to the strange dream she had had. Even the vague image of that other she-cat with Gull still pierced Sunny deeply. 'I can't lose him...'

It was only then she also took in the fact that she was a to-be Stoneteller. She couldn't have kits or the kits would suffer. She then got back to her first part of the dream. When she had had the kits, everything was happy but... the other side the caves filled with water. 'Could that have been a sign of the Tribe of Endless Hunting?' She thought deeply on that for awhile and then decided that if it was a message then surely they would send it again? She could only hope.

She returned her attention back to Gull. 'I would love to have his kits, and to be his mate but... what would the tribe think? They would be fine with the mate part but... what if Gull really wants kits? Would he move on to another tribe cat who can have kits with him freely? Oh... why does this have to be so difficult.' Sunny watched the waves for a moment.

'It's because from now on I must put the tribe before myself.' she couldn't help but feel a little torn at this.

[Fin]

Gull laughed heartily when she challenged him, retaliating his attack right back at him. His black fur was thick with water, but he wasn't affected by it as he was used to it. Forest green eyes followed the she-cat when she left the water as she retreated to the shore. The smile on Gull's face never faltered as he watched, his tail slowly moving through the water absent-mindedly. He wasn't sure what he felt in his heart - it was love, for sure, but why sadness? Deep in the pit of his existence, he felt a twinge of guilt. Was he putting Sunny into a predicament as he knew Stonetellers couldn't have kits, for shame of her tribe? His mood darkened. He hoped she din't think all he wanted was kits from her, there was so much more. She was his obsession, his everything, and it hurt to think they couldn't be together.

With a glance to the sky, noting the sun almost in the middle of the sky, he sighed heavily. Padding forward towards the shore, he felt the pebbles beneath his paws glide across his pads as he emerged from the shallow water. He shook his pelt once, managing to get most of the water out, and when he raised his head he looked at Sunny. She was looking at him, but she looked away at the waves.

His deep meow lined with sympathy, he said: "What's wrong, Sunny? You seem sad." He walked over to her, sitting on the sand. He curled his tail around his legs, patiently listening to what she said before flicking his ears toward the direction of the cave. He heard a yowl - his brothers distinctive call, soft but loud - summoning him for the sunhigh guard exchange. He kept his eyes on the cave for a second before turning to Sunny, his expression dimmer.

"I'm sorry, we have to get back now. Come on." He added at the end, standing and flicking his tail to her muzzle before walking slowly off toward their home. It had been a good morning, he decided as he looked over his shoulder at her.

[Ruby]

Sun that Sets on the Sea

Gull's question pulled Sunny from her tangled thoughts, which made her even more aware of how much she needed Gull around. Who else can make me feel better just by asking me if something is wrong? She sat quietly for a moment, deciding what she should say and shouldn't.

"It was just a dream." She meowed looking out at the waves. Her heart hurt but the she-cat didn't think she was ready to tell Gull what had happened in her dream. She knew he would try to reassure her that he wouldn't leave her, but she didn't want to have to hold him to such a promise. Hearts and feelings change over time, making him make such a promise... doesn't seem right.

When Dust's yowl carried to them, she knew their morning was over. He would go off and do what he was born to, and she would do what she had vowed to do the night before, become a good Stoneteller for the tribe.

Sunny's heart grew heavier at this thought. It feels like something is ending today. I hope I'm not right...

She stood and followed behind Gull. Batting at his tail with her paw playfully. "It's fine."

Sunny entered the camp with a silent prayer to the Tribe of Endless Hunting. Please let Gull and I be happy, together.

Flanelle

The beautiful she-cat stepped over the rolling hills of sand. She had been wandering recently looking for a place to settle in and she was liking this beach. The she cat had scented a group of cats but knew they were not clan cats and didn't know of any other cats and the cats had yet to retaliate to her presence so she wasn't alarmed by them. Besides, she wanted to see if her fighting skills were still up to pare.

Flanelle spotted a lone she-cat on the beach. Flanelle let her senses take in if there was any other cats nearby. She caught the scent of a strange tom but she couldn't quite see another cat.

She stepped forward out into the open and saw that the she-cat saw her. The she-cat bristled and took a fighting stance, Flanelle gladly followed suit. She looked over her enemy and immediately pinpointed her weakness. She's blind on her left side. I'll attack from the left.

With that Flanelle leapted forward without another thought.

""

[Fin]

The heavily-built dark tabby glanced over his shoulder, the playful expression still glinting in his eyes as he watched Sunny bat his tail, but he knew they had to return. He knew neither felt obliged but, for the first time in his life, he felt the need to be with the she-cat instead of his tribe. What a terrible thought! He quickly looked forward again, his eyes cast on the sand beneath their paws as it became rockier, but he didn't mind. Their pads were hardened by a lifetime of walking on this sharp rocks, so much so that it felt no different to the sand.

As Gull leapt up a large rock as a shortcut to the cave, he looked back as he waited for her when he spotted something. A cat, and it was heading right for them! Sunny was already retaliating with a stance and a hiss, but Gull's paws began to move. He didn't know what it was, but a sudden rage took over. He had never felt so angry as this, being a gentle tribe cat, but just the sight of a cat trying to hurt Sunny brought out a side of Gull that had rarely been seen before.

With one mighty leap, he crashed down onto the attacker, pinning them down with a loud hiss. His green eyes flashed at the cat beneath his paws, then back to Sunny, as if to ward her away from the danger.

"Don't you ever dare touch her." He meowed in a menacingly low voice, bouncing backward as lightly as a heavy cat could, standing protectively infront of Sunny. He had wanted to attack the cat, but the life of a tribe cat wouldn't allow it, no matter the cause. "Who are you!" He yowled, hoping the noise would attract attention from the cave that wasn't too far away.

[Ruby]

Sun that Sets on the Sea

All that Sunny could think was 'not her'. When the loner had appeared she'd naturally got into a fighting stance. This she-cat she'd know anywhere. This was the she-cat from her dream! She hissed out of anger. She couldn't stand by while the she-cat that had appeared in her dream had taken Gull and had his kits.

When the other she-cat had leapt at her, she had been caught off-guard. When he pinned the loner, Sunny naturally tried to approach but when Gull glanced at her, she corrected herself. His threatening words made her heart calm down. This she-cat couldn't possibly take Gull from her, could she?

When Gull took up a stance to protect her, she couldn't help but feel safe, even with the loner who had tried to attack her so close.

Flanelle

Flanelle felt the air leave her lung as the male landed on her. She expected the gray tom to start clawing at her exposed belly but he leapt away instead. The ways of the cats in this area were a completely foreign. If a clancat or a rouge tom had his mate attacked, Flanelle would have been torn into pieces. When the tom moved off of her and took up a stance in front of the partially blind she-cat, Flanelle stood up. She shook the loose sand clumps from her fur. She couldn't take much more of this sandy beach. She sat down in the sand, more to put the tribe cats on edge that she was so calm and unafraid of them.

She didn't like the glare she was getting from the she-cat more so than the tom. The she-cat seemed to be... jealous? Of Flanelle? She found this even more baffling. The she-cat looked as though Flanelle had taken her prized possession. The tom's yowl was probably loud enough to attract the rest of the tribe's attention but Flanelle took little notice of that, she was a VERY fast she-cat afterall.

"I really don't understand you tribe cats. The clans are so much more, hostile than your bunch." she meowed, avoiding his question. She saw the she-cat tense behind her mate. What was it that made this she-cat so threatened of her when a second ago she was actually going to attack Flanelle? 'A curious bunch of cats...'

[Fin]

An intense growl ripped from Gull's throat, one never heard before. He had never felt so... offended - offended by the presence of some cat who wished to harm Sunny. All of his morals seemed to disappear in his head, the ones he had been taught to stick by for so long, since birth. For once, he was very pleased that he was so naturally big - he could act as her shield with ease. Lashing his tail once before curling it around Sunny's foreleg, he took a step forward, his claws digging into the sandy ground beneath.

A tribe-cat through and through, yet he was prepared to attack this loner? The thought faltered his movements, his snarl easing up a little, confusion set in his eyes. He could never kill, not even maim, if she hadn't really caused any bodily harm to either of them. She had tried, and not managed it, but only because of his intervention. What if she had? The idea of it set him off again, sending him forward another step, his tail coming away from her leg.

"I'll count to ten - if you're not gone by the end, I'll claw you from here to the clans." He growled between his teeth, his eyes glaring at her menacingly.

"Gull!" The call came.

A brown shape hurried along the shoreline, flanked by two bigger cats. It was Dust, Gull's brother, Sunny's new mentor and most importantly - the tribe's stoneteller. His paws splayed sand as he ran fast toward them, skidding to a halt a few tail lengths away, creating a minature dune next to his feet. Padding over, he shouldered his brother back towards Sunny and urgently turned to him, his honey-eyes flashing with alarm.

"You were ready to attack. I see no evidence that she has harmed you or Sunny, therefore you are wrong. Do you think the rules don't apply to you any more?" Dust said quickly in a disappointed tone, like a father would to a disobedient child. Raising his head a little, his eyes still locked onto his brothers, Dust spoke again: "We are not savages, remember that, brother." He didn't like to treat Gull like this, but now that he was leader, he couldn't be treated specially.

Raising his expression, Dust turned to the strange cat, sniffing the air once, confirming that it was the cat scented in their area. "Welcome, newcomer, to the home of the Tribe of Endless Ocean. We are peaceful cats and do not condone violence," He turned pointedly to his brother at this moment, "and will not chase you off as long as you do not harm any of our cats. I am Place Where Dust Settles, Stoneteller of the tribe."

[Ruby]

Flanelle

Flanelle almost purred at the fact that she had gotten the tom so upset as to threaten her. She found this tom quite amusing, to say the least. The new meow that rang out made Flanelle stand up, so as to run if she were to be threatened by the tribe leader as well.

For the leader to reprimand the tom caught her by surprise. "I don't think I'll ever understand your tribe ways but... If you will be polite so will I. I am called Flanelle by those who know me. I have come from the clans to seek out a new place to call home or at least to get away for a bit. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Dust." She looked over the tom who had nearly attacked her. She liked him. The fact that he nearly attacked her hadn't really fazed her but another glance at the partially blind she-cat got her back on track.

"As you seem to be so hospitable to outsiders, maybe I may stay here for a moon? But first I believe we have gotten off on the wrong paw." She turned to the she-cat. "I am sorry for attacking you. What is your name?" The she-cat looked away for a second but seemed to reach some inner decision and answered her. "Sun That Sets On The Sea, you may call me Sunny."

Flanelle could see the effort it took Sunny to say something so politely to her but she didn't look into it any further. She instead turned her attention to the tom who had leapt at her. "And I may call you...?"

Sun that Sets on the Sea

Sunny knew she should have stopped Gull but Dust had stepped forward before she could say or do anything. Her pelt bristled at the politeness Dust showed the foreign she-cat. She let her inner emotions calm by touching her nose to Gull's bristled pelt.

She knew that she shouldn't have reacted to the she-cat the way she had. If she hadn't, then maybe Gull wouldn't have gotten scolded. She looked to Flanelle, as she introduced herself and say the she-cats eyes shift to Gull. She felt herself bristle but made no other sign of distress. She had to compose herself in front of Dust.

At the she-cats suggestion to stay for a moon she felt dread creep through her. A moon of this she-cat would be torture to her. Just as she thought this Flanelle stepped to her and dipped her head in an apologetic greeting. Part of her wanted to hiss at her but she gathered her thoughts and remembered her place. "Sun That Sets On The Sea, you may call me Sunny." She was glad she was able to get it out without any malice in her meow. When Flanelle turned her attention to Gull she made no movements or sounds.

[Fin]

As soon as his brother appeared, Gull instantly envied the warriors of the far away forests. If their leader found a trespasser on their land... well, he actually didn't know what they would do. He had never met a forest cat, let alone a warrior. Maybe he would one day. He felt the need to stand back a little when his brother - no, his leader - and his guard came between them. He knew that Sunny was facing the the same emotions when he felt the soft touch of her nose upon his pelt. Responding with a reassuring flick of his tail along her neck, Gull's eyes flashed when Flanelle switched her attention to him.

"Gull." Sunny had managed restraint, but Gull had not. In fact, it was hard to tell if he had actually tried at all. The tone in his voice was not nearly as aggressive as before, yet it carried an underlying warning - back off from Sunny. The black tom avoided his brothers judging-gaze, keeping his forest-green eyes focused on the she-cat. Dust could control his actions, but never his feelings.

Watching his brother carefully, Dust was displeased. Did Gull not know better? He had never acted like this before. Such disregard for their way of life, the way of life he had always abided by. His eyes then moved to the figure behind his sibling - Sunny. Little emotion was apparent on his face, but one could tell that the To-be was going to hear about this later. Looking back to Flanelle, he smiled gently.

"Of course. We would never turn a cat away." He meowed warmly to her, and then turning to the pair, he meowed "Gull, you will be her guide. You will help her make a nest, teach her to hunt and show her our home. Sunny, you have other duties to attend. You need to learn our native herbs." Dust said, his tone changing a little when he spoke to them, clearly showing his discontent. He saw the look on his brother's face - shocked, to say the least and from the way he moved closer to Sunny it was clear he didn't approve of being with another she-cat.

The stoneteller's guard turned to lead the group back to the cave, and Dust soon joined the line behind him. Looking over his shoulder, he meowed for the three cats to follow.

[Ruby]

Flanelle

Flanelle flicked her tail in amusement at how the tom, Gull, had introduced himself making it very clear that he disliked her. She was shocked that Dust would suggest that Gull assist her with becoming acquainted with the tribe.

'I guess that is the punishment for not following the strict non-violence unless necessary rule. Poor tribe-cat, less time with his mouse-brained mate.'

She held back the purr at that thought and the only sign that she was amused would be shown through the movement of her whiskers and the swish of her tail.

She walked behind Dust as he followed his guards back to camp. She couldn't wait to find out how this turned out.

Sun that Sets on the Sea

Sunny knew she was gonna hear about this later and that thought made her bristle. She had just been named a to-be and she was already in trouble. Maybe she wasn't cut out for this. Maybe Dust would take back the position and give it to another cat suitable for the job. She was saddened at that thought.

Then Dust told Gull that he was to be Flanelle's guide. Sunny instantly bristled at that thought. She wanted to speak up against it but she remembered whose fault this was and kept back her protest. Gull moving closer to her side gave her an assurance that words couldn't. Gull wasn't happy with this arrangement either which made the arrangement less horrifying.

Sunny bowed her head at Dust when he told her what she must be doing. "I will do that, Dust." At least Sunny knew that Dust was going to keep her as to-be, for now. She hoped that Flanelle's visit will be short and sweet. And sent a silent plea to their ancestors that the loner would quickly grow tired of tribe life and leave.