Posts by _Cypress_

Voiced and sobbing mingled in Cy's ears as he padded about, shifting his wandering pawsteps to a goal oriented trot. The thin tabby made his way to the small group, joining Lulu and Sergei beside the broken down feline. Concerned hazel eyes rested on Anubys and the healer apprentice quickly looked him over once for the source causing the tears. "Are you alright Anubys?" Nothing physical that he could see, but the pain in his clanmates eyes told him something was deeply wrong. "Breath. Everything is going to be alright." He aimed to rest his thin tail across toms shoulders, hoping to give some comfort to the shaking trapper.

Abandonment ran rampant in Bloodclan it seemed, just a bunch of orphans hoping to find a family in one another. He was not excluded from this list unfortunately. He too had been abandoned by a father deeming himself too weak to remain by his kits sides, leaving them in the cruelty of the open city and the grasping claws of a clan of blood. Though strangely enough, not many had true blood bonds. A weird coincidence maybe.

The thin charcoal tom padded over to the small patrol of felines, greeting the small stranger with warmth in his smile. "No need to be sorry, we aren't going to hurt you because you lost your way. It is an honest mistake." He glanced over at Bee and could help but agree with her as the kit spoke f having nowhere to go. He didn't want to see any kit being left to fend for themselves, it just wasn't right.

What a strange duo, someone so chipper with someone so harsh. Wasn't that how the greatest of friendships started? Or maybe the greatest of enemies for the looks of how the tom just snapped at the molly. Cypress watched Hound bring in the stranger and just leave her in the middle of the station, biting words trailing in his wake. The thin tyro shook his head slightly before making his way over to the pretty molly, a warm smile gracing his face. "Hello there, I see you've made a friend in our resident snapping turtle." He purred softly, glancing over at the trailing form of Hound. "Welcome to Bloodclan, I'm Cypress."

Concern laced his face as the thin tabby joined his clan mates at Rylands call, the leader still looked a bit sickly to the Tyro. Cypress settled himself down but watched the feline before him for any signs that he was going to fall over of have a coughing fit or anything like that.

/lame tracking post from mobile

Cypress couldn't help but sit in thought, silent as Venom's words rolled around in his head. The heat was an abnormality, something that should be but still was. It gripped the world in the same cruel claws as the cold of leafbare but with the other paw. Sure he had only ever known cold, being born withing the first few snow falls, but his interactions with the heat were uncomfortable and came with the agony of starvation and dehydration. It really was a cruel world outside of an upwalkers den, a cruel world indeed.

"Perhaps the weather will return to normal when Bloodclan gains a sense of stability?" His voice was softer, a bit more hushed as he spoke these words, eyes once more roaming to the world outside the stone walls around them. He was almost eight moons and had already seen three leaders come and go, and the weather remained hectic throughout each rein. It was an odd coincidence in the young tom's book, too much so to look past. He never shared his thoughts, for the chance of offending someone, but the two sitting beside him seemed the least likely to react negatively. Perhaps they could even shut down the train of thought and ease that small part of his mind?

Cypress was well aware of fading scent line of this area, his own scent mingling with scents of the land still not having faded away. He frequented this area for many of reasons, looking for herbs, hunting, needing alone time, and hoping to see Snakepaw. The Shadowclan border was his only real chance of meeting the dark coated apprentice again and he took that chance whenever he had a free moment. Today was no exception. He had slipped away from his memorizing to trail his way to the border, his thoughts only on the cheery grin and sparking eyes of his friend. He missed the scent of Ryland as he crossed the leaders path the first time, but as he grew nearer and nearer to Shadowclan his picked up the slightly sickly scent that had been claiming Juno's room for the last few days.

What was Ryland doing all the way out here? His concern pricked at his paw pads, indecision pulling him in two directions. He hesitated, fighting with his inner monologue about being a healer in training and the responsibilities that came with that position. He let out a soft growl and choice a path.

Pushing his narrow head through the brush his hazel gaze rested on Ryland and a small group of strangers, Shadowclan scent bathing his tongue like a fresh kill. Weaving the rest of his thin frame out he took up position beside Ryland, glancing over at him only once with concern that quickly changed back to warmth. No need to let enemies know about any kind of weakness in the leader, he'd ask the wiry tom how he was feeling after the strangers dispersed. He stood with silent acknowledgement of the patrol, there only as a precautionary onlooker Three against one really wasn't that fair and to be honest three against one and a half trained healer apprentice wasn't much better, but it was better then leaving his leader on his own.

At Canarysong's words of a lost clanmate Cypress' thoughts once more went back to Snakepaw, involuntarily really, but shook the thought away. He had been returned home safely, so they much be speaking of someone else. He raked his brain but couldn't recall finding any Shadowclanners within their city, at least not recently. "As far as I know we haven't met any Shadowclanners in our borders. No one has spoken of one either." He looked up at Ryland to be sure of that but quickly looked back at the molly as she asked about their clan name and collars. He carefully lifted a paw to brush against his maroon neck piece, shifting his ears back slightly. He wasn't quite sure why most of the cats in Bloodclan had the same adornment, it was just something had had grown use to seeing. The leather strap that hung loosely around his own throat was reminiscent of his kithood with his mother and siblings in the safety of an upwalker den, it felt wrong to remove it for fear of forgetting where he came from. But on this he remained silent, he honestly didn't know what to tell the female, for he too was curious on the matter brought up.

Cypress calmly sat as Anubys took in his words and took control of his breathing once more, regaining his composure for the time being it seemed. He kindly leaned forward as the feline whispered to him about wanting to talk, and glanced down at the little innocent molly beside them. He understood the tom's worry, young minds tend to mold around the stories they hear. The charcoal tyro crouched down to be eye level with Lulu, warmth spreading over hi face. "Now Lulu, can I give you a job? It's a very important one. Can you go find Juno and ask him for poppy seeds? Let him know it's for Anubys and not you. Can you do that for me?" He smiled, hoping the little molly would snatch up the job and leave the adults to talk.

Late to party, like always it seemed. Unlike Juno, Cypress didn't have that knack for knowing when a cat was injured or sick, not yet at least. He did however have a knack for being in the right place at the right time. He had been out hunting down a meal and had sadly returned empty pawed when he had seen the great Sergei collapse. Instinct kicked into overdrive and he quick joined with his mentor and clanmates beside the fallen ripper. His hazel gaze was intent on Juno's movements his ears flicking about to everyone as they spoke.

He opened his jaws to comment on Sergei's insistence that they don't use herbs on him when a biting comment sounded from behind the little group. the tyro lifted his head and looked over his shoulder at Hound. "Sharp words catch no prey." He smiled softly. "That's why we need Sergei's claws in the clan."

"Blood-Oaths are done to show loyalty to Bloodclan, a permanent mark to show others where your heart lies. The fighting pits are for punishments...." Cypress quieted himself, he wasn't too keen on the pits in honesty, too brutal in his mind. To force a cat to fight an number of dangers for breaking a rule or two, it made him shiver to think of anyone he cared about in those bloody arenas. "What are the Swamp trials?" He was intrigued by the name already, so maybe the clans were more similar then he had first thought, though without all the bloodshed on his clans part.

As they walked on Cypress took his opportunity to look over the tom, eyes wandering over the previous stranger now turned walking companion. He was taller then Cy, the top of his head practically eye level with the Shadowclanner. Why did he have to be so short? His hazel gaze watched the hard muscles shift under the dark coat, contracting with each step, well defined. He would be a challenge in battle, easily being able to take down his own thin form. Though the thought of being in battle had never crossed his mind, he was a healer, not a fighter. Hopefully he would never have to meet with this apprentice claw to claw for he knew without a doubt he would loose. Then his gaze was drawn to the scarring on his mouth. The sharp teeth peeked through the torn flesh, showcasing to the world a hardened set of canines. How had he managed to get a wound like that? He wanted to ask, be it curiosity or just his healer in training mentality, but he refrained. He didn't want to offend the friendly individual. And staring was offensive enough. Cypress quickly turned away from the tom, ears hot. How long had be been observing Snakepaw? Had the black tom noticed his wandering eyes?

"I'll come as well." Cypress padded over at the felines call to arms. He's raided a church and lost two of his front claws in the process but he had no good reason not to join the patrol. He knew the ins and outs of upwalker dens, having lived in one as a younger cat, so he might be of some use. Plus he was itching to get out of the station and into the chilly air, the stagnant warmth leaving the building hard to relax in.

The moon hung somewhere in the sky, covered over by the thick dark clouds that seemed like they would never break. The layer of darkness over the only light of the night cast a sort of gloomy shadow over the earth. It crept in through the shattered windows of the train station and crawled across the floor like a hidden enemy. It was a dark time, a stormy time, a time for sleep and soft dreams, but the movements of a creature in the night was anything but accidental. The darkly coated frame slipped about the small room like a ghost, fluttering about small piles of leaves and roots, flowers and stems. The shape pausing at each for a few heartbeats before moving on to another. The shadowed feline blended almost perfectly into the darkness cast by such an odd weather pattern and calmly went about its business without hesitation or fear of the creeping night. It was actually a welcome comfort to the shadow. A home he frequently occupied along with few others.

Cypress carefully studied the small piles he passed, trying his best to remember any sort of information he gleaned from them. He had so little training. He had no battle training and could barely hunt, though natural instinct kicked in enough for him to feed himself, and his healing training seemed to be on the back burner. He felt useless in his current state. A young cat with no purpose. No need of him. Useless. Why was he even here? He was no help to the clan he called home and his father was proof that Bloodclan had no room for useless creatures. Creatures like him. He didn't want to be useless. He wanted to help, to heal. To care for those who needed another paw, a firm word, a calm comfort. His determination was strong but waning. What did the others think? They agree with you. You're useless really.

Cy shook his head, looking around for the source of the voice. No one. An empty room with only him and his thoughts. Hazel gaze still searching, it had to come from somewhere. On wary paws the thin tyro moved to his door and pushed it open all the way, shoving a thick stone under the brittle wood to keep it open and safe from the drafts. He didn't like the enclosed feeling his room was giving him at the moment. In the doorway he paused, peering out at the dark halls, hoping to see a form or two to know he wasn't alone in the world. That someone else was awake and about. The loneliness creeping into his soul was weighted, dragging at his chest with each pawstep back to his herbs. Once more, with a bit less feeling he went back to studying.

Why bother little one. No one will come to you for healing. You're the son of a murderer. He was on his paws in an instant, claws scrapping harshly against the cold stone beneath them. Panic swam through the tabby's eyes as they shot about the room. There was someone here. There had to be. Voices don't just come from no where. The short fur along his spine stood ridged as he turned in a slow circle, still seeking the source of the voice.

"Who's there? Why are you saying these things?" He called out to the darkness, his voice edged with the same panic that pumped the blood faster through his veins. His thin frame was shaking, shivering though the cold around him was bearable and welcoming. Spasms started in his paws, flexing his claws in and out, slowly at first then with more confidence. The cold in the air seemed to seep into his blood as he shifted his gaze to the involuntary movement. He urged his muscles to stop, to sheath the lethal weapons and relax but to no avail. What was happening? Was he sick? Herbs. There had to be some kind of herb that would help this.... this.... whatever this was. Moving towards the herbs was another story though, as he tried to take a step his body remained frozen in time, unwilling to listen to his demands.

Sorry little dove, can't have you drugging me away this time. Darkness clouded his vision and the room around him vanished into nothing, leaving him standing alone in a void of his own making. Please. Not again. He wanted to reach up, brush his pads against the thick scars along his throat from a night not too long ago, but he still couldn't move. Like the change of the weather, it's my turn to see the moonlight. The soft hiss floated about his, growing distant like the sunset at dusk. Leaving him alone in the swallowing void of nothing.

The glazed look that had taken hold of Cypress disappeared almost as fast as it took hold of him, it seemed the tyro had a moment of blankness that now grew back to clarity. But he wasn't all there, not truly. As he blinked the haze away his hazel eyes seemed to deepen in color, a darker green swallowing the warmth and kindness that laced his gaze since he was but a young kitten. Something deeper shown through, a glimmer of chaos never known to inhabit the healer to be. The corner of his mouth twitched a bit before rising, a smirk that gave way to a grin, a cackle piercing the silence of the station bursting forth like vomit. Eyes widening and a wild aura came sweating from his bristled pelt as his head whipped around, finally narrowing in on the pile of precious herbs. "We can't have the others knowing how hard you're working." A crazed chuckle escaped once more. "Pardon me. They can't know WE'VE been working hard." There was no one to stop him as he lunged at the piles, claws extended to the point of pain shooting up his limbs as he made contact with the ground. He was a raging bull as he made his way through the leaves, roots, and whatever else he had collected. Tearing, shredding, laughing, all while that chaotic look never left his face. The strong sharp scents filled the small room and made its way down the hall, filling the felines nose with a job well done. Only when the last small pile was scattered and left in leaf litter did the charcoal tabby cease his manic movements, eyes still darting around and jaws salivating with pride. "Good, good. We did good Cypress. This is what you need. What we need. A push, a prod. For you to be better." He wanted to showcase his new skills, his claws had been hidden away for too long. Maybe he could stretch them a bit, surely Juno had a stash of leaves and such somewhere? He tried to take a step towards the door, yet once again he couldn't move. His paws locked in place. See, you have more strength then you ever realized. Now use it!

Once more darkness enveloped the young tom's sight and the void opened back up, a bristling and furious Cypress stood prone. What had happened? He was left in darkness, he felt and saw nothing, till the scraggly form stepped out of the black. "What is this? Why am I here again?" Anger laced each hiss that escaped his clenched jaws. The bedraggled form of himself simply smiled a crooked smile, discomfort pulling at his skin just by the sight of it. But no words. Just silence. Then he was gone.

Once more the glazed look vanished and the hazel warmth he was known for returned to his eyes. Horror soon enveloped him though. The scattered remains of his study material lay everywhere, shredded and useless at his claws. His claws. The healing juices dripped from his paws as he quickly sheathed his aching weapons, causing him to wince and take a step back from the wreckage. No. He had done this. The proof was on his paws. How could he have done this? He had been standing among the pile only a few seconds ago, now it looked as if a tornado swept through his room. He didn't understand. He needed to get rid of everything, before anyone saw what he had done. In a panicked fashion he began the process of cleaning away his shame.

//Long and winded, I'm sorry. But for anyone wanting to post, here's the simplified version:

Cypress studying when a glazed look over came him (Dissociated)

He came too and went manic pretty much then glazed over again (Dissociated again)

Then came too again and panicked about the mess and the destroyed herbs, started to clean them up.

He's developing Multiple Personality Disorder encase anyone was wondering.

Jump in please! <3\\

"Our leader, Ryland should be here soon." Cypress slipped among his clanmates, ever present at the border that sat closest to Shadowclan. His heart called for him from the shadowed marshes and the thought of visiting claimed his silent hours. Not for the massive tabby before them, but for the lithe apprentice that walked his dreams. The thick scent of illness was what called his attention to the small gathering of felines, and it hung from his fathers pelt like dripping rain. "You're sick." Cypress frowned and moved himself between Bramblelight and his clanmates. He did't recognize the scent and didn't know if it was contagious. No sadness entered his tone this time around, he had left that feeling of abandonment on Shadowclan's doorstep. "Why have you brought sickness here?" He urged softly, careful to still keep his distance.

He had been lacking in in attention to his clanmates, keeping to himself after his episode. He felt like he was going to hurt someone, not on purpose, but he didn't want to chance it. But something was bringing him back. Slowly he was coming back to himself and what better way then to take on a task. "I'll take one as well."

The throng of cats gathering before Ryland was parted as the thin framed shadow wove his way through, seating himself at the front with warm nods to his fellow clanmates. Hazel eyes gazed up at the still sickly looking tom cat at the head of the group of bloodthirsty and starved felines. Worry blazed forth as Cypress looked over his bedraggled form. He shouldn't be up and about, he should be resting in the healer's room. Curled up and dozing, not standing for his members and wasting energy on anything but healing. Didn't Ryland realize how much the clan needed him. How much of a toll it would take on the members of Bloodclan to lose yet another leader in such short a time frame after their last. Cy would have to have a word with the senior members about keeping a closer watch on the leader when the thin tom began to speak.

First he spoke of bones, an obvious part of the meeting that everyone sat through in hopes of hearing their name called. Not Cypress though, he knew no bones were coming his way, not this time. Then the old territory was spoken off. This made his pears perk up as the old half-river and the church were spoken of. He'd arrived in the clan only after the move from the bat infested camp of old, only ever knowing the station as home. Then Ryland spoke of shrinking borders, not cutting off the city but releasing it to mayhem and chaos. A good thing for some in the clan. They can have their way with what strangers happen to cross their paths. A good choice really. Then food came up. Cypress turned his gaze to him own thin frame, his fur and skin hanging from his bones like a dead weight. He'd never really noticed how skinny he was getting. Following in Juno's pawsteps it seemed. Speaking of the healer, he was gone.

Cy's head shot up, meeting Ryland's gaze with sadness. He'd spoken with Juno before he had left, had let out his fear and worry and anger at being left by yet another family member. And a mentor at that. But still, the black tom had gone, leaving Cypress alone once more. With so much more weight on his shoulders then ever before. He stood and dipped his head respectfully to his leader, he would do his best to live up the healers of the past. He may not have the knowledge yet, but he would get there, and nothing would stop him from keeping his clanmates safe. "Thank you Ryland. I will do my best to help my clanmates."

Cypress among the many, was also not born in Bloodclan. He had been born in a warm upwalker den with his siblings, living a safe and comfortable life with his mother when she was ripped away from this world by a hungry canine. He had been dragged her by a father who then abandoned him as well. Bloodclan was a had place to grow up, but grow up you did. If you didn't, the place and creatures on it would overwhelm you. Cypress learned at too early of an age to fend for one's self, but chose to learn from it. He had taken on the role of healing, and helping instead of war and bloodshed. Thankfully so for he was a lousy fighter and a worse hunter.

"Nice catch." He greeted with a warm smile, padding over on narrow paws to look the bird over. It was more prey then they had seen in days, though the small creatures were coming out of hiding finally. He watch Rocco sneak out of hiding and chomp down on the carcass and let out a small purr of amusement. The younger cats had to be starving, he knew he was. But he turned away from the the prey, unwilling to eat until others had their share. He would be fine, though the way his fur hung limply along his bones spoke otherwise.

Rocco wasn't the only one fighting his demons. Cypress had left the confines of the station and paced about the forest, brushing through undergrowth like a cat on a mission yet his gaze was trained forward and glazed with inner thought. A frozen tundra whipped about his mind as he fought with his own subconscious, what was he going to do? Should he tell Ryland? Surely the leader wouldn't want someone in his..... condition healing the clan. It was absurd. It was ludicrous. It was.....

A small voice sounded from above, breaking through the thoughts that clouded his head. Cypress paused where he stood under a grand towering tree, looking around for the source of the call. "Hello?" His hazel eyes trailed up to the branches overhead as another call rang out, this time seeking help. He squinted and caught the dark coat and familiar face of Rocco and finally the fear scent hit him. The tyro appeared to be stuck. "Rocco, what are you doing up there?" Cypress stood on his hindlegs, resting his forepaws on the thick trunk. His claws picked at the bark but he remained on the ground. He glanced at his left paw, the two missing claws making him second guess any attempt at rescue himself. He'd be no use in this endeavor. "Hold tight Rocco. I'll get someone to help."