Posts by Illuminus

The orange tabby deputy shook his head, trying to rid himself of the tiredness spreading through his body. Sharp, furry ears picked up the sounds of the kits playing about in the nursery, making a ruckus only the young were capable of. He grinned to himself, remembering the days when he was an apprentice and his sister was still a young kit, when they could play all the time with the other young cats. He sighed fondly, wishing he could have another day of youth.

Azuresky blinked her mint eyes open slowly and yawned cutely from her ball-like position. The bright, but sleep-filled eyes fought to widen and awaken themselves as she clumsily unfurled herself and pushed herself up to sit. Another yawn overtook the young she-cat before she could begin grooming her bedhead pelt.

Russetoak stepped forward, so that he was in between the she-cats while Scarletfeather checked on the apprentice. He studied Brackenmoon with hard, calculated eyes. He wanted to trust this she-cat because she was one of his clanmates, but how could one hurt another in the same clan? Like a hawk, the dark tom observed the unusual female while his ears flickered, listening to what Shatteredpaw would have to say.
Why would you do this? He thought.

"Snap out of it, Brackenmoon." Russetoak called softly, taking a step towards the she-cat. He glanced at Lionroar off to the side, knowing he had some back up if things went badly.

Would you hurt her? He silently asked himself. His pale eyes hardened as he returned his gaze to the menacing she-cat. Yes, A little growl buried itself in the tom's chest. For the safety of the Clan.

He heard Scarletfeather nearby, but held his position. Determined to figure out what was wrong with the gray and white cat.

The dark tom lashed his tail with frustration and shot a glare at the deputy. Knowing his rank, he took a step back, but bit his tongue, holding back a retort that wasn't needed in a time like this. His eyes focused back on Brackenmoon, otherwise ignoring Scarletfeather, and trying to keep an eye on the hidden she-cat.

Russetoak hissed as Scarletfeather went after Brackenmoon and looked to Lionroar with wide, pale eyes.

"We need to get Shatteredpaw out of here and get back up. Scarletfeather will kill Brackenmoon if she gets a chance." He couldn't place why he wanted to protect the gray and white she-cat, but the protection of the others overpowered the strange and unusual need.

The dark tom took a closer look at the other tom and saw the torn look in his eyes, causing him to sigh and pad towards the apprentice. "I can go." Have to. He thought bitterly.

Russetoak stopped, as he listened to Lionroar and turned again to face him and the she-cats.

"If you're sure..." He meows hesitantly and nods. "Be quick. If I can't help here, it may take Maskstar to fix this. I'll try to handle this..." He takes a deep breath before rushing after the she-cats. "Hurry!" He calls over his shoulder as he hits the trees. Swiftly, Russetoak runs between the trees before skidding to a stop a handful of catlengths away from Brackenmoon. Pale yellow flickered, looking for Scarletfeather among the trees and brush.

"Brackenmoon..." Russetoak meowed quietly as he slowly approached her. He quickly looked up the tree he last saw Scarletfeather up, searching for the deputy in the foliage, while trying to keep an eye on Brackenmoon, also.

The dark tom hissed as the pain hit his side and his eyes narrowed dangerously. Slowly, he backed away, keeping a small distance between himself and Brackenmoon.

"Why are you doing this? You're not the same cat I hunted with earlier." He growled down at the mess before him. Pity was heavy in his being, but confusion clouded his mind even more so. Never had he seen something like this before.

Russetoak frowned and shook his head in disgust.

"I just knew you weren't this revolting thing." He spat coldly, finally understanding why she-cats could only be playthings. They couldn't be trusted. Again, he backed away, now just waiting for Lionroar to return with the others and if Scarletfeather needed assistance, since she was a clanmate.

Russetoak growled slightly at Scarletfeather's outburst, but said nothing. The unusually silent warrior just slowly padded after Brackenmoon with a watchful eye on both her and the deputy. No scalding words, no threats, no words of pity or of comfort came from the loyal, playful tom of SavannahClan. His silence was deafening to even himself.

Russetoak laid down with a sigh as he watched the she-cats enter Maskstar's den. He only frowned to himself before carefully licking at the shallow wound on his ribcage. It wasn't anything worse than he had survived from before. Content with the lack of blood and cleanliness, he rose and padded to the outskirt of camp, away from the other cats and stared off in to the dimming Savannah.

Russetoak frowned in to the sun's rays as he lost his mind to his thoughts, drowning in all that he saw. The dark tom growled slightly, frustrated and confused by himself.

"This is stupid." He muttered as his tail flickered with agitation. "Just forget everything that happened. Start acting like yourself again, mousebrain." Angrily, he ruffled his pelt and rolled his shoulders, forcing himself to relax. His chest expanded and retracted as he began to calm himself and allow the stress to roll off of him. A few moments passed while Russetoak visibly relaxed and his hardened pale eyes lightened and gleamed again.

Time to have fun again. He thought, a sly smirk widening his pointed face.

Tinyowl giggled lightly before lapping at the fur on her chest.
"Well, he is the leader. Everything has a purpose....or at least it should." The small she-cat stretched and laid down while keeping her wide eyes on the entrance, anxious and curious about the unexpected arrivals.

Froreclaw peered around, silently taking in the new surroundings and scents. The heat struck him and left him uncomfortable beneath his thick, increasingly hot, pelt and he glanced at Snowstar with slight concern.
"Should they have not been here?" His hazel eyes took another glance around the immediate area. "This means they may have been found, though..."

Russetoak padded back in to camp, his dark form now carrying a lighter step than it had moments ago. It was apparent that the brown tom was back to his old ways, or at least disguising what was behind his pale yellow eyes and in his mind. He looked around momentarily, seeing that Scarletfeather, Brackenmoon, and Shatteredpaw were still with Maskstar, and waved away the thought with a lash of his thin tail and a shake of his head.

His signature smirk grew on his thin face as he saw Brownwhiskers sitting by herself and he sent a subtle wink in the she-cat's direction before trotting over the the freshkill, his yellow eyes lingering the the tabby she-cat.

Cheerfully, aware of Brownwhiskers now watching him, he picked up the plump bird he caught earlier and pranced over to the she-cat and dropped it before her.

"Wanna share?" He purred with a light cock of his head.

Russetoak grinned and settled in beside her, taking a bite for himself while his pale eyes glanced sideways at the she-cat every now and then.

"Nothing to thank me for." He meowed with a shrug after swallowing his bit. His tail flickered slightly and casually ;aid against Brownwhisker's own tail. The brown-pelted tom continued taking small nips out of the bird, acting as if nothing had happened.

Russetoak frowned slightly, forgetting about the she-cat next to him and the bird, as he watched Brackenmoon leave the Leader's den, eat, and pad in to the Warriors' den.

I wonder what the outcome was... A small, worried voice echoed in his head. A small snort escaped the dark tom at the thought and he shook his head. Distracted, he almost missed the sign from Brownwhisker to finish the meal and quickly ate the rest of the bird. Without another word, the tom slipped away, now moody and too concentrated on his own mind to try and flirt., to lay in the darkest shade available in the camp's interior.

Russetoak growled quietly to himself.

No. I'm not doing this again. Frustrated, he stood up and started out of the camp, eager for a distraction. His eyes caught Brownwhisker sitting alone and waved his tail at her as he headed in to the high, yellow grass.

Russetoak frowned as he stood in a small, dirt clearing as he sniffed the air.

I'm surprised she didn't follow... He thought to himself, an image of the plain, but still pretty Brownwhisker coming to mind. His brown ears flickered, searching for any sound, but only heard those of small prey lurking in the shadows of the high grass. With a sigh and shrug, the brown cat continued moving, scenting the air for prey when the faint smell of Brackenmoon and even fainter scent of Brownwhisker hit him. Curious, Russetoak started off, following the light smell until he could see the strange colors of white and gray in the yellow grass.

"Brackenmoon?" He called out softly.