Post by alee on May 8, 2016 6:38:23 GMT
Ravenshade was alone.
And that was just how she liked it.
Away from the bustling activity of ShadowClan Camp, across the bubbling marshes and the murky depths of the lurking swamp, where the flies buzzed in their thick swarms, and the maggots infested the rotting carrion of torn prey; black fur sifted in a stale breeze, hazy golden eyes cracked open ever so slightly at the sound of leaves stirring in the wind. A growl burbled up from the she-cat's maw, frustration stabbing at her chest like a piercing thorn.
Again, Ravenshade...Close your eyes. Swallowing the last remnants of her rising impatience, Ravenshade called back upon a simpler time; the words of Cloudfrost almost seemed to be carried by the breeze, tickling at her ear fur. Control yourself. Find your center. Tune out the world around you, and focus only on what's inside.
Easier said than done, she wanted to mutter, her claws digging deep into the mushy earth beneath. The feeling of grit buried deep beneath her silver talons, the incessant drone of flies and wasps mingling through the thickly humid air - it was all one big, painful distraction, something that served to direct her away from her center. Once more she closed her golden orbs, relishing in the unending darkness that now swamped her sight. She heaved in a deep, cold breath, the cold air stinging at her lungs.
Again. Every beat of her heart, she felt; every rushing pound of her bloodstream, she noticed. The feeling of grit digging painfully between her paw pads, pinpoints of blood drawn from sharp edged stones, the tickle of her sensitive ear fur as wind dragged past, rustling at her sleek pelt all the while; every inhale and exhale, every single and minute sound that mingled in the atmosphere. The chatter of chipmunks, their tiny claws scraping at chipped and scratched wood, the cry of a magpie as it balanced upon a thermal, surveying the territory for its prey...
And then there was a spark within her mind, an image that jolted her from concentration. Flashes of blurry memories sprung to the foreground; a pelt as dark as ink, orange eyes that glowed with a fiery menace, a cruelty that stung deeper than any hooked fang. A gasp tore at her throat; the world around her flooded back in a rush, and yellowed orbs flickered open once more. There it was, the feelings she was so desperately trying to bury - anger, hatred, bitterness, a deep imbued disgust...
Cloudfrost had taught her how to control her emotions - how to bridle and handle them, so that they would no longer rule over her decisions. But try as she might to use his techniques, the negative emotions would return with a painful stab. She drunk in a deep and relieved breath, resting back against the firm roots of an oak tree.
Again, Cloudfrost would say, if he'd been by her side as of now. Try again, Ravenshade. Don't let your anger cloud your judgement.
But cold fingers of exhaustion had already seized at her chest. With a heavy sigh Ravenshade collapsed down upon the marshy earth, for once uncaring about the mud sullying and dragging at her fur. Cloudfrost would be disappointed - Crowstrike would be disappointed, she thought with a pang, and she drew her nose under her tail, hoping to forget about the home that awaited her back at Camp.
A crackle from the underbrush dragged Ravenshade back to reality. Black ears perked, her head slowly lifted up from beneath her plumy tail. Had another cat witnessed her strange ritual? The thought slightly disturbed her; this was her time, and her time alone. Swallowing a small growl, the warrior finally clambered to her paws, her eyes roaming over the bushes ahead. "Who's there?" came her curt meow, the failure of her meditative contemplation adding a rough edge to her voice.
tags;; open! <3
