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Post by Zen on Mar 5, 2016 14:04:14 GMT -5
Whisper
I am the lie that you adore.
Having invited Echo along for a little excursion out into the city, Whisper led the way through the tunnels, his tail flicking carelessly behind him as he trotted along. There were as many similarities between himself and Echo as there were differences. She was playing the game too, but she made little secret of her game. They were the same and yet opposites and it was all very intriguing to Whisper. She was not one of his staunch supporters, which was fairly rare among their age group, and that was interesting as well. While there were plenty of older cats that had never fallen so completely for the face he showed his Gang, it was almost never so for the younger Scavengers. Young minds were far too easy to mold for him not to be able to bring the majority into his loyal service.
He cast a brief glance back at the skinny she-cat he had chosen as his First Warrior. She was the quite embodiment of the Scavenger ideal, and yet it earned her no friendship in the Gang... quite the contrary really. His whiskers twitched with amusement. The Scavengers were such a strange group of cats, simultaneously praising and despising the same traits in their Gangmates. To get them to support you, you needed to show them you cared about them to the extent that you would always do what was best for them, and yet caring about them was also seen as a weakness. But if you stopped caring about them and started acting in your own self interest, they would stop supporting you, and that would lead only to a swift death.
Being the Boss of the Scavengers was a precarious position, one few intelligent cats would honestly desire to hold. At the heart of the Scavenger way of life was the desire for survival, self preservation, to blend into the crowd, to go unnoticed and unmolested. Becoming the leader of such a group of cats thrust one from the shadows and into the light, where each and every shadow sat in judgment of your actions, ready to tear you down if they did not like what they saw. It was a dangerous game, to play the Boss, and yet Whisper found it entirely thrilling. He could never have lived the quiet life in the shadows that so many Scavengers seemed to desire. He would have been bored out of his mind.
As they neared Central Station, he heard the telltale sound of a train heading off in the opposite direction, echoing back at them as it faded off into the distance. It was late in the day, so the platform would be nearly empty of humans when they reached it. There would only be one more train stopping before the sun set. He was planning to head for the library where they could catch a few fat mice and maybe find something interesting to bring back to camp with them. Leaping up onto the platform, he glanced quickly around for human activity, whisking his tail for Echo to wait below.
There were two over in a far corner, but they seemed to be asleep. Another was just heading up the stairs with a little one in tow. The little one spotted him and he leaped back down as it gave a cry of delight. He waited beside Echo on the tracks while the larger one scolded its kit, until their footsteps faded away up the stairs. Ears twitching, he leaped back up, glancing toward the two in the corner, but it seemed the kit hadn't woken them. He looked back down at Echo, flicking his tail for her to follow him up onto the platform, and led the way up the stairs. It was still a few blocks to the library and the humans outside were still fairly active at the moment. He paused at the top of the steps, crouching at the corner where the shadows were deepest to peer out at the humans passing by. He cast another glance back at Echo, his whiskers twitching again, “Humans sure make life interesting, don't they?”
OOC: Insi, one of us will tag you when it's time for you to jump in~
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Nix
Unborn
Posts: 0
Character Count: 01/05
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Post by Nix on Mar 6, 2016 1:55:49 GMT -5
i made myself at home in the cobwebs and the lies Stepping with the ease that comes with familiarity, gray paws delicately carried their owner between the two weathered rails at a light trot. Because she had lived the majority of her life in the labyrinth of tunnels that stretched far and wide beneath the surface of the city, Echo found herself right at home in the half-darkness as she fell into step behind the black and white tom who was only two moons her senior. It seemed almost natural – certainly, it would have been for any other cat. She had been there to watch as he wove insidiously through the ranks of Scavengers, collecting them like pieces, before finally overthrowing Shade in a move that had some of the older felines grumbling discontentedly. They were not so easily won over by the young, charming feline, and their opinions thus far seemed hard to change.
Hers was more neutral, and because of it, she had been very surprised when Whisper had chosen her to be his second-in-command. Never had more than a few words passed between them, and their relationship was little more than the cordiality of ambivalent gang mates. What exactly he wanted from her and from their partnership, she had yet to truly discover, and she knew that doing so would be no easy task. Intuition and intimate knowledge of the inner workings of her gang had her feeling certain that there was more to their Boss than met the eye; charm was always a good way to prevent others from digging deeper, and she of all cats knew that everyone had their secrets. Whisper was no exception to the rule.
And yet, despite the disadvantage that her ignorance placed her in, she was hardly on to refuse such an offer of rank, especially if it was handed to her on a silver platter. Though bending her neck to anyone but herself was not an area in which she excelled, the gray she-cat knew that there was a wisdom in knowing when to defer to another, and the benefits of the position far outweighed the slight injury to her pride. Authority, she found, rested easily upon her shoulders – after all, what was managing the gang compared to the balancing act that was maintaining her network of eyes and ears around the city? As least all of the Scavengers were usually gathered in the same general area at some point during the day.
The familiar rumble of a train had her pausing slightly and listening with care before she confirmed that the low, resounding noise was in fact rattling off in the opposite direction. Central Station, though a very useful way to enter Renegade territory, was one that demanded vigilance. Frequented by humans and trains alike during the day, the station was often crowded, and she made a habit of avoiding both it and its occupants until the last of the machines had left. Predictable, they were easy enough to avoid granted one knew the train schedule, but humans were more of a hassle. She could never quite be sure what awaited her every time she leapt onto the platform.
Whisper’s silent return and the cry of a smaller human told her what she needed to know, and she was content to wait by the tracks until their footsteps faded away. With practiced ease, she followed him back up onto the platform and up the stairs. Shadows stretched long across the ground, and the setting summer sun painted the streaks of clouds red. Instinctively, she kept to the safety of the shadows, slowing beside the tom as they peered over the edge at the passing humans. Such was life in the city, and it seemed she was not the only one whose thoughts had drifted idly down that path. ”Very much so,” Echo agreed mildly, pale green eyes watching a group of younger ones walk by. ”They’re an interesting paradox, for they seem incredibly oblivious to everything up until the very moment you don’t want them to notice you.” There was a brief pause as she considered the couple walking hand-in-hand dangerously close to their hiding place. All they would have had to do was glance down and to their left, but they were too caught up in each other to notice what was sitting right under their noses. ”But, at the same time, where would we be without them?” i’m learning all your tricks i can hurt you from inside Echo | 730 words | Zen | -- |
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Post by Zen on Mar 7, 2016 19:01:12 GMT -5
Whisper
I am the lie that you adore.
His pale gaze followed the couple as they passed by, so very oblivious to the world around them, just as Echo had said. At least, these inner city humans were, comfortable in the relative safety having so many of their own kind around them provided. The humans Whisper had seen living farther out, on the outskirts of the city, were a deal more aware of their surroundings. He did not often venture so far out, partly for that very reason, for those humans were far more dangerous to a cat, but also because what was the point? Where there were no humans, there were no interesting human things to find. He scoffed in response to her answer, “I imagine without humans, we would be like the Guardians.” And that was no pleasant thought. Those cats were downright insane, forsaking all reason for ancient, outdated traditions that were better left to die in the past.
He would have liked to pick Echo's brain a bit more on the subject, but it would have to wait. A brief lull in the human traffic presented the perfect opportunity to dart from their hiding place without being noticed, and he took it, trusting that Echo would have spotted the same opportunity and would be close on his tail. He could at the very least trust in the fact that his Gangmates were not helpless and did not need him guiding their every step. They would be no use to him at all if that was the case. His pads burned on the hot concrete that had been soaking up the sun's rays all day as he sped across the street, until he made it to the shadows on the other side and slowed somewhat, still keeping a brisk pace now that they were out in the open.
He kept alert of the humans around them, his pale gaze dancing about the street to pinpoint various hiding spots should any of the creatures make a move on them. Echo would be able to blend in well enough with the shadows that, were she on her own, he had no doubt the humans would never notice her slinking along beside them. His own pelt was of rather unfortunate coloring, however, with bright splotches of white that stood in stark contrast to the darkness of the gathering dusk. At last the library came into view. It seems luck was with him tonight. He glanced back at Echo briefly and flicked his tail to hurry them both along before his luck ran out, bounding the last distance to the library. He turned along one wall and leaped up to a windowsill, then down through the broken window and into the building, ears pricked for any sign that they would not be alone. All he heard was the tiny patter of mouse feet.
Perfect. They could hunt and he could see just how much better he could get to know his First Warrior over a tasty mouse. Perhaps they would even bring some prey back for the Gang if they didn't find anything else of interest to carry back with them. “The mice are running well tonight,” he murmured and sat, leisurely washing one of his paws, “After you.” He invited her to hunt first, keeping a watchful eye and ear on their surroundings in case their solitude was intruded upon. They were in Renegade territory, after all. The library was a fairly well known hunting place for Scavenger and Renegade both, but the Renegades were likely about ready to settle in with their humans for the night. It was pretty safe to assume that they wouldn't be bothered at this time of day.
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Nix
Unborn
Posts: 0
Character Count: 01/05
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Post by Nix on Mar 11, 2016 13:10:27 GMT -5
i made myself at home in the cobwebs and the lies Like the Guardians. The thought had her nearly rolling her eyes. Pine, who had been born a Guardian and had since seen reason, had unintentionally taught her a considerable about the other gang, and what he had not mentioned, she had picked up from her network of loners. Though they enjoyed perching atop their tower of moral goodness, the Guardians certainly made no attempts to keep their precious beliefs any secret. While she could understand loyalty, the idea of being so wholly, so blindly devoted to a concept – especially one so archaic and impractical – was one that she had never understood. Life in the city was challenging enough without the need to complicate the matter by attempting to follow a Code based on good-will. In such an unforgiving environment, to forsake any advantage simply because it was right was an incredibly stupid decision.
Conversation died when a break in the constant stream of humans appeared, and instinctively both Scavengers saw this development for the opportunity that it was. With many moons of experience making her motions fluid and smooth, Echo hurried across the exposed pavement and into the relative safety of the shadows on the other side. Almost instantly, she faded into the background, practiced skill making up for anything that her dark fur did not do. Anyone could sit still and disappear; the ability to move yet still be unseen was an art that she had mastered. Slender legs kept her side close to the buildings as they picked their away across the city, and the familiar library soon came into view. Along the first floor, the majority of the windows had been shattered, and the occasional shard of glass glistened blindingly bright when it caught the fading sunlight at just the right angle. A moment later saw her perched upon the windowsill beside Whisper, where she paused to listen for the briefest of moments before lightly touching down on the weathered floor.
Loud against the resounding silence, his voice broke the relative stillness of the library. ”I won’t be long,” She responded quietly before fading away. Mice scurried away as she ghosted between the shelves, pale green eyes peering through the gaps between the worn books with faded titles. The unique scent of aged paper hung over everything. They were alone. Only faint traces of other cats lingered in the air, and every now and then she passed evidence of human presence – a missing row of books, a chair that had been moved, some dust that had been disturbed – but none of it was new. After all, the mice would hardly be running so well if a predator had recently moved in. A shame for them, then, for that only made her job easier.
Slipping into a crouch, she carefully approached a fairly large rodent that was preoccupied with nibbling on the edge of a book. A flash of claws and it became her next meal, gone too quickly to even register that it had died. Closer inspection told Echo that it was not, in fact, a large mouse as she had initially thought but a rat that had evidently decided to explore the abandoned building. Her thoughts strayed idly to her brother, who was doing who-knew-what at who-knew-where. A superstitious cat might read into this too much, perhaps suspecting a metaphor or finding a sign, but she had never put much stock in those. The rat, she mused as she retraced her steps, was nothing more than dinner.
”I’ll keep watch for you,” The First Warrior offered upon her return, the carcass having been placed at her paws. ”Humans have come since I was last here. After our meal, I think it worth investigating what they have left behind.” i’m learning all your tricks i can hurt you from inside Echo | 622 words | Zen | --- |
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Post by Zen on Mar 13, 2016 16:51:36 GMT -5
Whisper
I am the lie that you adore.
He watched her slip away to hunt without another word, still leisurely grooming one of his paws. She disappeared between the shelves and he replaced his paw to the ground, surveying the vast stretch of shelves on either side of him, ears angled forward to catch any noise that might make itself known over the scurrying of mice. He mused about how his First Warrior might lead the Scavengers in his stead while he waited. Most Bosses might wonder such things before naming a second in command, but Whisper cared not at all for what befell his Gang after he was gone.
He actually knew very little about Echo, and that made her interesting. What he did know was that she was quite efficient and that she had acquired a vast network of contacts that kept her quite well informed, more so than many other Scavengers, and that was quite the feat. If nothing else she would make a knowledgeable leader, one who could trade secrets and silence for anything the Gang might need in future. He had no doubt she would make an effective leader for the Scavengers, should he depart his position without being Challenged. Whether the rest of Gang would accept her as their leader was another story.
One had to have support in the Scavengers if they wished to remain in power, and he was unsure how much of that Echo might have currently. No matter how much dirt she might be able to dig up on her Gangmates, if they all came together to remove her from leadership, she would be silenced forever, taking all her knowledge and secrets to the grave with her. One had to be likable, to a certain degree, and Echo had not made many friends in the Scavengers as far as he was aware. She was a cat he currently preferred as an ally, however, until he had her better figured out, and so he had dropped power into her paws as a gift, bringing her closer to him.
He was sure she would be watching him just as closely as he watched her throughout their relationship, but what she might do with any knowledge she gained about him, he hadn't the slightest clue. He knew not what her desires were, if she truly wished for power or if she had accepted it because it had been offered so easily. She clearly liked to know things, but to what end? Simply as a means of defense for her own safety? Or did she play her own version of his game? It would be fun finding out. His ears swiveled and he turned his head back to her as she approached, carrying a rat in her jaws. He nodded as she spoke, rising to his paws, “Very well. I'll return shortly then.”
He flicked his tail and padded off in the opposite direction from the one she had taken, slipping into a crouch as he went. It didn't take long to locate a mouse for his meal. He padded back to her with the creature swinging from his muzzle and settled himself across from her to eat. After a quick bite, he turned his pale gaze to her, his tone light, reminiscent of his overly outgoing brother, “What is your perception of me?” He chuckled, “Do be honest. I won't pick someone else as my First Warrior if you hurt my feelings, promise.” He took another bite, watching her and wondering what sort of answer he would get.
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