Can't catch me now (p)

[poppy]

Fallenkit

She was going insane.

Perhaps it was starvation that triggered her to move. Perhaps it was the breaking point mentally. Perhaps it was Fallen jerking awake from the dreamvisit with her father and after a few hours of sitting there, deciding that she wasn't going to wait for him- she was going to go to him. If she could only just get far enough away, or if only she could get out in the open.

Waiting for Dickens and Toby to fall asleep (or at least, stop paying attention), Fallenkit rose to her paws and darted to the exit, small black and white paws pounding on the ground as she followed the scents of the adults that had come and gone and she just kept running and running. When she burst out of the den, she let out an accidental gasp as light blinded her. After weeks of being in the dark, Fallen's eyes were... not well adjusted, and the emaciated calico stumbled blindly, clasping her paw over her eyes, pants turning into deep sobs. She wanted to go home. She wanted to leave. She missed her dad and her siblings and the rest of her new family.

Tears poured through and down her cheeks from underneath her paw and she blinked in the light, trying to run but without sight and bitten by the bitter cold (what was this bright white, cold stuff that she had to wade through?), her senses were overwhelmed and the young cat was struck momentarily helpless.

( @GhostlyStarfinder @Kass - since it's a little past the time when Fallen was supposed to get free, Starfinder you have full permissions to powerplay any of Fallen's injuries and then have Toby distract Dickens- I'm thinking we can get this done in about 2-3 posts each, that way we can get this rolling rather swiftly!! )

[Watermeloon]

@Kass @poppy
(pp perms!)

His shoulders ached. That dumb Shadowbrat. Dickens was still recovering from his injuries that... that idiot had given him. Well, at least he had killed the guy. He settled down at the entrance of the den, his eyelids drooping closed. He would just take a few winks, and then deal with the kit later. Speaking of the kit, her scent breezed past him. Oh. "Take care," he mumbled in his addled drowsiness. Wait. "FALLENKIT!!! " the roar leapt put of his chest, shaking the ground and soaring out into the atmosphere. Dickens charged out of the den, snorting fury like a feline bull. His eyes blazed amber and blue, promising punishment as inevitable as death. He was going to make that child suffer. He bypassed the frozen kit at first, halting with a snowy skid. It billowed around him, doing nothing to downgrade the manic energy surrounding the rogue. "You. Are. Dead. So so very. dead. " He might as well have been lightning, the way he snatched up the kit with sharpened claws and slammed her hard into a rock. Banging her into snow didn't have the same effect. "HOW DARE YOU?!" Spittle flew as Dickens smashed the kit into the rock. No, he wasn't going to kill her. But he would maim, he would cripple, he would ki- cause damage. "You thought you could escape," a throaty, venomous laugh erupted from the ball of anger. Slam. "You. " Slam. "Will. " Slam. "Never. " Slam. "Escape. " Fury, anger, roaring boiling blood deep within. He would wreak havoc upon this hapless child.

[poppy]

tw: distress, mentions of starvation and injuries
Fallenkit
she/her || 6 moons
White molly with black calico patches, bright blue eyes and a crooked tail
__________________________
(i also gots pp perms || for dark and the gang, perhaps they heard Dicken’s yelling and maybeeee Fallen too? Just so they know the general direction but Fallen would have gotten far enough away from Dickens to prevent him from getting caught unless he follows her)

Her body trembled and she looked up, her eyes finally coming into focus as large pawsteps charged to approach her. Her name was roared out and she felt her large ears flatten across her head and she let out a shriek of terror as he was upon her in seconds, and she watched clouds of powdery snow billow up and and around as his snarled out threat make her whole body tensed up, blubbering sobs rising in her chest. Before she could speak, razor sharp claws sank into her and her body was lifted up and slammed her into a hard surface. Her body exploded in pain and she let out a choking gasp, fear and anger at his cruelty twisting through her. As he paused to talk, she reached up and tried to tear her claws across his nose and face, gasping in freezing air as she struggled to get free.

Reaching up to shield her head,and then to cover her ears as she was slammed into the rock again and again, his ear splitting roar caused her ears to ring at tremendous volume. After a few more impacts on the rock, with blood running down her skin as the claws dug in. She felt echoes of pain thunder through her as he finally stopped, too shocked and cold to even feel pain. But she knew what she did feel. Pure desperation, primal instinct tore into her body and she struggled, only freezing as the screech of a hawk from up above pierced her already aching ears. The towering cat up above her vanished in a flurry of cat fur and feathers, and after a moment of being frozen, she felt survival instinct kick in and she rose to her shaking paws, bounding through the snow, running for the trees, where the snow would be less deep and it would be easier to hide. Trembling gasps for breath had her inhaling icy air and she sprinted, adrenaline and the cold temperature numbing her pain and dulling her fear as she ran.

She knew she had told her father where she was. Or more so, she had told him about the black path. But she didn’t know if he was coming today. She didn’t know where he was. Hell, she didn’t even know where SHE was. Panting, heaving for breath, looking around wildly, she could distantly hear the occasional zipping of monsters across the Thunderpath, the black path, and she stepped in the direction of the sound, eyes wide as the skeletal, heavily bruised calico heard a sound nearby. Part of her instinct was to run again, to hide, but she knew she didn’t have the time nor the strength. Sinking to the ground, her stomach extending to partially conceal her ribs temporarily as she fought to keep her breath even, her claws sliding out as she shakily stood in the knee-length snow, chest rattling as she exhaled.

[ @GhostlyStarfinder @Dark @Undertaker @Alchemist Kitsune - (sorry to mention you, taker, but I was preeeeetty sure that someone said Dawn would be tagging along I think?) ]

[Watermeloon]

@Poppy @Dark @Alchemist_Kitsune
TW of Gore

Dickens snarled, thin, barely noticeable red streaks appearing on his muzzle. Yes, they didn't hurt. But the dumb kit would pay anyway. His anger was explosive, and he reared back to deal the final, crushing, blow... the unforgiving rogue was swept up into the sky, Fallenkit thumping to the ground as he was raised up, up and away into the frozen sky. He twisted, his claws digging into feathers and flesh, ripping and maiming. The hawk - as he now identified it - gave an unearthly shriek, dipping down, closer to ground. Talons dug into his healing wounds and Dickens roared back, fury igniting and blazing like wildfire. It was so dead. His claws dug deeper, blood staining the pure snow, screams from both mammal and bird resonating through the freezing cold. The hawk gave a final screech, before abandoning it's quarry, and Dickens landed, albeit slightly hard, on the ground. Fallenkit. He should have killed her when he had the chance. He followed her scent trail, the smell of fear poisoning the air. Kits were such cowards. Dickens trailed blood behind him, fury the only thing keeping him from the cold, warming up his body.... Everyone would pay. All of them. Every. Single. Clan

[Alchemist Kitsune]

| Silverlark |
Shadow Fiend - Active | Just a Scratch - Inactive | Beefed Up [Tier 3] - Inactive

---

The young, generally laughter filled enforcer carried himself in the shadows, making himself known only to Darkfall and his leader. He didn't know how this had happened. How little Falls had gotten kitnapped. But it wouldn't stand! That kit... that kit was a precious clanmate! And one of Darkydark's family members. When they caught whoever had done this, they were going to wish they'd never been born. Death would be too big a mercy, as far as the silver throated warrior was concerned.

Silverlark could still remember his first meeting of the shy kit. She had been so happy to have made her first friend! He'd encouraged her, too! To make friends. Had that been a mistake? No. No no no. It had not. He refused to turn a suspicious eye at every ShadowClan cat just because of one traitor. It was a shame this had happened. A tragedy that Fallenkit had potentially trusted the wrong cat. But as long as they could get her back? Alive and well? Then it would be alright. It had to be, yeah?

Rounded ears perked up, a distant roar of pure, unbridled rage booming through the trees. The muscular tom was well familiar with the sound. He'd fallen victim to such roars in his past. When he had lost his mum. His brother. His mentor. He doubted there was any sorrow filled story connected to this one, however. There was something far more murderous in the echoing scream than even he'd ever felt before. The thought forced a frown on the tom, teeth glinting precariously in the dark.

"Think that's 'em?" Silverlark snarled, his mind incapable of deviation in his quest, instant hope that they were catching up to their prey flaring up in him in his wish to see Falls and Darkydark back together and safe.

---

@Undertaker [Dawnstar] | @Dark [Darkfall] | @poppy [Fallenkit] | @GhostlyStarfinder [Dickens]

[Dark]

Darkfall

Shadow Fiend: Inactive | Beefed Up (T3) | Ultimate Predator: Inactive
___________

Having received her location through a dream and finishing his preparations, Darkfall gathered Silverlark and Dawnstar to go rescue his daughter. He would’ve loved to bring either Larkfire or Hawkbite with him, but the former was blind and the latter needed to remain in camp so it wasn’t left to the general masses. He trusted these two with him, though he and Dawnstar didn’t always get along, she was a reliable ally.

Currently running through the territory so as not to waste any time, he tried to control his breathing. And his temper. Soon. Soon he’d have his daughter back home and he’d never let her out of his sight again. In the distance, he was able to hear what sounded like screaming and snarling over the slight bustle of the roaring Thunderpath. Silverlark had turned to him and asked him a question. He hardly heard it.

Absentmindedly nodding, his paws steps slowed as the trio reached the edge of the thunderpath. He’d only been this way once, when searching for his former apprentice, Moonpaw, and the acrid stench was just as overwhelming as it was then.

Luckily, there weren’t many monsters today. Ears flattening to his head, he hissed in frustration as one of them came roaring along and passed them. This was overwhelmingly aggravating. Seeing a break in between the large contraptions, Darkfall sped across the hard expanse – not waiting to see if his patrolmates were following. He couldn’t waste anymore time, they’d catch up.

”FALLEEEENKIIIIT!” the large tom roared as he finally finished crossing. He no longer cared about being silent or sneaking up or any of that. He didn’t know what was going on, but he needed her to have hope, to not give up. Daddy was coming, and he was about to raise hell.

[ @Undertaker @Alchemist Kitsune @poppy. @GhostlyStarfinder If anything needs to be change let me know. I also kept putting this off in part due to Taker being on hiatus and writer’s block, so it’s a bit messy and inconsistent. Whoops.]

[Undertaker]

The ruler of Shadow padded slowly behind the two younger Enforcers, ears erect and senses on high alert. Dawnstar did not wander far from ShadowClan's much if ever. The last time she had bothered coming into the outskirts was when her mother still ruled ShadowClan and needed aid securing extra territory. While those two huffed and puffed about Fallenkit, Dawnstar was more focused on ensuring that nothing around them proved to be a threat.

As headstrong and temperamental as the leader could be, she hated being reckless. As they reached a thunderpath she watched a few monsters dart back and forth on the smelly path. The giant feline tattered ears jerked in the direction of a raged filled yowled up ahead. Her curiosity was peaked, and then shattered and replaced with irritation.

Like a reckless idiot eager to court death, Darkfall surged across the Thunderpath with no warning, no plan, no backup. Dawnstar let out a loud furious hiss. "I swear I'm going to skin him alive!" She spat, lashing her tail behind her and shaking her head. Dawnstar understood that this was his kit, but he was endangering not only himself but his clanmates with his stupidity. He didn't even know what he was racing into. Dawnstar didn't have many Enforcers, but she was seriously going to have to reconsider that idiots rank after this.

She expected this type of reckless from apprentices or new warriors, not one of her elites. "Stay on my tail," Dawnstar quickly ordered Silverlark, not interested in watching him race across as dumb as Darkfall. As soon as the next monster rolled by, Dawnstar silently signaled for Silverlark to keep up, and darted across the warm, black path, and to the other side.

Once she was certain Silverlark had gotten across without any trouble, the clan leader grumbled quietly to herself. Dawnstar moved to trail after Dumbfall in a manner far more befitting of a ShadowClan born cat, silently and stealthy.

@GhostlyStarfinder @Dark @poppy @Alchemist Kitsune [yep, she's tagging along.]

[poppy]

A bird flew overhead, whistling as it shot past where she stood. Her heart raced, rattled inside her chest as she realized the threat was just a little sparrow. It clucked and tweeted as it flew off in the distance, and Fallen was jealous. It could escape so much easier than her. That little bird had it's wings. This little bird's wings were clipped.

Shuffling through the snow, she felt her teeth chattering and her bones seemed brittle enough to snap if she shivered too much. The adrenaline, the survival instinct that had granted her the strength to flee from the cruel tom was fading, and overwhelming pain took it's place. The half of her body that had been slammed into the ground ached and she felt her eyes drooping.

Then she heard it.

The most beautiful sound, like a ray of golden sunshine piercing through the clouds.

Even in her hazy state, she knew that voice.

"Dad." She whispered out, warm hope filling her chest as she leaned on a bush for support, the branches scraping her side but she didn't notice. The blood that had been dripping down her shoulders was freezing, and dulled the pain as she lurched forward.

And then she saw it. A large cat barreling through the snow, down the Thunderpath's elevated ditch and through the patchy clearing. She saw more cats behind him, but her eyelids drooped, pale face turned in the direction of the tom.

Dad.

Dad was safe.

Dad was warm.

Dad was coming.

Her crooked tail trembled as she darted away from the undergrowth, terrified that the mean tom would come to take her back, unsteady paws stumbling towards her father.

The overexertion was getting to her, and she let out a soft sigh. In her mind she was sprinting towards her father, but in reality, the starved cat was merely inching her way to him, heart rattling in her chest.

"Dad." She whispered, mind unable to come up with any other words. "Dad." I'm so cold. "Dad." I'm scared.

"Daddy-" Words broke off into a hoarse sob of relief as she tried to push herself one last time towards her parent.

You found me.

[ @Undertaker @Alchemist Kitsune @GhostlyStarfinder @Dark ]

[Alchemist Kitsune]

| Silverlark |
Shadow Fiend - Active | Just a Scratch - Inactive | Beefed Up [Tier 3] - Inactive

---

Well. There went any hopes of stealth and catching the culprit in an ambush. Rounded ears flattening, Silverlark bounded after his clanmates, nodding at Dawnstar as he stayed in line. The young enforcer had never been close to this place. He knew what it was from stories. The dark, black path where monsters roamed. The monsters themselves were terrifying. Their scent overbearing. The sound they made even more so. Dawnstar's evident confidence even at the sight of these contraptions, however, boosted the tom's morale, and he found himself willing... eager even to cross after her. To not let his patrolmates down.

Once through the chaos of the Thunderpath, the silver throated warrior kept to the shadows once more, following the leader's approach. True, Darkfall had signaled their arrival. A complete surprise was no longer viable. But if the intruders were only counting on one frantic father, unable to understand ShadowClan's unity in the face of adversity, then they would still have the upper paw. He felt his muscles tense as the bushes trembled, leaves scraping as someone made their way through. Claws unsheathed as his white muzzle contorted into a snarl, ready to attack whoever was trying to so clumsily make their way towards Darkfall... only to realize there was no enemy there. Despite the lack of evident danger, he felt his teeth clenching more, grinding down in anger as his hackles raised.

Whoever had kitnapped Falls had obviously not done a good job. For starters, the kit had gotten away from them. The question was... for how long? Falls looked starved. Like if she hadn't been fed in far longer than necessary. Oh... Silverlark was going to rip the fiend that had done this to shreds. Or hold him down while Darkfall had the honors. He wouldn't blame the warrior one bit if he wanted to claim the kitnapper for himself.

Despite his first impulse to rush towards his friend and the little one to make sure she was alright, the enforcer stayed put, verdant eyes narrowed as he scoped the perimeter. He didn't know if this was a trap. If the outsider had decided to let go of the weakened Falls to make Darkfall lower his guard. Become an easy target to kill. And if it was, he wouldn't allow it. The first sign of movement from anyone unwanted in the vicinity would be their last.

---

@Undertaker [Dawnstar] | @Dark [Darkfall] | @poppy [Fallenkit]

[Dark]

Darkfall

Shadow Fiend: Inactive | Beefed Up (T3) | Ultimate Predator: Inactive
___________

Dawnstar would surely chew him ou for his pathetic display later, but he didn’t care. All that mattered to the huge tom right now was getting his daughter back. For far too long she had been gone, Moon – Wolfkit having gone missing too, but now he knew where she was so he had no excuse not to be able to rescue her.

Caution and his own safety long since forgotten, Darkfall sped through the forest. She was close, he knew it. Fallenkit… Your father is almost there!’ he thought to himself, pushing himself to run faster. He was by no means a great father, something he long accepted, but one thing for sure was that he’d be damned before he failed to do everything in his power to keep his family together. Larkfire was having issues, the kits they shared were having problems as well, everything was just falling apart, however, this was something he could fix – something that he could protect.

Truthfully, he almost missed her. A sliver of movement at the corner of his eye brought him to a skidding stop. She looked… pittiful. His daughter looked on the verge of death, nearly starved and bleeding. A sudden image of his sister, starved and still lying at his paws flashed through his mind as he looked at the condition that his eldest daughter was in. The weak crawling was what really did it, what really broke him, as he tearfully approached her battered form. ”Fallen…kit…?” he asked hesitantly. Part of him wanted to believe that this was all another dream and that if he woke up, he’d find her in the nursery, fed and okay. He didn’t want to believe that such harm had come to one of his own because he had been away for a moment.

Pace quickening, the young enforcer walked faster, nearly sprinting until he finally came before her. Taking a second to look up, he was unable to see any sign of her attacker. ”Hush, little one,” He whispered to her softly, leaning down in an attempt to clean her wounds ”I’m here now, you’re safe.”

That’s right, he made it in time.

Fallenkit was safe.

[ @Undertaker @poppy @Alchemist Kitsune ]