He who arrives before thunder [P]

[Dizerel]

⚡Lightningpaw⚡

[ He/Him | 11 Moons | Character Profile | Purrks: Active Power Card]
[ Mentions: @Rowan ]

Amidst scattered rocks, steep cliffs, and an unforgivingly harsh climate was seen a young cat. Orange striped fur made up the majority of his pelt, with a comfortably white underbelly to match. Soft yellow-green eyes stared forward along his path, unassuming and uncertain of what was to come next for him.

More noticeable than anything else was his condition. He was gaunt, as if he had not eaten in days. Indeed, he had been struggling to catch much food at all. Having made an oath to himself to not use his starclan-given powers selfishly. The whole reason he had left his clan in the first place was because he convinced himself he was nothing without his special abilities. His struggles throughout this expedition had only further proven that to himself. He was worthless, his gift would have been a better boon to Windclan were it granted to any cat besides him. That is all he would ever be, a waste of a precious gift.

Thinking back to that decisive moment, days ago. Standing at the border of Windclan territory, his heart pounding as he made the toughest decision of his life. It may have been one of the last decisions of his life, too. He pondered if him dying was only further spitting upon the gift that starclan gave. If it was, it was just another disappointment to add to the pile.

Continuing through the uncertain terrain, his paws longing for the rolling plains of his home clan. If he were to die, he regretted that he wouldn't be able to feel that soothing wind rushing through his fur one last time. He pauses, however, as he turns around the side of a cliff-face, his eyes meeting with another set of eyes. Several tail-lengths ahead, glimmering faintly, as the body of whatever they belonged to was masked in darkness and debris. Regardless, it was something on the hunt, and it seemed that he was on the menu.

Without thinking, the sudden panic and reflexive fear kicked his body into high gear! An instant reaction caused a crashing of thunder as lightning poured down from the heavens! Colliding with his body in a brilliant display, illuminating the area with a brief but radiant scene, a wave of thunder accentuating it. The transformation itself was harmless to the predator or the environment around him, but may have been shocking enough to prevent whatever was lurking from pouncing in that brief moment.

Adrenaline coursing through his veins, lightning sparked through his fur, denoting his enhanced state. It had been half a moon since he last did this, but now was not time for regrets. Already, he felt his heart accelerated, pumping far faster than a normal heart should. It was the ticking clock he had, because once his heart could not withstand the voltage any longer, his body would drop paralyzed and he would be as good as dead. Within the blink of an eye, his illuminated pelt was already in the distance.

He never paused to look over his shoulder. Maybe it was just a badger that he had left completely in the dust. He was not one to bother, though. Not only did he have to run as if whatever was chasing him was still on his heels, just as importantly he had to find a place to hide. A place where he could wait out the consequences once his greatest strength became his curse.

Run he did, from an outside perspective his speed was blinding. A surge of light tearing through the landscape, barely even recognizable as a cat. His paws felt like they were floating as they carried him, his eyes frantically darting around for any sign of a safe hiding place.

His nose began to pick up something. Scent markers? Oh starclan.... This was bad. He had accidentally just traipsed into some cat's territory. Maybe he would be undetected. Even if he blazed past patrols, with any luck his speed would shake them off. Already his heart began to ache, an icy chill gripping around it and running through his body. He didn't have much time left at all.

Alas, salvation! Ahead, he saw what appeared to be an abandoned camp! Maybe this whole territory was abandoned? No, the scent markers were too fresh for that. Unaware he was wandering into one of the fake camps of the Atari, he had no other options. Entering inside as he quickly ran circles around, checking for any dens, caves, or other hiding spots. Making sure that no foxes or other things had decided to move in, either. Finally, deeming it safe, at this point his heart felt like it was to burst from his chest! Withdrawing to the darkest, most secluded corner he could find within the fake camp, and releasing his power.

The lightning dispersed from his pelt, the air crackling with a brief static discharge. His heart skipped a beat, before he took in a gasp of air as if he had held his breath this whole time. Simultaneously, his limbs locked up. Falling over onto his side, his eyes were the only thing he could freely move. His body would still manage to breathe and do normal functions on its own, but motor skills were out of the question. For the next few minutes, he was as vulnerable as a kitten, laying on the floor of an abandoned den inside of unknown territory.

He hoped nothing and no one had tracked him here.

// ((Please let me know via VM if I need to change/edit anything, like the descriptions of the landscape or fake camps, etc. I want to be consistent with the established setting for the Atari!))

[Rowan]

ARES
Posts: 12 | Male | #arescrown
Purrks: None
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The Crown had been basking on his typical stone, that of which he rested on before he got his rank. The pressure still weighed on him, it felt like there was plenty to do…mainly he was in need of help to rid the mountains if that cougar…the damned cougar that already caused the Atari so much trouble and strife. It had taken enough from them, their Crowns…their sense of security. It ripped away members of the tribe…cats that had friends and family. It took away his cousin sister. The one cat he had after Melinoe disappeared…and he was so so mad still she left. His claws scraped across the stone as he got up and padded out. Sure…it wasn’t safe to go alone, especially after the previous two Crowns being plucked away by the beast, at least he was pretty sure that’s where Saturn went. It didn’t matter, that was not EVER going to be his fate. That’s not how he anticipated he would go out, especially since he was chosen by those spirits. It was pretty badass too, the prophecy that chose him killed the second cougar cub in the process. He had went to visit the decaying body after he became Crown…he saw the resemblance of the scar across the beasts mouth and understood what Helios had meant, why he was pretty sure Ares was chosen.

As he ventured further into the vast mountain territory it felt soothing. There was the crisp earthy scent swirling the air. The caws of the birds that dare survive the mountains…just all the sounds that called home. That of his paws padding on the stone…he loved it here. The bitter cold still cause the Crown to shiver a bit but he had also adapted to the chillier mountain weathers and winds. Then…his mind wandered back to her. He had not much else to think of on the fine walk, so of course what he never dared to ponder his mind was the only thing there. Melinoe…why was she gone? Imagine if she could see him now…her little ego would be crumbling huh? Since he made it so far, if she was here she would gain more respect then she already had…even though they were still related to Saturn, being an immediate sibling was the closest you get to the top without actually being Crown. The thoughts mused him despite the anger and frustration burrowing in him. All he had…all he ever has had, the two he trusted the most, the only good family he had…one was assumed dead and the other straight up ran off. She didn’t have to though. She was so respected, so loved among others. She’d face punishments for seeing an outsider (what he truly believed happened) but nothing too dire. Nothing that she should have left him and their home for. It pissed him off honestly. His ears were pinned to his skull and his tail lashed behind him. For all the Crown knew, she was dead..gone…but he may have nephews and nieces? It all remained a mystery to himself and he hated that even more…the chances she escaped the mountains alone seemed slim…but never zero, right?

He didn’t even know what he’d do if she returned. Something in him told him that he couldn’t turn a blind eye her way. She was too important…especially if she had kits now…he didn’t know how he’d be able to react…how would she react seeing him? Would she even recognize him as her brother?…How would she react with him being crown now? Would sh-

The hell?…What in the Spirits name just happened? He just saw something whim ahead of him…and into a fake camp. Odd…it was t the cougar, he knew that much…so obviously that meant for him to proceed! Logic, huh? Well, his paws crept him closer. He could hardly tell what he had seen, it was there then it wasn’t, but the smell of a cat carried heavily with it…but no cat could do whatever that was, right? It went as quick as lightning. So, on Ares went into the camp, following the smell of the strange…being. Long behold, the body of a very much aware cat lay on the ground. He froze, tensing as his eyes narrowed. A scowl covered his face as he reminded himself, you, Ares. YOU have the power here against this helpless cat…wait. Could they really be that helpless after what he had just seen? Yeah, definitely not…but they seemed to be stuck…frozen…paralyzed as of now. “What are you doing here?” he snarled in question.


@Dizerel (sorry for any typos I missed-)