(( not your ghost anymore )) ---COPPERPELT

[crush]

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[atrb=background,http://i54.tinypic.com/670a3a.jpg] [scrolly:h(153),w(448),sy] Soft pawsteps rustled through the undergrowth. It was thick, far thicker than she was used to, but she actually rather liked it. It hid her from the world, kept her from having to worry about things like Cadell following her. He had, at first. She was pretty sure he still tried to find her now and then. Stupid idiot. As if he really thought she would forgive him for what he'd done - she may not have known him very well, but she had never hidden who she was. He should know far better than to even dream of her forgiving him. There was a soft sigh as the small leopardess continued through the undergrowth, tail down but not touching the forest floor. She hadn't been this lonely in a long time, nor had she ever been lonely for such a long stretch. Perhaps that was what compelled her to keep going past what was an obvious boundary line. The strong scent markers made it undeniable, but she fearlessly placed a paw over, then another, and another, until she was fully within and a few tail lengths away from it. She finally paused then, realizing what she'd done, taking in a deeper breath. Tigers. It was a group of tigers - or maybe tigerclan? She'd heard about them. It was possible. She shivered a moment. Tigers were large to begin with, and she was a tiny leopard. Still, she was fierce. And if it was the clan, they wouldn't attack... would they? She prayed that they'd just ask first. She hadn't really meant to cross - not truly, she just... sort of had. She wasn't quite sure why, couldn't figure it out. She glanced between the boundary line and further into the territory. It was just so... tempting to explore further. But were they around, maybe watching? She shook her head. No, she was being silly and paranoid. She hardly even noticed as her paws began to carry her deeper into tigerclan territory, curiosity and need for contact with another feline far overpowering common sense. [/scrolly]

[`echo !?]

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[atrb=background,http://i775.photobucket.com/albums/yy35/BaileeDanielle3/copperpelttable2-1.png] [scrolly:h(160),w(310),sy] Large paws padded through the undergrowth, yet made hardly any noise as the large tiger moved along. His tail, hanging low behind the large body that rippled with muscles, twitched at the tip. With a deep sigh, Copperpelt ceased his movement, ears perking, mouth opening partially to scent the wind. He smelled something strange, another kind of cat he had never scented in a long while. Peering up at the sky, he begged Starclan silently to give him the patience to remain the one in control. If Cler made an appearance, he knew he would run for the hills. And if Cran made his appearance, he figured that his bluntness would start a potential fight with whatever was on Tigerclan territory. He really did not want to get into a fight. Taking a deep breath to try and control himself, he turned sharply, stalking in the direction of the scent until he could finally spot the spotted cat padding along. Crouched on all fours, he peered through an open spot in the leaves, eyes focused carefully on the other. He moved, padding down and around, until he was in front of the intruder, standing tall and making himself seen. "Who are you?" he questioned seriously, tail poofed out slightly. [/scrolly]

[crush]

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[atrb=background,http://i54.tinypic.com/670a3a.jpg] [scrolly:h(153),w(448),sy] She nearly let out a squeak of surprise, but she had far too much composure to actually let it out. Instead, she jerked back a step, fur along her back rising for a moment before it fell when she realized how dwarfed she was in comparison. She didn't shake or shiver, though. She was used to being tinier than most. Instead, her confidence flared back and she stood straighter, fear slipping away for the most part. She wasn't stupid enough to completely lack fear, she just kept it to a reasonable level. However, any supposed pride one might have read into her posture was not present in her voice, not in the slightest. My name is Lorelei. Her voice was clearly audible, though it was still quite soft. It always was. Never loud, but just loud enough to be heard clearly and concisely. As per usual, she kept it to the simple, pertinent facts. There was no point blabbering on about pointless things. There was, however, one more point she deemed necessary to inform him of. I didn't mean to cross the border - at least, not initially. I've just heard so much about the clans, I was... curious, for lack of a better term. There was nothing but truth in what she said, and she was fairly certain that would be reflected in her eyes, in the innocence of her tone. She didn't expect him to believe it, of course. He had no reason to assume she was anything better than a liar. She was the trespasser here and she knew it. She would not blame him if he got more aggressive, particularly since she hadn't exactly made any notion to leave. [/scrolly]

[`echo !?]

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[atrb=background,http://i775.photobucket.com/albums/yy35/BaileeDanielle3/copperpelttable2-1.png] [scrolly:h(160),w(310),sy] With a wave of his tail, Copperpelt stepped forward slightly, sniffing the air, drawing in the scent of Lorelei. She smelled nice, for being a different kind of cat. He tended to not like the scent of other big cats besides tigers. But she smelled almost beautiful. It was interesting. He turned his body, going a few paw steps around the leopard, scenting the air around her. She appeared to be alone. And her eyes held truth and honesty in them.With a twitch of his whiskers, he spoke. "Curious... I'm not sure this is the safest clan to be curious about." He flicked his tail, as if trying to recall whether they would be or not. He always felt like he didn't know his clan. Didn't know what was going on, because his other personalities were constantly taking over, such as now, as he coughed, ears going back. "You better geet out vhile you can. I veel help you if you'd like," an almost new voice spoke from Copperpelt's body in what sounded like a Russian accent. The voice was steady, easy-flowing, and relaxed. Almost lazy sounding, but he spoke as if the intruder should know this already. As all Russian accents, he sounded almost nasally, but his voice was elegant, flawless. [/scrolly]

[crush]

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[atrb=background,http://i54.tinypic.com/670a3a.jpg] [scrolly:h(153),w(448),sy] She stood strong as he walked around her, eyes following him though not a muscle moved her head or her body. Then, there it was. The warning. The "get out now or else". It wasn't phrased in those words, but she wasn't stupid. She was almost offended, but she didn't let herself take it personally, didn't take it as an accusation she couldn't protect herself. Instead, she just spun and went back exactly the way she'd come, ears flattening back, unable to hide the annoyance. She almost felt like a cub again, being told what was good for her and what wasn't by Cora. She slid to an abrupt stop when she heard the new voice. She glanced around, but he was the only one there it could have come from. It was curious, very much so, and she turned back, padding closer to the larger feline, this time taking time to truly look at him, observe him. She nearly copied him and wandered around him, but she refrained. She was almost like a kit as her head moved, shifting side to side now and then, as well as up and down, as if the different angles would help her figure out what had happened. How... What... She wasn't quite sure what to ask, nor how to ask it, so she didn't get any proper questions out, though the sentiment was there. She was confused and very much wanting to know what was going on; it wasn't exactly that hard to figure that much out. [/scrolly]

[`echo !?]

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[atrb=background,http://i775.photobucket.com/albums/yy35/BaileeDanielle3/copperpelttable2-1.png] [scrolly:h(160),w(310),sy] Cran- not Copperpelt, watched Lorelei carefully. He didn't move besides his twitching whiskers and curious ears as the small leopard examined him. His eyes watched her every movement as he sat down, his long tail wrapped halfway around his large paws. What a small cat. Had he ever seen one like her? He wasn't sure. She was acting like a kit, and he knew she wasn't. She didn't have a 'baby face'. With an amused, raspy purr, he crouched down to her level. "Vhy are yooh looking aht me zat vay?" he snickered, as if he knew something that Lorelei did not- which he did. "Yooh act like yooh've neever seen a tiger befahre." He knew what she was getting at, but he wasn't about to tell her unless she asked directly. It wasn't as if he was embarrassed by the fact, and neither was Copperpelt, even though he grew frustrated with it sometimes. Cler was the only one who had no idea about the whole thing. [/scrolly]

[crush]

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[atrb=background,http://i54.tinypic.com/670a3a.jpg] [scrolly:h(153),w(448),sy] She felt her skin prickle a bit, like it did when she got too hot running and needed to cool down. This time, she knew, it was embarrassment. She glanced down a moment, ears flattened a bit as an outward reaction. Ah, well, I haven't, actually, but it isn't that. She chuckled softly, nervously, looking back up. She wasn't lying; she truly had never seen a tiger before. She'd been raised by a bobcat, fallen in love and had her heart broken by a leopard, and she'd had a few cheetah friends and a mountain lion acquaintance, but nothing more. She paused, trying to sort out how to word what she wanted to say, since he either needed or wanted her to spell it out for him. It's just. You changed. Well, it was a bit blunt and not entirely accurate really, but it was close enough she figured and it was the only real way she could think to word it. She wasn't used to this sort of thing, so she was rather out of her depth when it came to talking about it or explaining what she was trying to talk about. [/scrolly]

[`echo !?]

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[atrb=background,http://i775.photobucket.com/albums/yy35/BaileeDanielle3/copperpelttable2-1.png] [scrolly:h(160),w(310),sy] Cran's gaze stayed focused carefully on Lorelei, kneading the ground contently. His lips stretched in a wide, amused smile at her reaction to what he said. She was embarrassed! Silly girl. "Neever seen a tigeer yooh say?" he questioned, a warm sort of humorous look in his eyes as he threw his head back to laugh, mouth open wide, fur ruffling around his neck. He brought his head down to look at her, unable to help that chuckle rising in his throat. He laid down, one paw going over the other. If he had been Copperpelt right now, he would have urged Lorelei to leave, in fear of her being caught- he wasn't someone who wanted others to get hurt. Cran however, wasn't very 'clan loyal'. He usually stayed out of their business. But he was genuinely curious about this leopard. "Yees. I deed chahnge. Eet's Cran now. Zat was Copperpeelt bahck deer." He didn't explain right away. He wouldn't explain something unless someone asked, because he didn't want to tell someone who wasn't curious and didn't care. [/scrolly]

[crush]

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[atrb=background,http://i54.tinypic.com/670a3a.jpg] [scrolly:h(153),w(448),sy] No, I haven't. I... haven't really been too many places, until recently. She didn't mention what made her start moving around, or why she hadn't. It was still a bit too fresh in her mind to mention offhandedly like that. She'd intended to travel, of course, that was until she had met Cadell. He had entranced her with minutes, rather like this tiger, though in a different manner. This tiger was simply interesting; large, a little strange, but generally well-mannered and curiosity provoking. Cadell had been... Well. There was a difficulty there in finding the words to describe him, even now. It had been eight months together, and two since she had split, but still the best she could come up with was "intoxicating." There was just something about him that was like a drug, something that reeled you in quickly and then made you crave it. She wasn't sure which part of him that was, or if it was just an act like everything else, but that had been what brought her to her knees. It wasn't a kit-like curiosity, like now. It was far more than that, something she dreaded ever feeling again, if only for the fall she'd experienced after, when it had been snatched away like a dead rabbit from a disrespectful cub. It hadn't been withdraw, though. Just pain. Pure, unfiltered emotional pain. Some would call it betrayal; in fact, she'd used the word a few times when she'd thought about it, though she didn't now. It didn't quite seem enough. She slipped back a step or two when he laid down, giving him space with a slight, unneeded, fear of getting crushed by him. She knew it was irrational; she'd been nowhere near where he'd lay down. It was just more of an automated reaction than anything, something that had been programmed into her brain over the moons because she was so small compared to many other felines, including her own species. With his next words, she didn't speak, not right away. Instead, she scampered closer, almost like a kit in comparison to him - both through size and mentality. Not thinking he'd mind much, she came easily within half a whisker's space from him, sniffing and looking, eyes wide and her own whiskers, already longer than normal to to begin with, quivered with curiosity while hitting, and thus bending away from, his fur. It was all she could do to prevent herself from actually poking at him with her paw, to make sure she wasn't just imagining this strange gentle giant. Finally, though, after a few moments of this, she settled, fairly close, and laying down herself, rather preferring to look up at him. Many would complain, but she actually rather liked the perspective. Mere nanoseconds after her belly hit the forest floor, with her eyes still wide and ears perked forward, a frown creased her face. I don't get it. [/scrolly]

[`echo !?]

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[atrb=background,http://i775.photobucket.com/albums/yy35/BaileeDanielle3/copperpelttable2-1.png] [scrolly:h(160),w(310),sy] Just as fascinated with this leopard, as she was with him, he just watched her curiously, knowing she meant no harm. For a while, he was content with watching her from below, an interesting perspective, but not one he preferred like the other did. He liked being mostly tall- though not taller than all tigers in Tigerclan- and felt almost relieved as she laid near him after her close 'inspection'. His eyes were half lidded- easily giving Cran a look of sleepiness, and giving him an air of relaxation. His paw reached out just slightly, not to anything, just moving out, so he could carefully spread his toes, and lick the underside- between the pads. He needed to take a swim, to soften them up a bit. At Lorelei's words, his ears perked, amusement sparking in his eyes again, and with that, they opened further once more with a wave of his tail. "Yu'h doon't ahndeersta'nd? Vell, ve hrrave v'one boody, zree teegers. Coopeerpeelt, Cler, ah'n me. Coopeerpeelt vas feerst. Yu'h cleerly know me. Zen zere Cler. Hee's scaredee-ca't," he tried to explain to the best of his ability. Of course, he had no idea that it was multi-personality disorder, and that he was just a memory of Copperpelt's that formed into who he was. It was a very difficult concept- even with the basics. Copperpelt usually describes it just as Cran has- three tigers, one body. [/scrolly]

[crush]

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[atrb=background,http://i54.tinypic.com/670a3a.jpg] [scrolly:h(153),w(448),sy] She was pretty much sure her eyes nearly popped out of her head with the explanation she was given. If they hadn't, she would have been completely surprised by her own reaction. Not that she'd ever know, of course; it wasn't like there was a puddle or river around for a quick check, and even if there was, the reaction was too instantaneous to be checked anyway. Not without lessening it through distraction, and thereby defeating the purpose in the first place. For a few moments she was silent, just trying to sort that out in her mind, figure out how that worked. But, she was at a loss to explain it. It was too strange, too new, too incomprehensible. She understood the words and the implications, but not at all how it could work, why it would happen, and those were things she wished desperately to figure out, though she was pretty sure she never would. She wasn't sure anyone ever would. Sort of like the rain; no one knew why it happened, just that it did and they should be grateful for it. This, however, she wasn't sure it was a gift. It didn't seem a curse, either, though, so perhaps it was a touch of both and kept strictly neutral. Though, that was from her perspective and not his - theirs? She had a feeling if she thought too long on the terminologies, she'd just get a headache, so she let that thought go. But why? She'd promised herself she wouldn't ask; she wasn't sure she'd get an answer, after all, and it was always disappointing to ask a question and just get told "I don't know." Even more so after Cadell, when she'd asked him why he cared and he'd said the same thing. It had been a lie, of course. He simply hadn't cared, at least not in the way she'd thought. Of course, there were more frustrating answers, but that was one of the ones at the top of her list. She hoped it wouldn't just end up in that, since clearly her mouth had had other plans when she'd told herself she wouldn't ask. Still, she braced herself for it anyway, almost expecting it even. [/scrolly]

[`echo !?]

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[atrb=background,http://i775.photobucket.com/albums/yy35/BaileeDanielle3/copperpelttable2-1.png] [scrolly:h(160),w(310),sy] GLANCING to the leopard, amusement danced in his eyes, whiskers twitching in what may have been a silent laugh. She didn't talk much, and she was obviously straight to the point. Not that he minded, those kind of cats intrigued him- what went on in their mind? But then again, not everyone was as talkative as himself. RETURNING his paw to the ground after he had licked it, he stood, stretching his front paws in front of him. He didn't quite like sitting for so long- unlike Copperpelt, he liked to move. But he didn't, he just stretched, letting out a sort of growl of pleasure as he did. Stretching did feel nice after all. He resumed his former position, sitting comfortably, jaws opening in a yawn. Sitting also made him sleepy- it wasn't that Lorelei was boring him. "Eets hrrad eexplaen. Ju's zink oov zhree teegers een v'one. Aye meen, vhy no'ht?" he asked playfully, though his eyes held a sort of caution in them. After all, he couldn't imagine 'being in a body of his own', and he was sure Copperpelt felt the same. [/scrolly]

[crush]

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[atrb=background,http://i54.tinypic.com/670a3a.jpg] [scrolly:h(153),w(448),sy] She growled, a soft grumbling growl like the one a kit makes when it's been told to go to bed even though it's still wide awake or wanting one more story. She wasn't actually angry, just curious and that hadn't really helped sate her curiosity at all. Still, she decided to turn her mind away from it - rather, forced herself to. She didn't want to be too much of a bother about it, it was probably something personal. She found herself falling to the less-elegant kit-ish behaviors she'd wiped herself clean of to impress Cadell. She didn't care so much anymore. She twisted onto her back, body curved slightly and stretching for a moment before bringing her front paws back in, tucked close to her body as she stayed on her back, looking rather like a large housecat bathing in the sunlight. Her green eyes gazed up at him from her new outlook and she nearly burst out laughing, instead settling for a soft giggle. She killed it as she went to speak again. I've heard lots about these clans, but I've never known if any of it was true. I suppose I can almost see for myself now, hm? A grin spread across her face as she shifted her shoulders, getting herself a bit more comfortable as her tail swept back and forth lazily, needed to move some small part of her almost. She was still young, after all, even if she could act all old and mature when she wanted to. It was then that it hit her, and she ended up blurting it out before she even really thought about it. Oh, but I've been asking all the questions, haven't I? That's not particularly fair at all. [/scrolly]

[`echo !?]

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[atrb=background,http://i775.photobucket.com/albums/yy35/BaileeDanielle3/copperpelttable2-1.png] [scrolly:h(160),w(310),sy] THE golden tabby tiger shifted his weight, moving his left leg as he let himself slip into a half-laying position. His left paw laid outstretched as his right one remained curled, tucked under the leg it was attacked to. Muscles rippling, he stretched his back legs out contently, his tail laying stretched out with them, tip just slightly twitching. AND that was when it was apparent- it wasn't Cran anymore, but Copperpelt again, listening carefully to what the smaller leopard said. His whiskers twitched as he listened, swiping his tongue gently over them to have them stop. He couldn't hold in a sort of throaty chuckle at the sight of the female on her back. It was almost cute. "AH, um, yes. The clans are pretty well known, aren't they? What have you heard?" he question, curious to hear what others are saying about his clan, and the others. He wouldn't he surprised if any of the 'rumors' were outrageous. That often happened with outsiders. They saw a border tussle and labeled all of the clans as psycho-murderers. TILTING his head at the prospect that he hadn't been able to ask any questions, his eyes clouded over just slightly as he thought about it. Was there any more questions he wanted to ask? He knew of a few- but would she answer them? He waited for now, for her to answer his questions about what she has heard about the clans. [[Wow, sorry for such a delayed response ;]]] [/scrolly]

[crush]

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[atrb=background,http://i54.tinypic.com/670a3a.jpg] [scrolly:h(153),w(448),sy] Oh, just bits and pieces really. She purred, feeling stupid mentioning it. She'd probably just embarrass herself, mention something that was completely false and left him laughing at her for believing such a thing. She loved her false mother dearly, but she'd never quite trusted every word Cora told her. After all, she'd told her that she had been found wandering alone in a forest, but Lorelei distinctly remembered water. Lots of water, all around her, filling her eyes and lungs and burning when she tried to breath. She remembered the crash of thunder and the open sky visible and flashing with light when her head wasn't under water. It couldn't have been a forest at all, it was too open. Far too open. She was probably trying to lighten the blow, but it hadn't worked. It never really had. Still, she'd mentioned knowing bits of the clans now, so she had to say something. She decided to not mention some of the specifics she'd heard, just basics. I heard there are four. Tiger, lion, cheetah and leopard. Well, she had little doubt that was true. She'd heard it from passing loners as well. It was the rest she had conflicting stories on, though she'd always held certain ideas in her own head, preferred the image they gave her of the clans. She'd always sort of looked up to them in a way, felt some sort of kinship with the idea. She wasn't sure why, but she could always picture herself in den with branches woven for walls, situated in a small valley and leopards all around her in the trees and on the ground. It was a beautiful thought to her, having so many you could depend on. A-and... Well, I heard from a passing loner that they... they have a code they follow, something respectable and wonderful- She cut herself, knowing she was about to go into one of her tangents, her daydreams, if she didn't. But it still felt so familiar, what she said, as if she knew that was true. She'd heard they were vicious, that they followed no rules, and things like that as well, but she had never thought of that as the truth, just a scared little rumor. Perhaps she was idealizing, she wouldn't have been surprised. She tended to do that a lot, after all. Still, she watched with hopeful eyes, desperate for her fantasies to be the truth, for the rest to be false and inaccurate. [/scrolly]