``you can't stay, i want you g o n e [open]

[zombielauraa]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,450,true]

[atrb=background,http://i55.tinypic.com/e8lf9f.jpg] [scrolly:h(183),w(375),sy] The cold weather had finally receded, taking it’s ugly grip away from the warriors lands. However, lately, the temperatures had been climbing, and quite unpleasantly. It was now midday, and a black male leopard lay in the spare shade that could be found throughout the open territory of the Leopardclan, jowels open as he panted slightly. Shadestorm scanned the horizon with his green-yellow eyes, hoping for any sign of life within the viewing distance. It was almost as if the lands were dead. Shifting restlessly, the large brute pushed himself up on his paws and paced back and forth, boredom settling over him like a shroud. Was there nothing to do at this time, no other feline to converse with? Moving back under the shade and settling on his haunches, the deputy of the lands ‘sighed’ slightly, gazing about the lands again for any sign of life. It had been like this for quite some time. It was nearly as though all the other felines had given up on these lands and moved on. It was rather disparaging, in his opinion. But his optimism was the one thing that kept him going during times like this. Sure, things could get worse before they got better, but he was certain that things could truly only improve from this point. As he was preparing to lie down once more, a small, chilly breeze picked up, blowing directly across the path of the brute. Inhaling deeply, he picked up the scent of another mingled in with all the other scents carried on the breeze. Rising to his paws again, Shade scanned the area slowly this time, hoping to catch a form of another on the horizon. Opening his maw slightly, the dark hued brute chuffed a greeting towards the open space, loud enough so it would carry to any that were hiding from his view. Curiosity was tugging at the male, and he turned his ears to the front, listening intently for any sound that would signal the presence of another feline, perhaps another leopard, if he were lucky. As a few moments passed with no signal that anyone was around, he sat back on his haunches once again, waiting for a moment more before lying down once more and halfway closing his eyes. Despite the resting appearance, the male’s ears were still turned forward, listening intently for any sound that would give away any tell-tale sign that another was approaching or lurking nearby. [/scrolly]

[jellyfish]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,5,true][atrb=width,497,true][atrb=height,199,true][atrb=background,http://i51.tinypic.com/waopav.jpg][atrb=cellPadding,1,true][scrolly:h(160),w(465),sy,as(position:relative;left:20px;)] He flowed across the ground like water down a hill, slipping gracefully through the relatively bare terrain like some unearthly beast. A light breeze tickled at his sides, no doubt sending the scent of the clanless creature swirling out across the territory- but naturally, he was unconcerned with such things. His face was a mask, a sheer blank, as he slipped from spot to spot, working his way over the ground in a grid-like pattern, as if mapping the area in his mind. Honestly, he was doing exactly that- planning out the area for when he came wandering back for a snack. The overpowering crash of leopard-scent was enough to tempt him onto the grounds in the first place, and it was the same scent that had him drawing closer and closer to the base of the smell- its strongest point, which he figured was this groups...no, clans, he had been told... camp. Topping the rise of a small hill, his golden eyes wandered up for mere moments to catch the shape of some creature seemingly dozing in the sparse shade. Unphased by the fact that he was in a clans territory, the rogue padded forward at his own place, eyes focused on the form ahead. It was a black leopard, if his eyesight didn't lie, and it was beating the heat by laying out under cover of shade. For a moment, the Amur leopards heart and mind gave a simultaneous flutter, a feeling he rarely experienced- a black leopard? ...His friend?- but the momentary excitement died down at the shape of the other creature, and at the scent that wound its way to his nose as he inched closer. No, no, this was not her- this black leopard was a male, and nowhere near her twin. The disappointment twisted his stomach, and it was almost enough to make him let loose an unpleasant growl, but some afterthought held him back from such. Surely this leopard was not the only black one in his....clan. Perhaps there were others.... Perhaps he could find out. With the brashness and unaffected inquisitiveness of a cub, he meandered up to stand a mere two or so feet from the other cat, gazing down at him with blank eyes and the perpetual sneer he had never been able to rid himself of. The other cats eyes were half open, and he figured that the instant he topped the hill, he had been spotted. Good, he wasn't a surprise, then. Surprises could often make others turn nasty. His tail flicked lazily behind him, as if he was preparing to pounce at something interesting, and he silently gazed at the other cat without a word. The dominant cat in a conversation, after all, was the one that could instigate the conversation without a single word. Perhaps he could get words from the other before having to resort to his own diplomacy.... and truly, thought the Amur leopard to himself, that would be ideal. Strangers could usually tell he wasn't quite on the same wavelength as them when he spoke- and he certainly didn't want to scare the other cat off before he could knead a little information from him. No, no. Scaring could come as soon as he got what he wanted- and the leopard ran a tongue around his teeth and lips in one quick motion as if to settle himself on some sort of decision. Oh yes. He could wait. stock credit goes to Chris Blizzard of flickr

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[zombielauraa]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,450,true]

[atrb=background,http://i55.tinypic.com/e8lf9f.jpg] [scrolly:h(183),w(375),sy] The head of the black brute raised slightly as the scent of another, a scent he did not recognize, carried across his path on the breeze that was blowing. Rising to his front paws, he turned his gaze to the direction of the scent, shocked to find the other already so close to him. He had caught a glimpse of him on the horizon only a few moments before. Rising fully to his paws by now, the large black male gazed back at the other leopard quietly for a moment before speaking, his voice guarded yet friendly, easily matching his stance, Greetings. You’re not of these lands. Is there something I may help you with? It was a formal greeting, one reserved for rogues and outsiders. He hated using that tone, but he knew it was a necessity when it came to strangers. It gave the impression that he was not easily walked over or pushed aside, which he wasn’t. However, even Shade would readily admit there was something slightly off about the leopard male standing before him. He had never known a rogue to just wander so boldly into another’s territory, much less stand two feet from a member of another clan and just stare at them. It was unnerving, to say the least, but the fact that he found it so did not show in any part of his stance or his gaze. His yellow eyes stayed focused on the male, mind alert to any slight clue that would tip him off if he were about to be attacked. Standing there, his tail swaying lazily, the black male continued to await a response. Waiting was a part of the requirements of being a deputy. The patience of the male was quite abundant, and he could stand here all day, awaiting the reply of the other. However, he was curious as to the reasons the rogue had come to these lands. Most of the time, if an outsider wanted into the clan, they spent days wandering the border of the lands instead of marching right in the midst of the lands and standing so close to the members. No, there had to be another reason this particular leopard male had so bravely marched in here, without a single word or warning, and now stood there in silence. Tilting his head slightly, maintaining the guarded but friendly stance he had taken earlier, he continued to wait patiently for the response of the other. [/scrolly]

[jellyfish]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,5,true][atrb=width,497,true][atrb=height,188,true][atrb=background,http://i53.tinypic.com/zvabtu.jpg][atrb=cellPadding,1,true][scrolly:h(150),w(475),sy,as(position:relative;left:20px;)] "Of course I am not of these lands. These lands have rules." He spoke the words as if they were obvious- as if the answer should have been noted in his appearance. There was a tone of disdain in his voice, as if rules were something to be scoffed at, rather than abided by. Truly the only rules the leopard himself followed were those in his own mind- laws set down by his own creativity... laws that yielded to nothing but his personal beliefs. "And as for helping me, I am a lost cause." His teeth bared in what could be taken as either some sort of saddening smile, or the pleased smirk of a maniac. Or... in his case... both. Settling his rump on the ground in a leisurely way, the leopard lifted a paw to inspect his paw pads- as if something prickled from the bottom of his foot. Nestled in the midst of his light colored flesh was a particularly nasty clump of thorn-like burrs, digging uncomfortably into his paw pads and drawing the smallest trickle of blood. Unconcerned as ever, the Amur leopard reached down in one fluid moment and ripped the obstruction from his foot using his eye teeth, paying no attention to the slight niggling of pain that might bother anybody else who had just further mutilated themselves. With all the dignity and grace of a masochist, he proceeded to nudge his frayed skin ever so slightly back into place- using the claws of his opposite paw as instruments of surgical precision, and ignoring the inky blood that splotched his gray paw pads. It was truly a spectacle, for the large leopard sat without eyes on the other, as if any backstabbing or harsh act wouldn't strike a chord with him at all. As if he completely trusted- or simply was aware of- the other, and felt that he wouldn't be touched. "There is one thing you might tell me, though...." He paused in the middle of rearranging himself, as if uncertain that he should be asking such a question to this clan cat. While he wouldn't get answers from silence, he wasn't certain that inquiring of her through this method was acceptable. Wendigo drove on, however, too tempted to pass up a chance, and yet not truly prepared for any sort of answer. A split decision lead him down another path- one that might seem quite a nosy and hostile question, but one he asked despite that. "How many are of your clan?" He grinned as he said it, the casual little grimace that he wore so often. Had he had the will to, he would have supplied one of his habitual giggles, the kind that so often twisted the minds of others. But... he didn't want to seem too much a of a loon. Right. As if that was something he could accomplish. stock credit goes to K.B of flickr

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[zombielauraa]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=width,450,true]

[atrb=background,http://i55.tinypic.com/e8lf9f.jpg] [scrolly:h(183),w(375),sy] The dark hued brute gazed at the other male briefly before responding, I believe nobody is truly a lost cause. Some just need more help than others. He’d always believed that. There were varying degrees of problems that everyone had, but nobody was truly a lost cause. Change was always possible, if one wanted to change. All the same, attempting to change someone who didn’t want to change was like attempting to push a large boulder out of the way of the path you were trying to walk down; troubling and pointless. The demeanor of the leopard male was unusual to Shadestorm, but not something he had never seen. There were rogues that sometimes wandered into the clan’s lands. However, the looks this other male gave were slightly peculiar. It was hard to tell exactly what the brute was thinking by his expressions. Watching silently, not flinching when the other pulled the thorn from the pads of his paw, Shade lifted his gaze to the face of the male. Yes, he was rather peculiar, but that was no reason to be unfriendly. It was far from the ways of the black male to be unfriendly to anyone without reasonable cause. Keeping his eyes trained on the male, he allowed the words to sink in and marinate for a moment before he responded, There are ten in this clan, including the Leader and myself, the Deputy. May I ask why you inquire about such a thing? Now his curiosity was peaked, and his guard rose slightly. His demeanor changed ever so slightly, becoming almost imperceptibly rigid and his ears swiveled just so slightly on his head, towards the other leopard male. This was not a question a normal passer-by would ask, and it put the dark brute on alert. He was certain that there was no immediate danger, but it was indeed better to be safe than sorry. Inhaling deeply in search for any scent besides the ones from the clan and the male before him, Shadestorm found nothing that gave away that something was not as it should be. However, his guard remained up while he still maintained a friendly but now alert aura about him. [/scrolly]