Father&Son&Another [Private;Cindy]

[Miss Midnight||]

Phobia
Amber eyes glittered viciously in the dark forest, the crescent-shaped sliver of the moon high overhead, providing little light. The broad-shouldered shape moved slowly, not paying heed to when a twig snapped under his weight or when the leaf litter crackled beneath his paws. Phobia knew very well he was in Clan territory, their stench had filled his nostrils after all, but he wasn’t entirely sure what Clan it was. Of course, he didn’t care either. His fur was matted in clumps, looking as though it hadn’t been groomed in moons. Which was close enough, his tortoiseshell pelt hadn’t got a decent clean since the last rainstorm had passed. The tomcat’s lean muscles rippled under his fur, and, despite his massive size, he looked unusually thin. He hadn’t had a meal in days, but he had gone longer without something to eat. He just wasn’t having much luck cornering kitty-pets as he’d like to be having. Phobia stopped and his tail flickered in the pale moonlight as his sharp ocher orbs gazed across the woodland.

[//Cindy// l u n a]

Shadow took a deep breath in, drawing cold air into his strong lungs. The frigid breeze stung as it rushed into his body, but he relished in that reminder of how alive he was. He payed close attention to the scents that clung to the wind. There was the ever-present, musty scent of wood and the fresh scent of falling leaves. There was the scent of ThunderClan cats that covered the woods and made Shadow's nose wrinkle. There was the scent of frightened little creatures. Frightened? There was another cat around, and they were running for their homes in fear. That brought Shadow the another scent that he had been expecting - the dirty, bloody scent of Phobia.

Shadow had come on the trail of that familiar stench, and his large paws glided over the loose dirt and underbrush as he continued to follow his nose and his ears. The night was dark, but some moonlight filtered in through the branches of leafless trees. Shadow had thrived in nights much darker than this. His fur blended perfectly into the blackness, a shadow in the sunless hour. His very eyes, as deeply black as the rest of his fur, were hard to pick out in the moonlit woodland. Muscles rippling with incredible strength, Shadow continued to follow the other rogue.

[Miss Midnight||]

Phobia
The bulky tortoiseshell parted his maw, letting the crisp night air drift to the roof of his mouth, inhaling the scents around him. He froze suddenly, jaw snapping shut with a loud click as a pleased snarl rumbled through his chest. Phobia turned around and began to push through the undergrowth again, twigs breaking as he went. He was certainly not the most agile cat, his tousled fur getting snagged on the tiniest of branches, one sharp limb in particular digging into his flank and making a shallow wound. The aroma of his own blood made him slow his hurried pace, the intoxicating stench making his head spin with desire. Phobia craned his neck and rasped his rough tongue over the gash, a hoarse purr catching in his throat at the metallic taste in his mouth. The tom paused mid-lick, the original scent he’d been after closing in on his location. Phobia lifted his large skull up reluctantly from the warm liquid pulsing from his side, amber eyes searching for the familiar black silhouette.

[Miss Midnight||]

OOC: Bump; Cindy?

[//Cindy// l u n a]

ooc; sorry you had to wait for me to get my inactive butt over here....

Shadow sensed a change in the sound his ears were straining to hear. The cat had been pushing forward steadily, crackling twigs and leaves as he brushed past branches and scared little furry creatures. Now the steady movement stopped for a moment and started again with a strange snap. Phobia was moving faster and coming towards Shadow. The black tom smiled. Phobia must have scented his follower, and turned to get a better look. Shadow sat facing the direction that Phobia would emerge from. He relaxed his muscles; there was no need to move around. For no real reason, he continued to listen to the sound of Phobia's journey. There was another snap, though this one Shadow could identify - a breaking piece of live wood - and another pause. Shadow didn't bother trying to guess what happened; he merely waited.

Shadow stood, without any reason or questioning, and walked in the direction of the other tom. He could tell that he was getting closer when the scent was so strong and fresh that Shadow could barely smell anything else. "Phobia." That was the nighttime cat's version of hello, and it worked. He saw Phobia's eyes, searching for his own, and smiled again - his teeth glinted in the moonlight, making him easier to locate in the dark.

[Miss Midnight||]

OOC: It’s fine, Cindy. We’re all very busy nowadays.

Phobia
The lean-muscled loner pushed through the shelter of a fern; the feathery-leaves making his nose tingle as they brushed past his muzzle. He stopped, a tail-length away from the looming cat shape, as he picked out the other’s pearly white teeth that glinted from what little moonlight was filtering through the near-bare branches of the trees. Phobia ignored the delicious scent of the red liquid oozing from his wound, which was making him feel a little giddier than possibly thought for a cruel loner since he’d actually had a taste. He was craving more of the sharp taste on his tongue, but that could wait for now, but only for a little while. His lips curled up to reveal his large, discolored fangs that slowly twisted into his own warped version of a smile. Dear Shadow, he addressed the dark tomcat that stood before him, the name dubbed seeming most fitting. An almost friendly growl began to form in his chest, gradually getting louder and his ocher-colored eyes glinted hungrily. His large paws shifted over the leaf-littered ground, stepping closer to Shadow. It’s been much to long. Phobia rasped almost wistfully.

[//Cindy// l u n a]

Shadow wasn't quite sure if the toothy expression on Phobia's bloodstained muzzle was a smile or a snarl, and it didn't really matter. The meaning was irrelevant anyway. Shadow assumed that the tomcat was greeting him, but if not he was always ready for a surprise attack. A growl started inside Phobia, and Shadow could see the greed in his orbs. It would have been a thoroughly terrifying sight if Shadow didn't have the immunity to that kind of thing. Instead, Shadow aimlessly pondered the thoughts that might go through the head of a cat Phobia was about to kill. Without coming to any conclusion, Shadow's uncaring mind flickered on, not paying any attention to any of the topics it landed on.

"Oh yes, I did miss our delightful smalltalk," Shadow said. Although is words were obviously sarcastic, there was not a drop of the appropriate attitude in his monotone. His smile stayed easily in place, and he tasted the air. He didn't care much about his surroundings, but it was a habit he was in - it told him if anyone was behind him. He smelled the fresh blood from Phobia's wound and laughed just a little. His chuckle was almost silent and easy to miss, but he didn't bother trying to hide it. He laughed because the scent explained the desire in the tortoiseshell's flashing eyes.

[Miss Midnight||]

Phobia
Phobia was amused by the dark-furred tom’s clear sarcasm that came off him in waves. He unsheathed his large black talons that were unkempt and overgrown, scraping them over the cold ground and stirring up dirt. I’m sure you did. The tortoiseshell snarled with equal, biting sarcasm. His claws continued to score the earth below him, imagining what it would feel like to dig his sharp weapons into Shadow’s flanks. It wasn’t that he hated the collected loner or anything; he just naturally got the bloodthirsty thought about any cat. Phobia studied his potential cat prey with sudden interest, what would Shadow’s blood taste like? This single thought sparked a new thirst in his amber eyes and he stepped forward again. The loner’s rough tongue swiped over his maw, then suddenly he snapped his jaws together again with a low growl. With every ounce of self-control he had left in his body he stopped his legs from pushing himself off the ground and lunging at the smoky tomcat in front of him. Shadow was unfortunately a sort of ‘friend’, he couldn’t attack him just yet, and maybe when they’d engaged in some idle chitchat he would. What have you been up to these past moons? Phobia inquired, attempting to distract himself from his own desires.

[//Cindy// l u n a]

Shadow's ebony orbs took in every movement that the homicidal rogue made. Although it was obvious that the tortoiseshell was about to attack, Shadow didn't move a muscle. He would enjoy all the moments of talking to his strange friend. Why look ahead to the unavoidable? Why not just relax in the present? He was actually surprised, however - and it took a lot to surprise the tom who never expected anything - when Phobia stepped back and started some smalltalk. He seemed to really be making an effort not to kill Shadow. How strange. Shadow didn't think about it again - there was no point. Instead, he went along with the other tom's odd attempt at a conversation.

"Nothing of interest. Pretty boring. I don't keep track of what happens when, though. How about yourself?" It was difficult for Shadow to talk about the past. He lived in the present, and only brought back memories when he absolutely needed them - to identify others and to decide what fighting moves to make. He rarely told anyone else about anything he had ever done. It seemed so pointless. Why would anyone care, anyway? But if Phobia wanted to make conversation... the tiny bit of curiosity that lived lazily in Shadow's mind surfaced, wondering where this strange encounter was headed.

[Miss Midnight||]

Phobia
The messy-furred tortoiseshell snorted and flicked his ear; he hadn’t been reminded how boring speech was for a long while. His muscles tensed again as his claws scraped over the grooves he had already created, feeling his wound react to the action and more blood seeped out. Phobia stiffened as the tangy stench reminded him how hungry he was, but over the smell of his own red life water he could detect the faint stench of a Clan cat nearby. Phobia sniffed. Traveling, though I’ve been most unlucky about feeding myself. I haven’t kept track of the number of sunrises it’s been since I have eaten a decent meal. He meowed throatily. He didn’t bother to define ‘decent meal’; he thought Shadow knew enough about him to realize he ate his own kind. Phobia’s jaws split and he took in a gulp of night air, realizing the Clan cat was closer than he thought. The ocher-eyed loner ignored it; if the cat were smart it would stay away.

Ghostshoulder
A dark shape flickered in and out of the moonlight, a pair of pale yellow orbs loomed in the darkness as the feline made its way through the forest. The ThunderClan warrior carried a scrawny mouse in his maw, his long fangs piercing straight through its torso and out the other side. Certainly his leader wasn’t expecting too much of him to search out the plumpest prey in all of ThunderClan, this would fill any cat’s belly at least halfway, and that’s all that was expected of the season the forest was in. Ghostshoulder picked up a strange scent over the stench of the dead animal in his jaws. He followed the clumsy scent trail, whoever had come through here had obviously not cared who followed him. The smoky-furred tom slowed when he could tell the scent had strengthened. Ghostshoulder’s ears strained forward, he could hear the murmuring of two separate voices and smell the fresh scent of cat blood. He gently set down the emaciated prey and padded forward, crouching in the undergrowth so he could peer out into the clearing. One tom was a dark gray with equally dark eyes; the other was a considerably larger cat with matted tortoiseshell fur and shimmering amber eyes. Ghostshoulder tilted his head and began quietly muttering to himself. He could’ve sworn he’d seen the large loner before. He breathed in, smelling the multi-colored tom’s blood, the stench so familiar it frustrated him he didn’t know where he’d encountered the loner before. Then the realization nearly swept him off his paws. This was his son! A smile curved across his maw, this was going to be interesting.

[//Cindy// l u n a]

Shadow listened to the words, and Phobia's earlier actions made a bit more sense - not that Shadow really cared. He didn't mind not understanding others' motives, but sometimes they were interesting. Phobia was craving a feline's thick blood, so Shadow himself appealed to the hungry loner. Shadow could have uncovered more meaning behind Phobia's words and action, probably, but he didn't bother. Instead he looked lazily around. He didn't feel like making conversation, because speech was a pointless tool mostly used to communicate useless information. Snarls and deeply soulless eyes were better at sending a message then strings of meows. Besides, Shadow scented a Clanner. Phobia had just taken a deep breath in - surely he smelled the dirty StarClan's Slave as well. So if he was too hungry to stand... he would attack the Clanner.

ooc; sorry, not much to reply to in that post. i just couldn't think if anything that Shadow would actually have said.

[Miss Midnight||]

Ghostshoulder
The gray tabby tom sniffed and his eye twitched a little. The sight of his broad-shouldered son brought back many memories. Slightly happy ones with a pretty fawn-colored she-cat and the disgusting birth of his children. He could picture the bloodied form of the she-cat beneath his paws, his talons stabbed into her fur like daggers. In the corner of his eye he could almost imagine the cowering form the small tortoiseshell kit with frightened amber eyes. Ghostshoulder purred smoothly at the thoughts flooding into his mind, the tip of his tail twitching madly. He stood from his crouch and plodded out of the shelter of the undergrowth, he'd better put up the old Clan cat act. Ghostshoulder cleared his throat and took a few more steps forward till he was a tail-length away from both of the loners. Hello, do you two have any business in ThunderClan territory, by chance? He meowed casually and smiled, though his eye twitched again at his words.

Phobia
Phobia craned his neck to look at the newcomer. He was a gray tom with darker gray stripes, long legs and pale yellow eyes. His lips curled up and he revealed his large discolored teeth in another one of his twisted grins. Look at the pretty Clan kitty, protecting his precious home, how sweet. The bulky tom sneered, his voice cracking a little. He was unsatisfied when the calm Clanner just continued to smile back. Phobia growled irritably, the last thing he needed was another too-collected cat to deal with. The dark-furred ThunderClanner looked a little familiar, only his yellow eyes made his mind work to find where he'd seen him. The little kitty's not gonna attack is he? Oh, no! We can't have that at all, we might have to silence little Clan kitty for good. He meowed in his rough voice, ocher eyes flashing dangerously.

[//Cindy// l u n a]

Shadow waited for Phobia to speak his piece. He didn't interrupt his friend's taunting - instead he smiled as he listened. Phobia was a master at taunting, and despite Shadow's own talent he had to admire the bloodthirsty tom. But he also added on - because what better fun was there than to team up on a terrified Clanner? They were always so used to being the ones with better numbers; they just didn't know what to do when they didn't have chances to call for inane backup.

"I'm quaking in fear - he might call StarClan's rage on us!" Shadow's deep voice was dead-serious; he never bothered with using the appropriate tone when he was being sarcastic. Oftentimes other were unable to describe any attitude in his monotone. More than half the time, however, his words were facetious. In this case, he showed his true meaning by smiling just a little at the word StarClan, as if the very mention of the Clan's ancestors was humorous. His deep black eyes stared at the Clanner. He didn't try any mind games or hope to predict anything. He was always ready for everything, so there was no reason to try to be a step ahead.

[Miss Midnight||]

Phobia
StarClan! Phobia howled, a hoarse chuckle following. The heavily built tomcat turned in full to face the long-limbed Clanner, amber eyes swimming with a newfound thirst. What was StarClan again? Oh yeah, a bunch of dead cats who lived up in the sky and stalked every move of their living decedents. He laughed inwardly, what fools they were to believe those ludicrous stories! He knew for sure that StarClan was just an old queen’s tale to get kits to fall asleep at night and not be scared of things like himself lurking in the darkness. Actually, I’m feeling generous today. He padded closer, so that he and the stranger were a mouse-length away from each other. When I murder you I’ll make it a nice, quick bite to the throat. No suffering involved. Phobia offered to the smoky warrior. Now, what was really ticking him off was that he knew this cat from somewhere, but he could just not figure it out.

Ghostshoulder
The limber tom blinked his pale eyes at the vicious intruder, staring into the snarl of fangs his kin had presented to him. He could smell the blood welling from the moderately shallow wound gauged in the tortoiseshell’s flank, watching the tom seem to lose himself for a few heartbeats before returning to stare at the dark gray ThunderClanner with sadistic eyes. Well, that was interesting, it seemed as though cat blood made his son woozy for whatever reason. How kind. Ghostshoulder meowed, trying to hide his amusement when a growl began to echo in the other’s throat as the broad-shouldered loner’s nostrils flared angrily. He flicked his tail in triumph, after all these moons he could still prickle at his son’s temper like burrs in his fur, even if the tortoiseshell didn’t know he was actually speaking to his father. Now then, what was it they were calling you nowadays… Ghostshoulder trailed off and tilted his skull to the side as if in thought, cleverly disguising his humor to his spawn’s obvious confusion.

[//Cindy// l u n a]

Shadow could feel something strange tinting the air with confusion. There was more to this interaction than he could see. He knew that, but didn't bother trying to figure out what was going on. He wasn't one to predict what would happen; he lived simply in the present and did not want to know the future or dwell on the past. So he let his soulless orbs trail both cats, following their little movements with lazy curiosity. He said nothing because he had nothing to say. Nothing of any importance, at least. He wasn't every all that interested taunting other cats because it was always in anticipation of the future; Shadow preferred instead to make threats into a reality and skip the suspense.

But then a strange phrasing caught his drifting attention and he blinked once. Of course. This was all about the past. Shadow laughed shortly, his ebony eyes glittering with irony and dark humor. Just like a Clanner to make every little interaction into a reference to days gone by. That was what their silly StarClan was for, too - to let them live in the past and still be relatively happy. It would be smarter if it worked. Why not just think about the present, though? Shadow didn't bother trying to figure out what exactly the Clanner was getting at. He would find out eventually, and he didn't really care. Living in the moment, he offered no explanation for his outburst.