Deviation Actions
Literature Text
The Rope Adventure
With Aleeza Dragotan
And Sicily @ CCdoomoo
Aleeza opened her eyes to the all familiar darkness the lived in, it was early in the morning and most of the apprentices were still asleep. Astrid was out on a patrol, so Aleeza wouldn't have training until later in the afternoon. But as she swiveled her ears to the sounds of snoring and sleeping felines, she knew she wouldn't be sleeping anymore. Her mind was too active and awake, plus it was a nice cool morning and she couldn't imagine wasting it.
Sicily was already up. Her bed partner for the night had to leave early for a patrol, and hitting the cold earthy floor had been enough to wake her fully and now she sat curled up against the chill in a nice high place grouchily overlooking the camp. She wanted to do something besides sit. Sicily really needed some rope for traps. Maybe she could get someone to go with her to go look for some. She waited, deciding the first cat to exit one of the sleeping dens would be her buddy for the day.
Aleeza stood up and stretched, her muscle's stiff from patrolling yesterday. After a long stretch she climbed out of the apprentice’s den, shaking dust off her fur. She perked her ears and opened her mouth to scent the air, trying to see what cats were awake. The camp had the scent of lighting empire, but only a few cats where awake. She could hear some movement around the gladiator's den, and she scented a feline up high somewhere. But the scent was not one she was familiar with.
THERE!
True to her word, the first cat to emerge was one from the Apprentice Den. Sicily liked apprentices, they listened to her for some reason.
Flying down from her perch she landed like little torpedo down over the apprentice’s head and touched down in front of her. "Hey are you busy?"
Suddenly a weight landed in front of her, the blind tigeress was still half-sleep and had not heard the smaller feline jump. So when she landed, Aleeza flinched with surprise. "Who-?" She started, her ear's swiveling back, but then perked forward as she heard the soft thud of Sicily's paws in front of her.
Aleeza scented the air to mentally remember the new scent of this unknown feline. She wondered if she was a gladiator? Aleeza couldn't tell, but when she spoke she sounded like a smaller cat based on the sound of her voice.
"Uh, no ma'am I am not busy. My name is Aleeza its nice to meet you...?" She said slightly confused, her blind eye's starring over Sicily's head.
Sicily got a closer look at Aleeza's face, the tigress was young, but not that young, and there was something about her face. "My name is Sicily..." She said looking even closer. "You can't see can you?" Subtlety was something she lacked, and Sicily found that being bunt about certain things tended to get her answers faster.
Aleeza gave her a warm smile her tail swishing behind her, "Nice to meet you Sicily, uh - is there something you needed me for?" She asked, abit awkwardly, she remembered the name Sicily coming up before. One of the new felines, a gladiator right? Aleeza was pretty certain she was a gladiator.
And then the question that always came up, came up. Aleeza flicked her ear's back, she was used to that question by now. The question itself didn't bother her, it was the stereotype that usually came with it. It made other cats feel like she wasn't as capable, but she answered Sicily honestly.
"Yes ma'am, I am blind," She said simply.
Having her suspicion confirmed Sicily gave a little nod and then turned away from tigress in the direction of the camp exit. "Nice to meet you. I'm going out for a walk, I need to get some rope. Want to come?" She asked. It really didn't matter to her what the Tiger could or couldn't do, as long as she could walk Sicily had more than she needed.
Aleeza unable to see her nod, just assumed that Sicily was fine with what she said as the gladiator started walking towards camp. She followed the sounds of her footsteps,
"I would be happy to help," She said, glad for a chance to get her mind off the war and on something useful. Such as helping out, plus it would be nice to get out of camp for awhile.
Turning to make sure Aleeza was following, Sicily gave her a smile and a little bump with her nose. "So I know a great place for us to go to get some rope. It shouldn't take too long. At least we should be back before all the other lazy bone Empire cats get up. Have you always been an empire cat?" She asked heading at a brisk pace down the path.
Aleeza smiled at her and nodded, "Okay, maybe my mentor will be back by then so that would work perfectly." She said, she was curious what Sicily needed the rope for, but decided not to ask. Figuring she would find one soon enough.
"Yes, I was found as a cub, I've never been in the city. You?" She asked, turning her ear's so she could hear the smaller feline better as they walked deeper into the woods.
Sicily broke from the usually path heading towards a direction there were less empire cat scent markings...for good reason, yet Sicily was as carefree as ever.
"Oh no, I was born in a little town two days from Massiso...or whatever it's called. Humans raised me and then tried to bring me here in a box. But then you guys found me. I have to say, do you ALWAYS sleep on the ground? It's so uncomfortable."
Aleeza noticed the scent's getting weaker, and wondered where they were going...For that matter, where DO you find rope in the forest? She was abit confused by this, perhaps Sicily was looking for vines on the edge of the border?
"Oh I see, that sounds pretty interesting, whats it like living with humans?" She asked curiously, she had never met a human before but heard a lot about them from other cats.
"And yes, though I guess we get used to it after awhile," she admitted. she paused a moment before speaking again "May I ask you a question Sicily?" She said, her tail tip twitching slightly
"It's boring most of the time." She answered Aleeza's first question. "Human can be interesting to watch when they have stuff to do. They are stupid but tend to have their moments."
They still had a bit of a ways to go, but it was mostly downhill from here, that's when Sicily noticed Aleeza had stopped. "Feet cold already?" She asked.
"...Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure Aleeza. What's up?"
Aleeza didn't understand the cold feet comment, so she didn't give an answer to that. Though she did find their conversation to be very interesting. And normally she'd ask more questions her curiosity wanting to know more. But as they neared the border she grew confused, and abit concerned.
"Where are we going? We're nearing the border?" She said, "Where are we going to find rope in the forest?" She asked with a look of confusion, "Or are we going to make some from vines?" She asked, unintentionally she was actually starring right at Sicily as she asked.
Sicily giggled. "No silly, I don't know how to make rope out of vines. Do vines even grow in this territory, hmm, shows what I know about being an empire cat. No, we are going to the city, they have lots of rope there." She said, feeling like the conversation was over and she started forward again.
"Oh..." She said, she heard Sicily starting to walk again and hesitatingly padded after her.
"B-But Astrid told me the city is dangerous...Sh-Shouln't we tell someone?" She asked her voice uncertain, she had never been in the city before. The idea of stepping into the home of bounty hunters, and humans scared her a lot. Not to mention the sounds and scents of the city might confuse her, but not wanting to get in trouble she still followed Sicily. However her ear's flattened against her head, looking uncertain.
Sicily kept going, completely unconcerned. "If we tell someone, then we would have to go all the way back and then it defeats the purpose of leaving before they know he have left. We wont have to go into the city, probably, there are always lots of carts full of stuff that haven't made it in yet. Besides, hunters are just cats like you and me."
The smell of the city was getting closer, Sicily could smell horses and barrels of goodies. They would be there soon.
Aleeza looked very concerned, her ear's flatteneding against her head.
"B-But the hunter's will tear us apart if they catch us sneaking into their territory..." She imagined her mentor Astrid giving her a long firm talk if she ever found out about them going into the hunter's territory. The thought made her fur prickle, Astrid was very sweet and forgiving...But she could be firm when she needed to be. Though the thought of facing fierce hunter's scared the tigress alot more then Astrid did. Aleeza didn't want to get in any trouble, but then Sicily was a gladiator. She couldn't really say no, right? After all maybe Sicily was right and they'd be back before anyone knew?
Even though she felt really really bad about this, she found herself following Sicily anyways. Unable to get the courage to say no to her. So she just went along with it for now, but it was clear she was very nervous and uncertain about this plan.
Sicily was only half listening now. She was planning how this would work. If the apprentice was going to keep making so much noise she may have to end up using her as a diversion. Sicily of course would never let anything happen to Aleeza, she just learned to work with what she had handed to her. "The hunters can only tear us apart if they catch us, but they aren't going to so stop worrying. Okay, up ahead is a caravan waiting to get into the gates. If it gets too close then the hunters, if they are even expecting us to be that close could end up maybe seeing us, so we are going to get the rope before it gets to the gate alright?"
Aleeza fell silent as Sicily told her to stop worrying, she nodded slightly. "Okay," She said, maybe Sicily was right it didn't seem that hard after all. Aleeza at least sure hoped the gladiator knew what she was doing.
Sicily began to creep almost silently now closer to the path, hiding herself behind the bushes so as to better observe the carts. Horses snorted and stamped their feet waiting to be let in the gate so they could receive some hot mesh and get a good rub down from a long days travel.
She spotted two Hunter apprentices just on the other side of the gate. One was a leopard and the other really small, a bornean cat, those two would be no trouble at all, it was the two full grown hunters that were at the wall that she would have to watch carefully for the right moment.
They were in luck, the right moment came. Something had happened just inside the gate and chickens were loose everywhere. The hunters were distracted by the chaos as were the humans, the two hunter apprentices running around trying to herd the chickens back with little success.
"Alright listen up Aleeza. Your job is simple, if you hear me yowl, I want you to roar so loudly it scares the hair off those horses, then turn and book it for the camp got it? If you don't hear me yowl, just get ready to grab the other end of my rope and run. You ready?" She asked, not really intending to wait for a response, she would move soon as that hunter wasn't looking whether Aleeza had answered or not.
Aleeza sensed Sicily's pawsteps getting softer, so she crouched down following behind her in a silent crawl - or as quiet as Aleeza could be, which wasn't a lot. She crawled up next to the smaller feline, scenting the bushes in front of her and the breeze that made the leaves rustle. But past the scent of leaves, was the scent of wood, rock, and most obvious, Bounty Hunter.
Aleeza "Yes, I understand" she said. I'm a tiger, I can roar no problem right? She tried to reassure herself, perking her ears up at the sound of the chickens running away.
With Aleeza ready Sicily saw her chance. She bolted like a squirrel darting under the nearest wagon, and then looked around. No one had spotted her. Slinking over to the back of the wagon she maneuvered in and there! A perfectly good rope, nice leather rope not the rough kind they used for hauling farm items. The problem was, It was tied good and tight. Sicily pouted, she needed to change her plan. Darting back the way she had come, and making sure no one saw her she scampered back over to Aleeza and said. "Change of plans, you need to follow me."
Aleeza perked her sharp ear's in a mix of anticipation and fear, however she was abit confused when the sound of Sicily's paws came back. She fluffed out her fur in a unconscious instinct to appear bigger then she was.
"Come with y-you? Okay..." She took a deep breath, she didn't like this but she'd have to be brave. "Put your tail on my shoulder, or I might lose you I don't know that area well and all the bounty hunter scents are abit confusing. What do you need me to do?" She said, her voice more serious and determined.
Sicily didn't have the longest tail, but it would serve her purpose in keeping the tiger close. Sicily wanted to make sure they weren't spotted. Playing her tail on Aleeza, though her tail only really went about as high as her upper foreleg.
"Stay close." She said "Put your nose on my back, it will help you keep your head down and we have to crawl under the first wagon."
Sicily gave the tiger a moment then seeing her chance the small golden cat darted towards the first wagon.
"Okay," She said gently resting her nose against Sicily's back, the small feline's scent strong in her nose as she tensed in preparation. She flicked her tail up in response, letting Sicily know that she was ready.
Only moments after she felt her move, Aleeza being much taller only had to take a step for every one of the gladiator's two steps. She perked her ears, keeping alert for any sounds.
They made it to the first wagon, and then without too much hesitation Sicily led Aleeza to the wagon with the rope.
"Okay, we are here, stay right here." She jumped up into the wagon again and grabbed the rope she wanted pulling it down and over the side.
"Now I need you to bite through it, my jaws aren't strong enough. I'll tell you where." Sicily whispered holding the rope up for Aleeza to grab.
Aleeza felt her heart pounding in her chest, she barley heard Sicily at first then quickly nodded. "Okay," She said feeling rather un-brave now that they were really here doing this.
Aleeza assumed the robe was in front of her and stretched out a paw to find it, feeling it she moved her paw down "Tell me to stop where you want me to bite it." She said slowly moving her paw down the rope, waiting for Sicily's answer.
Sicily pulled s much down from the cart as she could before it stopped and nosed the spot towards the apprentice.
"Right...there. Bite down."
The wagon was getting ready to move, and humans were getting closer to their cart, prepared to finally enter the city, they were out of time.
Aleeza opend her jaws reveling large sharp fangs tiger's had the largest fangs of all the big cats, with them being up to 3-inches long - you really didn't want that in your leg if you were a human - and rows of sharp-teeth. She bit down on the rope, grinding it between her teeth to tear it in half.
The rope snapped, and with not a moment to lose.
"Hey, what's that?" A voice yelled. They had been spotted.
Sicily grabbed most of the rope in her jaws, at the same time telling Aleeza. "Don't let go!"
The Asian Golden cat bolted for the trees. If Aleeza didn't let go, then Sicily could easily lead her to the woods and to safety.
There was a yowl and one of the patrolling hunters leapt from the wall.
'Great.' Sicily thought, 'we have a new fan.'
Aleeza held on as tightly as she could, she didn't dare let even a tiny bit of air between her teeth and the rope. Her fur prickled as she heard the human voice's getting angry and loud. Aleeza had never met a human in her life, but she was plenty scared of them.
As they ran towards the tree's, Aleeza's paw caught on a large rock, with the force of her momentum-and her rather large size for that matter - she fell forward feeling the rope slip from between her teeth and she tumbled onto her side. Disoriented and stunned she stumbled to her paws, holding the paw up that that had hit the rock. She felt panicked, not sure which way to go anymore her nose filled with human scent.
"Sicily?!" She said frozen in place, uncertain where to go.
The rope suddenly jerked back throwing Sicily off her feet and sending the golden cat in an acrobatic spiral. She landed on her front paws and rear end at the same time and turned to see Aleeza had fallen.
Sicily was no hero, but she had promised the Apprentice nothing would happen. So altering course she bolted back towards the approaching hunter and two angry humans Sicily sprang like a bat out of hell landing on the hunters head.
The hunter was a snowleopard, and it nearly face planted as it tried to throw her off and grab her. Throw her off it did and Sicily was thrown right into the first human who was knocked down with a heavy oomph as her weight collided into his chest. The second human made a grab for her but Sicily was already on the move and grabbing the rope again she let the whole thing drag, a good 10 foot line behind her jumping over Aleeza so the rope began to trail across the tigers body Sicily hissed. "Grab it and come on!" The tiger would have plenty of time to feel the rope and secure a hold again, but the snowleopard was coming back to his senses, having shaken most of the dirt Sicily had shoved in his eyes when she sprung at his face, and now the hunter was turning for Aleeza.
Aleeza heard the sound of paw-steps, heavy paw-steps coming at her from the left and lighter one's on the right. As well as the sound of a angry human, but then the scent of Sicily passed her as the smaller feline leaped at the hunter. The sound of a loud thud a she was thrown into the human, Aleeza felt frozen in place with fear. All the noise, the smells the fear caused her to feel utterly lost locking her muscle's up.
Then through all the noise she felt the rope running over her back, and Sicily telling her to grab it. At first the tigeress didn't move, it took a good few seconds for the Gladiator's words to sink in. Then she snapped-to grabbing the rope as snow-leopard's jaws snapped right next to her ear, barley missing. She yelped with surprise leaping forwards, kicking with her hind legs in the direction she thought the snow leopard was as she chased after Sicily. The rope tightly held in her jaws.
Sicily smiled as the snowleopard yelped in pain, the tigress's kick knocking his jaw and sending him into a spin tripping the second human. Feeling Aleeza there on the rope Sicily bolted full speed, using the rope to guide Aleeza, left, then right, a jerk up when she needed to jump. They were almost in the clear. 50 more yards and the hunter and humans would be long gone, and the two thieves would be safe in Lightning again.
Aleeza didn't wait to listen for the snow leopard, she raced after Sicily as fast as her paws could carry her. She wasn't much for speed, but she had a lot of...Motivation this time. And with that she was able to keep up decently with the smaller faster feline, leaping up over the log as she felt the rope jerk up slightly.
No longer hearing any sounds of perusing Sicily stopped and looked back, stepping out of the way to avoid getting run over by Aleeza.
"It's okay we made it." She said dropping the rope.
Sicily then started laughing. "That was awesome. The way you kicked that hunter in the face. Hahaha he won't be able to eat for a week." She started to gather the rope in a coil. It was a good amount, she felt well accomplished. "Hehehe Come on, Lightning Empire has slept through a grand adventure
Aleeza stumbled into a bush, she backed up breathing heavily. She had to take a few long moments to get her breath before she could respond to the gladiator.
"Awesome? That was crazy! We could have been killed...For...For rope!" She snapped at Sicily, she was abit surpised to hear the anger in her own voice. But even the gentle Aleeza had her limits. She took a deep breath though, and slowly calmed down. "Sorry...I just don't see how that was good...I-I'm never going near the hunters again...." She shivered, her fur spiking up at the thought.
The little golden cat didn't seem to hear Aleeza. She finished wrapping up the rope and swung it onto her back completely unfazed. "Are you hungry? I'm hungry after all that excitement." She said beginning to trot back in the direction of the camp. "Hey if you would like, I'll make you a cord from this rope, since you earned it and all."
Aleeza stood there as she walked off, a look of disbelief on her face. She let out a long sigh, taking in a deep breath, she slowly padded after Sicily.
"You owe me more then a cord for that..." She muttered under her breath, walking behind the smaller feline. She didn't see any point in arguing with her, so she said nothing more.
"Hmm, alright fair enough, what would you like?" Sicily agreed, the camp approaching their view.
Aleeza was abit surprised, she didn't think the gladiator had heard her. So she hesitated to respond, normally Aleeza would shrug it off and tell her not to worry about it. But, this time she felt different about it, after all it became clear to her Sicily was some type of collector. Why else go through so much trouble for some rope? And the small feline had put the blind tigeress through a lot, it couldn't hurt to ask for something more right? Worst case, she said no.
"The blacksmith is making me new armour for when I rank up to gladiator...But their abit low on leather, don't suppose you have any?" She asked, her voice though calmer, still had a hint of anger laced in it.
Sicily paused. She had a smirk on her face Aleeza had figured out her game faster than most cats. As good as Sicily was against cats she didn't like, Sicily had decided they were friends and she was true to that choice once it had been made. Had Aleeza been anyone else the bargaining would not have been so easy.
"Would you like grey leather or red. I don't have enough tan to give you enough for your armor." She said starting forward again they were maybe 50 paces from the camp and Sicily could see cats were awake and preparing for patrols and hunting parties.
Aleeza couldn't see Sicily's expression, but she could read it based on the tone of her voice. She listened to her carefully, the tigeress's ear's rotating around to pick up sounds better.
Aleeza's own voice seemed to soften in her answer, returning to the more natural gentleness she was known for.
"I don't know what red or grey looks like, Ryder says red looks nice on me though so I guess red?" She asked, shrugging slightly. Her body language showed she was relaxed now, her anger had passed. Despite what Sicily had did, Aleeza forgave her, part of her evened liked the gladiator.
Sicily laughed. "Red it is." I'll drop it by the Blacksmith Den. Call me the next time you're feeling up to an adventure okay Aleeza." She said before darting off through the cats. It wasn't much of a goodbye, but for Sicily it was pretty heartfelt
"Thanks...I guess..."She let out a long breath, shaking her head. She was just glad to be back home alive, and before anyone noticed. She padded towards the apprentice den, but a certain lioness stopped her.
"Aleeza, your up early, ready for your training today?" Said Astrid.
Aleeza inwardly sighed, so much for a nice long nap...But forced a smile. "Of course Ma'am." She said.
Thanks for the great RP CC!
+ 8 for 4300 words, + 5 for showing us Rping = 13 EP (??) for Aleeza and Sicily.
