Beetle and Boulder

Storyteller | Loner

"It's just a thin stretch of land that you must travel, Beetle; between moor and forest. Once the trees thin, follow the river to its source. Only then have you reached the Clan of the bigwater. Good luck." 

At least, that's what Oracle had told him, and Oracle was never wrong. The whole alley took to his guidance. But it didn't soothe Beetle's wariness as he slunk through the undergrowth. He'd already been chased away by the forest cats twice now trying to find that sweet spot between the two borders- the second time, he had almost been caught by one of them. Honestly, Beetle didn't know if he'd be quick enough to get away a third time if he wasn't careful. 

But this rumor of a Clan by such a large body of water was too good to pass up. How big was Big? The largest thing Beetle had ever seen was the canal that ran through the Upwalker place. It seemed to stretch on forever, but Oracle had told him that was even bigger. And that the cats had strange traditions, and their own history- oh! What stories they must have! What he wouldn't give to meet even one of them. It was what guided each pawstep, hoping beyond hopes that his luck might have changed. 

By some miracle, Beetle had reached the end of where the two Clans had shared a border; he had found the river that had carved itself into the earth; followed its flow as it lead him further and further from the place he once called home. The air had started to smell odd; crisper, almost. He'd never smelled anything like this. Curiosity got the better of him, and before he knew it his paws gained speed. He just had to make it past these last set of trees, and- 

--

Boulderpath | TideClan Guard

With an unexpected crash, Boulderpath was sent through the sand, struck on one side by something that had come too fast for him to notice.  

To be fair, he hadn't expected to be assaulted by a strange cat on his early evening stroll. His guard hadn't been up, and he had been deep in thought- well, as deep as his thoughts can go, which is to say about puddles depth.  

Scrambling back onto his feet, his head whipped immediately towards the stranger, assessing the situation. After the collision, the other tom had not further pursued a fight, nor had his claws been out upon impact. Against his better judgement, Boulder deemed the newcomer non-threatening. Truth be told, he wouldn't be much of a thread even if he had been hostile- not compared to Boulder.  

After regaining his composure and stance, he simply looked at the mysterious car curiously, sizing him up. He didnt smell like the other clans. And certainly had he met this cat before he would have taken note of his shiny coat and bushy tail, his eyes- He would have known if he had met this cat before.

--

Storyteller | Loner

Just as the leaves had begun to part, Beetle collided with what he thought had been a freight train. He tumbled once, twice, three times, before collapsing into the dirt. His whole body ached from the impact- and with the wind knocked out of him, it was several moments before he could even get up to see what had happened. 

The second he did, of course, he had wished he'd been quicker. The fur on Beetle's tail and spine stood straight up, his eyes wide as he stared right at the massive cat- cats? it was so hard to tell with the world spinning- that loomed before him. Stars, not again- he had been so close! His whole body screamed to run, but he remained rooted to the spot. As the world around him began to slow, he could make out certain details; how that crisp smell had gotten stronger, almost overwhelming, how the cat in front of him hadn't lunged yet, but rather seemed to be watching him as much as Beetle was returning the favor. 

Slowly, he straightened himself out, looking less like a deer in headlights and more like a rabbit waiting for the fox to notice he was there. 

"Erm, sorry if this is coming across as a bit, er, forward, but... you're not going to attack me, are you?" He held his breath, his muscles tensed as he readied himself to sprint should the answer be 'yes.'

--

Boulderpath | TideClan Guard

Amusement flitted across Boulder's face, and a twinge of pity as he realized that he has nigh knocked the smaller cat out just by being... well, boulder-like, for lack of better words. 

"That depends.... are you going to attack me?" Despite the question, nothing in Boulder's body language or voice gave any indication that he had intent to fight.

--

Storyteller | Loner

There was a pause, and for a moment neither cat said anything. As the stranger relaxed, however, so too did Beetle; he uncurled from his crouched position and stood slowly, the fur on his back lying flat as he realized this cat meant him no harm. "I won't if you won't." 

A realization clicked in the tom's brain, and he chanced another question- this time with a twinge of hope in his voice. 

"You wouldn't happen to be a bigwater cat, would you? You seem much less, er.... hostile, than your friends in the forest."

--

Boulderpath | TideClan Guard

Boulder wasn't sure how to feel about the next question- do instead of responding, he made somewhat of a displeased face as he tried to figure out what exactly he wanted to say. It took a few moment, but he finally did settle on something.  

"Friends isn't the right word to use. Did they chase you here?"

--

Storyteller | Loner

It did not get past Beetle that this stranger hadn't admitted to being one of the cats that was by the Bigwater. Hmm. Curious. "Not this time- though believe me, if they had seen me, they would have." 

At this point Beetle had decided that if Boulderpath was going to attack him, he would have by now. The somali relaxed fully, sitting himself neatly in the dirt, and set about to smoothing over a patch of fur on his front leg that had stuck up funny with the collision. "If they're not friends of yours, who are they, exactly? ...if you don't mind me asking, of course."

--

Boulderpath | TideClan Guard

A smarter cat might have wondered who this loner was, why he was inquiring about the clans, and what he would plan to do with the information. Luckily for Beetle, he had not encountered a smarter cat.  

"MossClan- I'm surprised you came back for more if they chased out out. Actually, I'm surprised they chased you out at all- they're nasty."  

His distaste for his neighbors was clear in his voice and the way he glanced warily at the treeline as he spoke of them.

--

Storyteller | Loner

MossClan? What an unusual name. Then again, everything about these gangs of cats out in the wilderness seemed unusual. "Well, I am a persistent fellow- once I had heard there was a group of cats out here by a 'Bigwater,' I had to see it for myself. All the cats back home hate any sort of water, big or small. Well, except for Mugwump, but we're not entirely sure he's a cat.... he's a rather odd one." Beetle muttered the last bit to himself, placing his paw done on the ground once he seemed satisfied with its presentation. 

Only then did he get a closer look at this cat in front of him- he was massive, easily larger than even the largest of alley cats back home. And stronger, too, no doubt- even under Boulderpath's thick pelt, his muscles were evident. But it was his face that caught Beetle's attention the most- a handsome face, a strong jaw, and eyes like a stormcloud- had Oracle told him Clan cats looked like this, he would have come running sooner.

--

Boulderpath | TideClan Guard

The more Beetle spoke, the more Boulder found himself pulled in by his odd story, and the odd cats within. What was a mugwump? And bigwater? He thought for s moment, trying to process what the other was saying, before you could practically see the lightbulb connect above his head.  

"The.... Ocean? It's big, and it's water, if that's what you mean. I can show you, if you'd like. You just shouldn't go in."

--

Storyteller | Loner

"The what?" Beetle tilted his head at the foreign word. Oracle never mentioned an 'ocean'- just the Bigwater. Then again, it shouldn't come as a surprise that these cats would have their own name for something they live next to every day. Curiosity once again got the better of him, and his tail tip swayed at the notion of seeing it. "Would you really? I've never seen an.... ocean before." 

He wasn't quite sure about why he shouldn't go in the water, but honestly, Boulder didn't have to tell him twice. Beetle hated getting his fur wet.

--

Boulderpath | TideClan Guard

"Sure, I can show you- its not too far." With a flick of his tail he gestured for Beetle to come along, though he admittedly had trouble pulling his gaze from this mysterious Tom.  

"So, where did you come from? You.... don't smell like twolegs. Or mossclan. Or Hawthornclan. Or Tideclan. Or-" he cut himself off, shooting an apologetic glance at the newcomer as he walked, minding that he didn't travel too quickly over the terrain that very well may be new to this cat. It finally occured that he hadn't even asked his name- but it would be rude to ask another question so quickly, right? He instead waited patiently for his response.

--

Storyteller | Loner

For once, Beetle wished a handsome cat would turn away, even for just a moment- he wanted to look himself over fast, make sure he looked presentable before following this tom anywhere. Alas, he had to settle for a few quick chest licks before following after Boulderpath, tail held high.  

"Oh, I come from everywhere and nowhere. I travel all around, you see," he purred with a light-hearted, albeit cryptic, tone. He didn't seem to mind the tom's questions in the slightest- it gave him an excuse to ask some of his own. "And my latest travels have brought me to find a group of cats who live by.... well, it sounds like your ocean- unless you've ever heard of an even bigger source of water than that. Am I correct to assume that you're one such cat?"

--

Boulderpath | TideClan Guard

Any questions that had been building up in his mind washed away like the tide itself as Beetle asked a question of his own. 

"Uh, yeah. If youre looking for TideClan, you found it. Er, well, you found near it," there was amusement in his eyes as he spoke.

--

Storyteller | Loner

An excited glimmer shone in the Somali's eyes. "Aha! So Oracle was right- not that he ever isn't, but how fortunate I was to find you!" He was purring up a storm now, clearly pleased with himself.  

The scent of salt was almost overpowering now, and Beetle crinkled his nose as he asked, "What's that smell in the air?"

--

Boulderpath | TideClan Guard

The smell in the air? What smell? He inhaled deeply through his nose, trying to find anything that might seem out of place. When that failed, he gave the loner a puzzled look.  

"What smell? Everything seems normal to me..."

--

Storyteller | Loner

Beetle seemed incredulous, turning this way and that as he tried to find the source. "You mean to tell me you don't smell it? It's practically-" 

The somali's words were cut off as a massive pond, stretching beyond comprehension and bluer than he thought possible, peeked out over the horizon of sand beneath his feet. A dull roaring sound began to fill his ears, and the water lapped hungrily at the shoreline, frothing white as it seemed to want to claw its way further and further up the land- only to be pushed back each time. His jaw went slack and his body froze, utterly speechless at the size of the water in the distance. Even from far away, it was incredible.

--

Boulderpath | TideClan Guard

Sniffing like he had never sniffed before, Boulder tried to determine exactly what the loner might be talking about- but to no avail. It smelled like home, how things always smelled. As the water came into view, however, he had an idea on what Beetle might be talking about.  

Turning to confirm, amusement flashed in his eyes as he took in the other's reaction to the ocean. "Are we stopping here?"

--

Storyteller | Loner

Beetle hardly seemed to hear the other tom. The roaring of the ocean filled his ears, and the blue of the sea drew him in like nothing else. In a state of wonder, he moved forward for a closer look, taking each pawstep carelessly. So carelessly, in fact, that he teetered by the edge of the cliff that sloped down to the beach. Only when his paw went to touch solid ground and kept going did he realize what was happening: a moment too late, too. Beetle fell forward, threatening to tumble down the slope and onto the sand below.

--

Boulderpath | TideClan Guard

Well..... Guess that meant they weren't stopping there. As wary as Boulder was to get closer to the water, he was downright distressed at the idea of taking an injured loner back to camp.  

So, as quick as his brain could think, he lunged forward and dug his teeth into the scruff of the handsome Tom's neck. Unfortunately for the both of them, Boulder was not the quickest thinker.  

By the time he had gathered any semblance of a plan and leapt into action, Beetle was already toppling down the sandy drop-off, and Boulder slamming into him didn't do them any favors.  

Reflexively, he yanked Beetle so that when they landed he would take the brunt of the hit, cushioning the loner's fall.

--

Storyteller | Loner

The next few moments were a blur. He felt teeth grab his scruff; felt his stomach leap into his throat as he flipped head over paws; felt something strong press against him as he tumbled down, down, down. 

The air left his lungs as he was finally brought to a halting stop. He wheezed for a moment, resting his head on a strangely soft, fuzzy rock that he had managed to land on as he caught his breath. 

Except the rock was breathing. And groaning. With a start, Beetle realized that what he landed on was not, in fact, a rock, but the large tom he had met just moments before. Immediately, he scrambled to his paws, a flush of embarrassment making his fur hot as he nudged Boulderpath's shoulder with his nose, his ears pinned flat against his skull. "Oh, dear- are you alright Mr. ...?"

Heavens, he didn't even know this tom's name!

--

Boulderpath | TideClan Guard

Dazed and momentarily confused, Boulder took a deep breath as he tried to work out exactly what had just happened. Before he could, however, things were on the move once more. The pressure that had been weighting him into the sand moved, and with the movement he realized it must have been the loner.  

Good! Well enough to move then.  

He took a second to "scan" over himself- which for Boulder was a full body survey of 'does this hurt to move?'  

Before he was finished, however, his shoulder was nudged and he lost track of where he had been. 

"Yeah I think I'm alright- it's just sand." He stared blankly for a moment, absolutely captivated by his gaze. And then he realized there had been a second part to his question. 

".....Oh! Uh, Boulder. Boulderpath.  I'm Boulderpath," he tried to seem confident as he got back to his feet.

--

Storyteller | Loner

Sand? Beetle quirked an eyebrow, looking down at the ground beneath his paws. Sure enough, this 'dirt' was soft and.... if he was being honest, a little strange feeling. He wasn't sure he liked the sensation of the individual grains getting between his toes. 

He also didn't like the fact that his body ached from the 'fall,' but he supposed he should be grateful that some minor aching was all he felt. 

When he glanced back up, he was glad to see the handsome tom back on his feet. The corners of his eyes crinkled slightly as he smiled. "Well, that's a relief. You have quite the interesting name, Boulderpath," he purred. "Is there a story behind it?"

--

Boulderpath | TideClan Guard

"No, I dont think so? Maybe just because I'm big, like a boulder? I never thought to ask." Shaking the sand out of his coat, he noticed a little pain in his back left hock, as he realized he might have twisted it wrong, He winced a little as he tried to put his weight on it, and let out a quick, low hiss.  

"What should I call you?" He tried to change the topic as he tried to stretch his ankle, with minimum success. He didn't exactly want this loner to see that he was weak...

--

Storyteller | Loner

Beetle frowned; that certainly wasn't the answer he was expecting. This cat wasn't one for bravado, was he?  

Well, that was alright. Cats like Boulderpath could still be wonderful subjects for a story: everyone loves an unassuming hero, after all. Her certainly looked the part- strong jaw, rippling muscles, a handsome face- I mean haha what? 

"I'm known as the Storyteller- or Teller for short," he meowed, straightening himself up slightly, as if trying to move better into a nonexistent spotlight. Although, he didn't quite get the reaction he was expecting..... and when he took a closer look at his grey savior, something seemed off. His brows furrowed in concern.  "Are you quite sure you're alright?" 

--

Boulderpath | TideClan Guard

The...... Teller? What a strange name. He took a moment to contemplate it- who would name their kit storyteller? What if they grew up with no pension for storytelling? What would they do then?  

Before he could get too deep into his own head, he was pulled out ahain by another question. "I'm sure I'm fine- just..... need to stretch a little bit is all. Yep, all good. No issues." He tried to look unassuming as he attempted another stretch, before wincing in pain. 

--

Storyteller | Loner

Teller hardly seemed convinced, and when Boulderpath's face twisted in pain this time, he saw it clear as day. 

"You make for a terrible liar, Boulderpath- can I call you Boulder?" he moved forward, as if the closer proximity might give him a better idea of what was going on with the Clan cat's paw.  

"Unfortunately for us both, I'm a terrible medic. Is there someone in your Clan who might be able to help?"  he asked, looking around hopefully for any such cat- no luck. They were completely alone out here.

--

Boulderpath | TideClan Guard

Boulder hesitated- he didn't know who might come by, but was he so keen on showing this stranger where the clan was? Sure, tide was the most open to guests and new outsider clan members, but...  He took a second to once over the Teller again- and with that, he made a judgement call. 

".....Yes, in the medicine den. Do you......" He looked away, bashful to have to ask for help of a practical stranger. "Do you think I could lean on you as we walk?"

--

Storyteller | Loner

The medicine den? What sort of strange Clan foolery was that? His eyes clearly betrayed his curiosity, but now wasn't the time for questions; they had to bring Boulderpath back home safely.  

Like water over river stones, Teller slid up next to Boulderpath without a second thought, pressing his smaller form into the Clan cat's side. "It's the least I can do; you got hurt because of me, after all. I'm sorry for that, by the way. I'll find a way to make it up to you.... somehow," he muttered the last part, his brows furrowing. What did you even repay a Clan cat with? He would have to find out; but Teller was an observant sort. He was sure he could think up something.

--

Boulderpath | TideClan Guard

Boulder rested a portion of his weight onto the Teller, careful not to rely too much. After all, their size difference was great, and he didn't want to hurt the traveller. Then they would both be injured alone out here. 

"I didn't have to help you- I wanted to. Thats not your fault." The statement was forward and candid- he didnt seem to be one for nuance.  

"So... do you think this was the bigwater you've been looking for?" He nodded his head towards the ocean, sincerely curious to know if it was what he had been searching for. And, if not, how much bigger could bigwater be? He might like to see a water that big himself.

--

Storyteller | Loner

Despite Teller's best efforts to appear strong and capable of fully supporting Boulderpath, he was grateful for the consideration. Boulder was heavy, and Teller had no doubt that he would have toppled to the side if Boulder's full weight was put on him. 

"Well, it's appreciated, regardless. One favor begets another. I'll see to it that you make it back home in one piece," Teller replied with a dashing smile.  Only when Boulderpath mentioned Bigwater did his attention waver. Teller's eyes shifted towards the vast expanse of surf, still unable to believe the sheer size of it all. 

"I can't imagine this not being it," he admitted. "I've never seen anything quite like it. And to think, you all live right next to it every day!"

--

Boulderpath | TideClan Guard

"Some of us- there!" Boulder nodded towards the waves, where if you looked closely enough you could see the shape of a cat's head bobbing above the surf momentarily before submerging. Despite this, he didnt seem in a rush to aid the cat. In fact, he didn't seem stressed at all. 

"They're called divers. Its dangerous, but they're the strongest swimmers we've got."  It was clear he was thinking of something else as he watched the cat- no, there were two, paddle through the tide.

--

Storyteller | Loner

Teller immediately followed Boulderpath's gaze, eyes wide. Were it not for the injured tim beside him, he might have run forward and called out to them, asking if they needed help (not that Teller would be of much use; he fan't swim). Boulder's general ease and his own curiosity made him take a closer look. The cats hardly seemed to be in distress: in fact, one was trying to bring something iridescent to shore. 

"They move like fish..." Teller murmured in awe, believing this was also why Boulderpath seemed lost in thought. "Are they... I mean, it sounds a bit preposterous, but it almost looks like they're hunting."

--

Boulderpath | TideClan Guard

"They are. Hunting. For fish." His words came out fragmented as he tried to shamble his thoughts together. "Its dangerous, but they do it for the clan."

 There was a tone of melancholy to his voice, and his demeanor reflected it as well. Before long, he had fixed his eyes forward towards home once more.  "So, what will you do now that you've seen it?"

--

Storyteller & Cindermist | Loner, TideClan  Wave Diver

Teller watched in amazement, even as one looked as if they were reaching the shore.  Boulderpath seemed to be the only thing that could pull the somali's gaze away from the ocean; as he spoke up, Teller's gaze once again returned to him. "What a noble thing to do," he said sincerely, before mulling over the other tom's question. "Well, I suppose I'd like to-"

"Boulderpath! Is that you?" a voice called out. A curly furred, coal black she-cat trotted towards them with curiosity and suspicion dripping from her, much like the saltwater on her fur. "Why is this weird cat with you?" 

Teller opened his mouth to introduce himself, but he was quickly shut down by further questions from the molly. "And are you hurt? You look like you're limping."

"He hurt himself after helping me- I figured I would help him get home," Teller said, remaining unflinching at Cindermist's intense scrutiny. 

"Thanks, outsider, but we can take it from here," she said with a frown, moving to Boulderpath's opposite side. To Boulder, she added, "Scallop's going to be worried sick when she hears what happened." 

At that, Teller piped up with a "Oh, I can hel-" only to be rudely interrupted by the smoky she-cat. 

"You've done enough, outsider. Run along, now." Without so much as waiting for a reply, she began leading Boulderpath back home, uncaring about any sort of good bye. 

"Right, then... feel better, Boulderpath," Teller called out, and lingered for a moment to watch their disappearing forms- before he, too, ventured off.