Looking for Cover

[Stickee]

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[atrb=background,http://oi54.tinypic.com/sql8io.jpg] What Seiya had suggested was logical, Seven had to admit. She glanced at the trees. They might be able to make it. Well, if they were going to try, they would have to try soon. Or else, goodbye to the two felines. Seven suddenly remembered the slush. The snowy forest will be more like the charred forest, after this, she thought. The trees were still waiting. The one nearest to her was tall, it's siloute only visible when lightning flashed. Was it night already? Seven doubted this. It must just be the storm clouds, she convinced herself. Taking cautious steps to avoid flaming branches, Seven made her way to the tree. She had not planned out her course, and waited for a flash of lightning until jumping to the lowest branch. It was wet and slippery, taking Seven by surprise. Why hadn't she thought of this before? She chastised herself mentally, and went back to the task at hand. There were two branches on either side of her. One was lower, but smaller. The other was higher up, but larger and more sturdy looking. She set her sights on the higher branch. Seven launched herself from the slippery branch, slipping a little bit. Her front paws landed on the branch, but her left back leg slipped off. She was awkwardly positioned on a branch in the middle of a fire. How did she get into this? She couldn't even remember. Not like it mattered. She was here now, and she couldn't really change that now. "Seiya," she called "Coming?" Word Count: 283

[Bumble ♬]

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[atrb=background,http://i35.tinypic.com/10gwsox.jpg] The feline strode over to one of the unharmed trees, glancing up at it as she prepared to leap. The other snow leopard was already climbing up, and she called for Seiya to come. Did the other strange feline actually care if Seiya couldn’t escape? Would she leave her to burn in the blazing flames of the fire? Perhaps she would. But luckily Seiya didn’t rely on random creatures she met in the wild. She only needed and had to trust herself, and not any other feline. Clearing her thoughts, the snowy leopard remembered about the fire, and how she only had a few seconds to escape or risk facing a cruel death. Seiya leaped onto the untouched tree, climbing slowly up with her claws unsheathed. She really was an awful climber, but this was the only way she could escape. She would much rather climb to escape than just stay still and let the raging fire overcome her. Seiya glanced around her surroundings as she climbed up very slowly. The fire was still raging on, not even the pouring rain could quench it. The trees they had decided to climb still remained untouched from the blaze, but that wouldn’t last for long. The fire was spreading very quickly, if they didn’t get out of there soon they might die. Seiya shivered, she would much rather die at the hands of a skilled warrior than getting burned alive. After another minute of climbing, Seiya finally reached a good spot, where she could jump down on the other side, which was still untouched by the fire. “I’m...going to jump now, before the fire catches up with us...” she said loudly, so the other feline could hear her. Bracing herself, Seiya looked down at the spot she had to jump. It was a long way down, but snow leopards were skilled jumpers. They had to be, since they lived in the mountains filled with many steep rocks and boulders. Hoping she didn’t break a leg or two, Seiya jumped, landing on the wet, snowless ground.

[Stickee]

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[atrb=background,http://oi54.tinypic.com/sql8io.jpg] Seven glanced at Seiya. She looked nervous, and sounded it too. She supposed she should be too, after all, who wouldn't be if they were in the middle of a forest fire. Seven could practically walk onto the next branch, and did just that. The fire had nearly reached the bottom of her tree, which meant one thing: fall and die. Seven could no longer see the other feline. She was behind a wall of smoke and fire. Squinting against the ash, Seven tried to peer out over the fire, and towards her destination. Could she make it? She focused on the one spot of black in the blazing forest. It was a safe haven, not only for her life, but for her eyes. The flames were blindingly bright, and their heat was choking her, making her fur clump, making her feel like she was already dying. I won't die here, she thought. The fire was on her tree, rapidly spreading towards her branch. "Aieeee!" was not what you would expect to hear from a snow leopard, not at all, but that is the sound Seven made. She raised her haunches and lowered her front half, while shifting her wait into her hind legs. She could barely see or hear anything, and the world seemed to slow down. Finally, muscles tensed, Seven jumped from her tree, aiming towards the ground where moderate safety would await her. Word Count: 249

[Bumble ♬]

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[atrb=background,http://i35.tinypic.com/10gwsox.jpg] Seiya crouched on the ground, panting and stunned with relief of their escape. The other snow leopard had managed to escape from the raging fire as well, and for now they were out of harm's way. The danger wasn't completely gone though, the fire could still spread over to the spot they were hiding. But fortunately the blazing fire was dying down, finally getting quenched by the pouring rain. As it died, the burned ground was revealed, not leaving a trace of the snow leopard's precious snow. "The snow is all gone here...and that fire didn't help it..." Seiya rasped, very tired after their escape. "Where will we go...? How can we live without the cold and the snow?" the feline asked, half to herself and half to the other snow leopard. Suddenly, Seiya's fur bristled as she became aware of how exposed she was, and how easy it would be for the other feline to pounce and kill her, while she was weak, tired and hungry. Although, the other feline was probably feeling the same way, but that didn't mean other creatures wouldn't suddenly attack them.

[Stickee]

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[atrb=background,http://oi54.tinypic.com/sql8io.jpg] Seven landed on the soft ground with a small thud. She looked down. The snowy forest? The ground was snow-less and charred, and the trees were still alight. She looked to Seiya. Where do we go now? she thought. She could only assume that this was Seiya's home too. She imagined the look in Seiya's eyes were reflected in her own. Seven realized that Seiya had not let down her guard. She was still regarding Seven warily. What does she think I'll do to her? thought Seven I'm just as helpless as she is. With a sigh, Seven said "We should get moving if we don't want the fire to catch up." Her eyelids fluttered and her voice was raspy. She felt like she had just been through a furnace. It didn't make a difference to her. The rain had not stopped pouring relentlessly, but it had begun to dampen the fire. Seven shuffled a few paces, her tail wagging solemnly behind her. She was not only tired, but partially traumatized. Seven tilted her head up and opened her mouth. Water. Maybe that would help her throat, after the smoke and ash. Word Count: 208

[Bumble ♬]

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[atrb=background,http://i35.tinypic.com/10gwsox.jpg] Seiya stood up, swiping her tongue over her mouth after finishing the rabbit. Her paws were heavy, and her eyelids drooped - but she wasn't about to sleep where the other feline could easily attack. "I have to go...to find somewhere to spend the night." she said slowly, while her grey eyes glanced sadly at the burned forest. The ground was covered with a thick layer of black ash, not a trace of snow could be found there. To any enemies, Seiya's snowy white fur would stand out very easy, since there was no snow for it to blend in with. Slowly and carefully, Seiya stalked forwards while her paws left a mark in the ash, which was left over from the blazing fire. Would the other feline follow her, or stop her from leaving? After all, the two of them had almost died in the fire together. But luckily they had managed to escape, through quick thinking. There was no reason Seiya should stay with the other feline, she had to find a better shelter among snow - if there was any left. Why then, was she hesitating to leave Seven behind? Snow leopards were independent creatures, they always were and they always will be. Although, for them to survive they might have to join together and form a tribe. I don't want to live with a group of animals, like those wolf packs.

[/i] she thought, anxiety clouding her eyes. But that might be the only way our species can survive...[/i]

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[Stickee]

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[atrb=background,http://oi54.tinypic.com/sql8io.jpg] Does she trust anyone? wondered Seven. Seiya didn't really expect her to do anything to her did she? Seven hauled herself over to the water. She drank in a few gulps, not minding the wood and burnt branches that had changed the taste. Food? Seiya had a rabbit, but was Seven really hungry? I could use something to eat, but it's not a necessity,

[/i] she decided If I weren't so wiped out, I might actually have started a fight by now, after all, she still doesn't trust me.

The rain was no longer pouring, and the trees didn't crack and loom menacingly over the felines. They were safe, for the most part. They were safe...but what about the Snowy Forest? Terrible thoughts returned to Seven's mind. The Charred Forest was a better name, after the fire. Shaking her head, she realized her eyes were damp. Had she really been tearing up? How weak.

The sun was visibly setting behind the clouds. A farewell to the sun, a farewell to the fire, she thought. Seven realized she hadn't said anything for a while, and thought Seiya might notice. But what was there to say? It's not like she could just go all out and state "Let's do that again!" or "Wow, that was fun!" No, that was out of the question, but what she did say, wasn't. "So, what now?"

Word Count: 246

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[Bumble ♬]

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[atrb=background,http://i35.tinypic.com/10gwsox.jpg] The feline glanced around, her grey eyes clouded with confusion. She had said she was leaving, to find a place to stay the night. Perhaps the other feline hadn't heard her. Turning around, Seiya faced Seven. She hadn't left very quickly, she was still very close to where Seven was. Maybe because of that, the other feline had thought she was still staying near the river with her. "I better go, Seven." she said again, remembering the feline's name. "I don't want to spend the night near...this place." Seiya added carefully, with a glance at Seven's face. She looked very sad and defeated, probably devastated with the outcome of the fire. It was true, that the snow leopard's home was falling apart. Without it, how would they live? Seiya suddenly cleared her mind, trying to think of some positive thoughts. But, she couldn't find any. As Seiya waited for the snow leopard to respond, she hoped that Seven would suggest that Seiya should stay, instead of traveling alone far away in the mountains. Hesitating, she wondered if she should ask Seven to come with her. It would be so much easier to survive, and the other feline showed that she could be useful. But it was too risky to trust someone like that and Seiya could never trust again, after her incident. An image flashed into the un-trusting snow leopard's mind. The image of a mangled, small body of a little fox. Seiya slashed her striped tail, reminding herself that her mother was far, far away and she couldn't do anything to change the past.

[Stickee]

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[atrb=background,http://oi54.tinypic.com/sql8io.jpg] Seven glanced at Seiya. Her eyes looked faraway, and Seven wasn't sure she should interrupt Seiya's line of thought. Her eyes darted to Seiya's tail, as it whipped aggressively. Is she looking for a fight? Seven wondered. Her impulse told her to be cautious, but she had a feeling that it was something else. Not wanting to be soft, Seven avoided asking if she was okay. Realizing she was rather absorbed in her thoughts herself, Seven shook her head and turned to Seiya. "You're going out again alone?" inquired Seven, remembering what Seiya had said before. What am implying? she thought, scolding herself, It's not like I'm going to do any different. Seven closed her eyes. What had these woods used to be? She could barely remember, anymore. The snow, covering the trees seemed like a distant memory. Seven suddenly realized that, with the rising temperature, that was all that it would become, nothing more. The snow leopards' home was changing, and Seven knew that her memories of it were changing, too. Word Count: 182 OOC: Sorry about the wait, I didn't have computer over the weekend.

[Bumble ♬]

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[atrb=background,http://i35.tinypic.com/10gwsox.jpg] The feline nodded slowly, wanting to sleep soundlessly. Although she was still reluctant to leave, Seiya knew that they would come across each other again, some day. After all, the snow leopards were speaking to each other more often now, discussing what they would have to do to let their species live on. “Yes…I have to go find a place to sleep for the night.” she said, swishing her tail again. “It’s not really sheltered in these woods anymore, after the fire…” Seiya let out a sigh as she looked gloomily at the charred forest. Once, this place had been full of life and snow. Now, all of that was gone. The snow wouldn’t come back for a long time - if it ever did. Thanks to that lightning bolt, all of the snow was melted and the prey killed. “Well, bye. Maybe we’ll meet again sometime.” Seiya said, dipping her head respectively. Surprisingly, she wasn’t acting aggressive. It was obvious now that the other tired snow leopard wouldn’t attack. Seiya waited for the other feline to reply, before leaving and finding a den to spend the night.

[Stickee]

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[atrb=background,http://oi54.tinypic.com/sql8io.jpg] Once Seven saw Seiya relax, she felt ready to say goodbye. They could both use a rest, and especially some time to think. If they met again, they wouldn't have to start over, and Seven thought she might have found someone who she didn't need to hate. Her world had been killed, but maybe it still had some life left to it. "I suppose I'll be going, though I'm not sure where," admitted Seven, swishing her tail. Her eyelids began to droop, but she forced them open; she had to find a place to sleep. She wasn't sure where she would go. The forest was hardly recognizable, and she might not be able to find her way. Just like when I was younger,

[/b] she thought with a faint sense of deja vu. She didn't remember it exactly, and she knew she never would. She couldn't say that it was just like when she was younger, because she couldn't remember. However, her gut told her that her home was lost, just like her family had been so long ago. This time, though, it was lightning and not snow that had caused her to lose everything.

Word Count: 202

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[Bumble ♬]

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[atrb=background,http://i35.tinypic.com/10gwsox.jpg] Seiya nodded once again, acknowledging what Seven had said, before turning around and bounding off to look for a good spot to rest for the night. It was pretty late, since most of Seiya’s night had been trying to escape from a raging fire. She had had no time to rest then, but now she had plenty of time to find a good place to settle down for the night. The feline didn’t live and sleep in the same spot every day. Each day she would find a new den and a new territory. She would always want to pick a spot with plenty of snow, but that was very rare. On the rare occasion that she did find some snow, it would always be damp and ready to melt. So, Seiya would have to move on to explore the vast mountain and find a good territory. The mountains were a huge endless land full of many snow leopards and other creatures that Seiya had no name for. Mostly all of the animals in the mountains were used to the snow, and their heavy fur protected them from the harsh coldness. If they were to move they would have to completely adapt to a new environment and that would prove to be difficult. -Exiting Post-