When he had sought a pride to join and found none, Roderik had been perplexed. Then an idea began to grow in his heart. It started it out as a feeling, which then grew into a hope. Stoneclaw wasn't a land; Stoneclaw was a clan. Somewhere out there, he knew there were others like him in this wolf dominated world aching for a place to call home. They could make it happen; they could find it together. At first he had dismissed the idea... it was preposterous, he wasn't a king.

But... his father had been; and his grandfather before him; and his big sister had been queen alongside his mother. If they could do it, why couldn't he? Why shouldn't he? The feeling inside grew stronger and stronger, until it grew into a battle cry.

And so Roderik passed through the lands, letting the sound of his call echo as he passed, telling all who wanted to hear that Stoneclaw would rise again. He knew he was still young and because of this he saw many a cat frown, shake his head and walk away. He didn't let that deter him. For every few that ignored him, others would share his ideals and decide to join him. Roderik never abandoned his hope, and knew that small beginnings could make great things in time with hard work and dedication.  Already, their makeshift gang began to feel like a small clan. Those first few nights sleeping tightly together under the stars reminded him of a time that seemed far away, when he would do the same with his siblings. He wondered where they were, but reassured himself they were okay. He hoped perhaps, if he could rise Stoneclaw from it's ashes again and make it burn bright like a beacon, then more would come. Perhaps his missing siblings among them... and his mother.

They had stopped the night before in a peaceful forest. The moonlight had filtered through the trees as most members of his small group had slept among the ferns that covered the forest floor. They had all feasted on rabbits, that seemed to run rampant through the strange mystical forest as though no predator had culled their numbers in a long time. On the edge of the forest, a vast prairie engulfed in a sea of fog seemed to stretch on forever. Rabbits alone could not sustain a clan; they would have to move on.

"Maybe we should turn back...", suggested one of the travelers.

But Roderik stared at the endless prairie, as though it was pulling him in like a void.  "Wait, do you smell that?", he asked in response. Something familiar was on the wind, though he couldn't quite put his mind on it. He needed to find out what it was... and why it pulled him the way it did. As they crossed the prairie, the group almost turned back half way. The strength of the winds that day was nearly enough to knock them off balance as they traveled, but Roderik encouraged them. That feeling in his chest told him he was close to something, though what he could not tell. Then the endless prairies ended, suddenly and almost without warning. Roderik stood at the edge of the cliffs with the others, taking the sights ahead of them. Below, a magnificent beach stretched out from the caves carved into the cliffs and into the sea. The sun shining on the sea caught his attention and he smiled. That was what he had caught on the wind... the smell of the sea; always a comforting presence and a willing source of food.

"This! This is it!"

Here, he felt Stoneclaw would thrive.
He felt the spirit of their ancestors in the wind.
He felt the beginning of something bigger than himself.

"We're home."

Roderik threw his head out in the air and sent his roar, as loud as he could give it, to throw to the sea; to let the elements know that from this day forward, this was Stoneclaw territory.

---

---

BOARD INFORMATION
Pack Board Name: Stoneclaw
Pack Board Description: Beyond the forest of beginnings, past the prairies and over the seaside cliffs, live the proud felines of Stoneclaw. In these new lands, the bounties of the sea abound for the clan to thrive.
Moderators: Roderik, The Spirit of Stoneclaw

Subboard #1 Name: The cave walls
Subboard #1 Description: Inside the community cave, the walls are filled with drawings and paw prints and strange symbols left by the humans who came before. We're sure they meant to keep information in this manner. If only we could read their strange scribbles. - OOC Board
Subboard #1 Moderators: Roderik, The Spirit of Stoneclaw

Subboard #1 Name: The bottom of the sea
Subboard #1 Description: The sea gives but the sea takes; such is the way of life. As we walk these paths, we must remember all those who came before and returned to the sea. And we must remember that we too, one day will have to join them. - Archives
Subboard #1 Moderators: Roderik, The Spirit of Stoneclaw


Link to Banner: https://i.imgur.com/WXr9iuz.png