Nyx stared out across the Claiming Grounds. How pathetic! She thought. All these mares just waiting here. Just waiting, wasting time. Wasting time on stallions, of all things! Stallions! Oh, how wonderful! Stallions who waste all their time claiming lands and trying to build up herds of mares! Then, her thought's changed dramatically. Are we simply prizes to them? Are we trophies to be put on the wall and forgotten soon? Are we merely things that can be left to the dogs? She snorted loudly and scoffed at the stallions that were now appearing in the grounds.

She sat down on the grass with another snort, her tiger fur blowing in a light breeze. Yes, we are. But we're not helpless either. That's one thing I can't stand! Stallions who try to do everything for their mares! Her thoughts turned to their usually dark realms and she imagined all these horses, stallions and mares, as skeletons in the grounds. Skeletons, like a dark Halloween scene. Like a night she never wanted to remember. Like one she would soon see again, if only in dreams.

Two other felins walked into the scene. One half mountain lion and one half tiger. Their luck had been great when they had entered to grounds, brother and sister. Already they had invited successfully a young hippogryph to their home in Yan Forest. Each od thier paws seemed to line up, until the filly (the half tiger) ran slightly ahead.

Look over there Bronwfang; another grador, a felin! she stormed in front. She padded towards the grumpy looking felin; lifted her head and strangly didn't smile. My name is Whitefang and that young stallion behind me is my brother Whitefang said in her cool tone that she used to brighten people. Her pelt was the was the same white colour; but her legs were half and half. Not three and one. What's your name? she asked still her head lifted, she was much older than she was. After all; she was only just over foal age. Her brother sat two deer lengths away, leaving for Whitefang to sort out.

Nyx stared at the creature. It had the same fur color as her, and that made her suspicious. "Hello, Whitefang. I am Nyx," she said, her voice filled with doubt at the creature and a sound that was definetly not trust.

A little foal-cub! She thought. It's only a little foal-cub! I'm not going to be bossed around by these little brats all day! No way, no how!

Hiya Nyx, I live in Yan Forest with my brother and a hippogryph. Would you like to join us? You can do grown-up stuff too. My brother is nice when you get to know him, he much laid-back than others. He never forgets anyone. She whispered at the end. She was confused, this mare didn't seem happy to leave this dump. She'd heard a tale of Zulu's ancestors and this seemed to fit her picture. Are you a decendent of Zulu? I've heard many great stories of her.. that was when my mother was here... she lived in Yan Forest too. Whitefang looked up with her bright blue eyes.

Nyx stared hard at the creature. She knew, somewhere, that it wasn't right to her. And, she knew even better, that if she didn't at least act like she was happy to be claimed she would never be claimed.

"Yes, little one," she said, almost having to force herself to be polite with threats. "I will join you." She paused, uncertain if she should say that Zulu was her ancestor. She swallowed hard, this could be a mistake, "I am the descendant of Zulu. I have heard tales of your mother. Tiger-- something or other, correct?"

The blood of TigerClaw does not run in me; but Talulah a mare of Silver's herd in is. I heard that she has only one desendent; TigerDream... or something like that. Well it is nice that you are joining us; just follow me. She turned and headed where their paw had made soft prints in the earth.

Nyx thought for a minute. She could have sworn these two felins were Tigerclaw's descendants. She shrugged, obviously not. Then she nodded at the small creature and followed her.

(you can reply in 'warrior' in Yan Foresr; just say that you'll were hunting and didn't get the chance to meet anyone)