Fernear!
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Fernstar %7C 8 lives[M:0]
Posts: 1,112
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Post by Fernear! on Aug 4, 2009 18:53:47 GMT -5
The stingy she-cat left the company of her comrades to go back to camp. She began to shake in her spot while waiting for a response before she left Smallfoot and Russetfur. Unable to withstand the elements any longer, she nodded politely and moved on. Her steps sloshing as if she had water built up in her pads and that water was bursting from the pressure of her weight. She sighed and walked on blindly. Miragesoul knew the path home too well to forget it.
She passed pine tree after pine tree, their bark darkened at least two tones since the first bout of rain. Their bark was as waterlogged as the ground on which they thrived. Pine needles were no longer a discomfort, but a comfort longed for by the ground-dwellers of the shadowed brush. Hunting, it was a lost cause today for no varmints dared step foot into a forest filled with unpleasant rivals. Soon enough Miragesoul would hope to find that comfort in her own den. She figured that hardly any warriors would stay out tonight in this weather, because of this, humidity in the dens would top the charts. It seemed as if danger lurked wherever possible. Striking down into the canopy was a flash of lightning. The cackling growl of thunder proceeding after the attack. The tree that was struck was clearly of youth in a forest where 50 is old. Its life cut short by the unimaginable power of the storm. A flame grew on the tree but didn't last very long, neither the rain nor the drenched wood would allow it to live for much longer than five minutes. Its farthest gaping branches landed but two feet from the now bewildered female. Miragesoul's emerald eyes were thrown wide open with sudden fear and her legs took flight to the camp.
Her heart was racing faster than the gale now picking up while her breath was still as fleet as a rabbit's in a chase. Her rosy tongue was sticking out of her open mouth as she regained her old stature. Miragesoul had to sit herself down so she could catch her breath. She did this while waiting for the flame to falter. Her eyes closed as she spoke a prayer of thanks to her warrior ancestors for sparing her life. This little incident gave her a new view on what she had and what was to come. Now it looked brighter, even if the rain continued to reign over the territories.
Then it hit her. With Nightfeather and Dawnwind being away for suns on end, and Blackstar gone off to a place only StarClan knew, Miragesoul knew no other choice than to rebuild ShadowClan hierarchy. Sure she didn't want to replace her past mate's position, but ShadowClan couldn't keep walking around with such an open weak spot. This had to be done. Preparing her muscles for the great leap onto the high branch, Miragesoul then let the spring go and landed onto the faithful branch. No cat had set paw on this branch for moons. It felt like she were betraying her friends by doing this, while all the time she knew it would be the right thing to have done in the end. She took in a deep breath and began, keeping her voice as steady and confident as possible.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather below the high branch for a clan meeting!" She did it. The royal words echoed in her ears as she spoke them, their significance sending surges of new enigmatic power through her veins. Maybe she could try to become the new leader of ShadowClan, she had been a loyal warrior anyways. She thanked her ancestors yet again for not letting the plan the trio of she-cats had made follow through. If it had she may not be sitting on this branch hoping to become leader but instead a loner, cast away from the clans and glared upon with hateful eyes.
"It has been known that ShadowClan has no leader or deputy. It is time to turn that truth into a lie. It is time for StarClan to choose our new leader, it is time for us to see who is willing to take on the responsibilities of ShadowClan's new leader!" Her voice was overflowing with confidence, its sound was as loud if not louder than the rain pounding in the camp. It was time to see which cats held the treasured ambition that had a position of ShadowClan's hierarchy at the end of the path.
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Heathclaw
Administrator
Rustlestar %7C 9 lives[M:400]
Am I crazy? Is that my problem?
Posts: 169
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Post by Heathclaw on Aug 6, 2009 18:58:07 GMT -5
Lightheart was running around in the forest, scaring up birds and rodents as he dashed about between the pine trees. He must have looked like a total mousebrain, but then, what else was new? He was happy, anyway, since the rain had finally stopped. He was just thinking about how he wanted to share this good fortune with another cat when Miragesoul came darting out of the trees, looking harried.
"Hey, Miragesoul! Check it out; the sun's back! Er, rather, the rain's gone!" Lightheart called after her. She didn't respond, and merely plowed ahead, making Lightheart tilt his head in surprise.
He followed her all the way back to camp, where she turned around and glared at him. Then, suddenly, she transformed, into Nightfeather, then Dawnwind, and finally into Blackstar in his prime. After the last transformation, a thunderbolt dropped out of the sky and destroyed the camp, and the rain started again.
"Gah!" Lightheart shouted, opening up his eyes and struggling out of his moss bedding. The rain was still pounding as hard as ever, but the camp wasn't afire. "What a scary dream... I swear, Darksoul has got to be spiking those poppy seeds with something," Lightheart muttered, circling around his nest and patching it back up to scruff. He sneezed suddenly, with such force that he fell backwards on his tail. "Ugh. Being sick stinks," he mumbled, letting himself flop down onto the cold floor of the medicine den.
"Let all cats old enough to catch their own prey gather below the high branch for a clan meeting!" Huh? That was Miragesoul, wasn't it? With a grunt of effort, Lightheart rolled onto his paws and made his way out of the den. Sure enough, there was Miragesoul on the High Branch, addressing the clan in its leaderless state.
What she was saying was mildly interesting, but Lightheart was more interested in her appearance. Miragesoul had been a bit flightly these past few moons, always looking tired or harassed, and yet here she was, fur gleaming, bursting with confidence. Lightheart found himself wondering what had changed.
"Hey, Miragesoul! What do you think of this weather? Around when do you think we're going to start growing fins?" He called out, grinning, although the grin faltered as he met the glares of his clanmates. "Well, I thought it was funny," Lightheart mumbled, taking the hint to shut up and sit down.
(Ah, Lightheart. Way to kill the mood. XD)
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c e d a r *
Administrator
Smallstar %7C 9 lives[M:10]
Posts: 215
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Post by c e d a r * on Aug 7, 2009 13:26:24 GMT -5
Smallfoot approached from the forest, rain slicking her already thin pelt down. She was shivering but kept her muscles rigid when she reached camp, trying to look less cold than she actually was. The rain was bearable now, and she looked over to Lightheart, smirking in amusement as she heard him mumble about something he thought was funny. Noticing Miragesoul sitting atop the high branch, the warrior padded directly under it, and flicking her tail, she looked up, her pale green hues looking directly at the head of her friend. "Why, hello there Miragesoul. Fancy seeing you here. We've been seeing a lot of each other lately, hmm?" she purred, closing one eye slowly in what was supposed to be a wink, but just didn't cut it.
Backing up, the calico furred she-cat managed to wriggled herself under a small, newly growing pine tree, where it offered some resistance from the mud-covered ground, and as she sat herself down, she heard her friend speaking loudly and proudly about how they had no leader and alas, they had no deputy either. Her eyes narrowed as she thought and listened at the same time, and the she-cat opened her mouth to speak once Miragesoul was finished. Should she go to the moonpool to see if she was ready to become the leader? No...she would not. She decided quickly that she would rather another cat to take the position of the leader spot. She thought she was able to, but she decided against it. There may not be another chance thrown out to her, but she was not going to.
"Miragesoul, I would love to accompany you, and a few others to the moonpool, but alas, I will stay here and take charge of the camp while you and the others are gone. It is in my duty to protect my clan as best I can from any intruders that may pass by, for if these cats who step up to become the leader are gone, this means our best warriors will be gone. I shall step up and be the first to offer my help in guarding the camp," she finished off, bowing her head, and stepping forward into the rain. "But," she meowed loudly, staring at the joining cats in the clearing, "I do think those who believe they should rightfully be the leader should go, not those who think it would be fun to see, because this is all in StarClan's power and you will not be chosen for leader if you go for the fun of it. We will need warriors here while the best are gone," she meowed. Even if I thought I was one of the best, she thought to herself, allowing the smallest of air to escape her mouth, which was set in a hard line of stubbornness and determination. "This should happen quickly," she meowed, nodding her head and giving her friend a curt smile. It was small, but it was a smile nonetheless.
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Post by sablesong on Aug 10, 2009 21:46:40 GMT -5
The rain was not something that Sablesong was particularly enjoying. The feline shivered, her nose wrinkling in disgust at the heavy, crystalline drops that were falling from the end on her whiskers. How StarClan had suddenly decided to let the weather change so abruptly, she didn't know. This morning it was bright and cheerful, the usual hum of crickets and chirp of birdsong only made it better. Then suddenly, so suddenly, dark clouds gathered menacingly at the horizon and the sickly smell that rolled in from the coast made her want to retch. The tabby shook her head, deciding pointedly not to linger on such thoughts and focusing instead on the mind-numbing rhythm that her paws created against the ground. The earth was soft, warm, even, as always. Her ears swiveled as she caught a faint voice on the breeze, brow furrowing as the warrior strained to hear it clearly. Sighing, realizing it was a lost cause, she wheeled to the east, heading back for camp. It had been surprisingly quiet in camp, no bustle of warriors as they made they way around, no laughter of apprentices as they played. The sudden eeriness of the whole scenario made her want to shiver. ShadowClan wasn't the same without Blackstar. His death threw everything into imbalance, and the sudden change was overwhelming. Sablesong couldn't even stand being in camp anymore - even she was able to detect the miserable aura that permeated everywhere.
The she-cat sighed, closing her eyes and shaking her head, trying to focus on a more jubilant note. She hastened her pawsteps with renewed vigor, a gut-feeling making her eager to get back to camp. She was soon streaking through the marshes, her head low and her ringed tail acting like a rudder, of sorts. She hit home, literally, panting and all manner of foliage clinging to her pelt. She raised an eyebrow at Miragesoul, who was standing, looking quite pleased, upon the Twisted Branch. The tabby couldn't find it in her to question the action, and she listened wordlessly to the calico's speech. True, ShadowClan hadn't a leader or deputy for quite some time, and it left them unprotected. The other Clan could easily band together to raid ShadowClan. No doubt they would take advantage of them when they were in such a vulnerable position. The very thought had a frown imprinted on the warrior's face, her tail lashing to and fro. The sudden intrusion on her thoughts by Lightheart was not welcome, ad after his cheery speech she made it her duty to snap back at him in a sarcastic tone.
"When you get that head of yours out of StarClan and into ShadowClan." She couldn't help the reluctant smile that pulled at her lips at his mumble. Shaking her head and rolling her eyes, the she-cat turned to focus on Miragesoul again. She wanted to speak out, to offer herself to travel to the Moonpool and check for herself. But... Was she willing? Sure,it was every cats dream to be leading a clan, but could she cut it? It was a heavy responsibility to land on one's shoulders, and she knew that the choice she made would, undoubtedly, change her life for the better in every way. She listened with rapt attention to Smallfoot's little speech, trying to weight out each option precisely before she enunciated her decision. If she went, as Smallfoot put it, the camp would be even more vulnerable, guarded by only a handful of warriors. Yet, if she didn't the she-cat somehow knew that she would be missing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It wasn't everyday that someone was permitted to travel to the moonpool to see if they were cut for a leader. Closing her eyes, sending a quick but sincere prayer up to StarClan that she had made the right choice, she stood up and tried to look as regal as possible, despite the filth that clung to her tabby fur.
"I'll do it." She began quietly, clearing her throat uncomfortably as she registered the stares of the others, "I mean, I'll travel with you to the Moonpool, Miragesoul." She looked down to her paws, wondering, contemplating, if she should say any more. "I mean, I know I'm not the best of cats, but I would be honored to experience seeing the Moonpool with my own eyes. This is serious, I know it is, but I will stay if you wish." She respected the older she-cats words, no doubt about that, but she couldn't help but kick herself at that last sentence.
{ ooc - Ahhh, really bad post. ><;; }
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Fernear!
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Fernstar %7C 8 lives[M:0]
Posts: 1,112
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Post by Fernear! on Aug 10, 2009 23:05:04 GMT -5
Everything was happening so quickly. One cat, two cats, three; Smallfoot, Lightheart and Sablesong had joined her in the muggy clearing, all seemingly interested in making the trip. She smiled at Lightheart's usual upbeat and unnecessary comment and took in what the other felines said. This was really going to happen. Sablesong was coming, Smallfoot was and Lightheart too. Could she go? Surely it was possible. She was capable of the duties brought on by leading a clan, or so she liked to believe. Although she accredited herself to being capable, she would allow herself to forget her past. She would watch over the cats but not look into the eyes of nine StarClan warriors. Miragesoul would sit there and be the hawk watching over the field.
The reason she would not let herself charge towards the chance, was Blackstar: her old mate, her former leader and respected friend. Miragesoul had been committed to her love with the ebony tom and took it hard when he disappeared. Miragesoul had proven herself that she was to be her namesake. She had veiled her pain when she needed to be healed and hid her slow and shaky recovery. She closed her eyes and heaved a sigh. The scab had been pulled off and the wound had begun to bleed. Her past would be taking away this opportunity away from her.
"I will take you three to the Moonpool, but I myself will not be dreaming tonight. We should leave now," she breathed. As she concluded she jumped off of the slippery branch with labored ease. She was relieved to be back at eye level with her clan mates. It was awkward to be so high in the air, away from everyone else. A sharp breeze hit the camp and brought a frigid chill with it. The trees fought against the force even though it was a lost cause; their branches thrashed against one-another, creating an unpleasant chorus. Overhead bolts of lightning flashed, many coming down just miles away from the forest. The thunder trailing the light show was menacing. Utterly frightening. The rumbles sent shivers surging through Miragesoul's body, she briskly darted to the side in alarm; she was too intent on the storm they were being engulfed by to be embarrassed.
Resuming her old position after her ordeal, Miragesoul sat at the edge of the crowd with a good view of every gathered cat. Her ears swiveled to catch the sound of each whisper in the distance caused by the storm. The delicate extremities were shedding their own share of rain, much to her delight. A hush was growing over the Clan as more cats began to emerge from their dens and the forest's edge. The journeying group may have more members than Miragesoul may have first assumed. It was promising to see ShadowClan rallying to the occasion.
"Anyone who would like to make the trip to the Moonpool come and stand beside me. You will be held under the mercy of our warrior ancestors so be prepared to be left alone. By sun high tomorrow ShadowClan will once again be led by one of our reliable warriors." Her voice was steadfast, not an ounce of regret tainting her speech.
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Fernpaw
Clan Cat
[M:0]
Warriors!!!
Posts: 36
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Post by Fernpaw on Aug 11, 2009 0:41:54 GMT -5
Russetfur picked up her piece of prey from the wet earth and trotted back to camp behind Miragesoul, the twoleg thing forgotten for the moment. On the walk back to camp Russetfur noticed that the sky was being shredded by forks of lightening which lite up the sky for a few heart beats at a time. With every flash of lightening Russetfur envisioned seeing Talonpaw, a cat from a long and blood stained path.
The red warrior shook herself and blinked away the horrid thoughts that came rushing out to greet her, released from their box concealed deep within the she-cat's memory. Talonpaw meant nothing to her now, the tom was in the past and what she had done did not matter either. No matter how hard she tried to shake the memories they kept coming, the two apprentices training to together, their talk, apprenticeship, and even the times when he had given her solace.
The she-cat was so absorbed in fact with her memories that she tripped over the slightly charred remains of some branches that had broken off during the storm. "Fox dung!" she spat. The russet colored cat picked herself up slowly from the ground and gave her pelt a good shake to dislodge the bits of twig and pine needles from her short fur. With her maw set in a grimace she picked up her mouse and stalked back to camp with a slightly wild look in her amber eyes.
Russetfur set her catch down on the fresh kill pile and started to walk to the warrior's den when a summoning yowl ringed throughout the clearing. The stocky cat lifted her in surprise to see that it was Miragesoul who had asked the Clan to gather for a meeting. Swiftly the warrior moved to a spot beneath the High Branch.
"It has been known that ShadowClan has no leader or deputy. It is time to turn that truth into a lie. It is time for StarClan to choose our new leader, it is time for us to see who is willing to take on the responsibilities of ShadowClan's new leader!"
Oh so this was what the summons was for. Perfect, now she would have the chance to show that she was willing to take on the responsibilities as Clan leader! While Russetfur waited for the rest of the clan to gather before she would announce her decision, the warrior heard Lightheart make one of his not so funny remarks. The light colored she-cat fixed the tom with a piercing gaze until he decided to shut up, then she returned her attention to the front.
"Miragesoul, I would love to accompany you, and a few others to the Moonpool, but alas, I will stay here and take charge of the camp while you and the others are gone. It is in my duty to protect my clan as best I can from any intruders that may pass by, for if these cats who step up to become the leader are gone, this means our best warriors will be gone. I shall step up and be the first to offer my help in guarding the camp," Smallfoot bowed her head to Miragesoul, then, stepped forward into the rain. "But," she meowed loudly, staring at the joining cats in the clearing, "I do think those who believe they should rightfully be the leader should go, not those who think it would be fun to see, because this is all in StarClan's power and you will not be chosen for leader if you go for the fun of it. We will need warriors here while the best are gone," Smallfoot meowed.
Russetfur was amazed that this cat would turn down the chance for power, but that was her loss and Russetfur's gain. That little calico would make a good deputy, she thought. The short haired cat moved forward to speak, but was beaten to it by Sablesong, who announced that she would like to go to the Moonpool tonight. Before Russetfur could part her maw and utter a single word Miragesoul revealed that she would not be sharing with their ancestors tonight, but would still accompany them to the Moonpool.
"Anyone who would like to make the trip to the Moonpool come and stand beside me. You will be held under the mercy of our warrior ancestors so be prepared to be left alone. By sun high tomorrow ShadowClan will once again be led by one of our reliable warriors."
Miragesoul sounded strong and confident about her speech, but Russetfur would not let anything stop her from becoming clan leader. ShadowClan needed a strong cat who could be adaptable and naturally Russetfur thought she fit the bill perfectly to a T, but whether or not her dark past would shine brightly in the eyes of StarClan remained to be seen.
Resolutely the red warrior stepped forward and declared that she too, would journey to the Moonpool. "Shadowclan needs a strong cat to be their leader, and I am willing to go to the Moonpool to see if I am to be blessed with the nine lives of a leader by StarClan so that I may better be able to help strengthen us against our enemies!"
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c e d a r *
Administrator
Smallstar %7C 9 lives[M:10]
Posts: 215
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Post by c e d a r * on Aug 11, 2009 10:10:38 GMT -5
Oh no...Miragesoul was going to have her head. The she-cat's ears flicked as she listened to her friend's announcement. They were leaving? Now? Smallfoot merely stayed where she was, looking around, a stubborn fire alight in her eyes. She quickly approached Miragesoul. "Why do you want me to go? The camp..." she muttered, allowing her eyes to meet the forest floor which was now overrun with water. She swallowed before looking up again. "You're going to make me go, aren't you," stated the she-cat with a heavy sigh. "So what's the point," she muttered. She wasn't going to argue with her friend over something like this. "I'll get you for this one," she purred playfully, easily bringing her front paw off the ground to snatch at one of her ears with a sheathed paw.
Sighing, the mentally and physically tired she-cat looked around. She would stick by her friends side for this journey and speak with her about the goings-on in life, but oh, she had to remember to keep the name of Balckstar out of anything, unless Miragesoul was to bring it up. She blinked tiredly, looking down at her two dainty paws.
She wasn't leader material was she? Sure, she had a strong heart and she loved her clan with everything she had...but could she handle it? The job took so much organization, even though the deputy was the one who organized patrols and whatnot. But she would be representing the clan during gathers and hold meetings. She would lead them into battle and she would be the one ordering to take them out. And the more that she thought about it, her anger gently ebbed away, leaving a small sense of excitement in its place.
"Well, let's get this party started," she meowed quietly, bounding out of the camp, hoping her friend had heard her voice.
ooc: Sorry. Bad post. But I just want this to be over with. xD
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Heathclaw
Administrator
Rustlestar %7C 9 lives[M:400]
Am I crazy? Is that my problem?
Posts: 169
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Post by Heathclaw on Aug 11, 2009 11:04:25 GMT -5
(Time for some flippantness. Or is the term frippery? Well, you'll see.)
It was almost as though a flood went through the camp, not of water, but of cats and words, as cat after watersoaked ShadowClan cat spoke up to voice their opinions, and their ambitions.
"I do think those who believe they should rightfully be the leader should go, not those who think it would be fun to see, because this is all in StarClan's power and you will not be chosen for leader if you go for the fun of it. We will need warriors here while the best are gone," said Smallfoot, prompting Lightheart to make a face. Why would you do anything if it wasn't for the fun of it? And what if you didn't want to be chosen for leader?
Lightheart certainly didn't want to be leader, all of those resonsibilities would cut into his free time. Besides, if he was made leader, his name would be Lightstar, a name so thoroughly redundant that he had to fight down a fit of giggles. But he still wanted to go of course, and went to work developing an excuse.
Another part of his brain was processing Sablesong's retort and chuckling all the while. He loved the fact that she'd went to the effort of making a witty reply, rather than resort to a simple glare like the rest of his clanmates.
Russetfur would fall into the latter category. The she-cat expressed a strong desire to be leader, but Lightheart couldn't find it in him to root for her. If she became leader, he imagined that ShadowClan would go back to the way it was before, and that was no fun. He'd rather that Miragesoul became leader, but she herself had already vowed not to try.
Once again, that piqued Lightheart's curiosity, and so he bounded over to her side, turning to the rest of the clan to make his announcement. "I'll be going to the Moonpool as well. Smallfoot is right that we can't leave our clan undefended, but we can't leave our potential leaders undefended either, can we? I mean, this is ThunderClan we're talking about. Everyone knows that they aren't trustworthy. I say we leave the defense of the camp up to Darksoul. After all, he's plenty scary enough by himself, and that's not including the stench from his evil herbs."
"So, be good and play nice while we're gone now. Have fun!" chuckled Lightheart, waving with his tail as he headed out of the tunnel after Smallfoot and into what would surely be a merry adventure.
(...I have nothing to say. Lightheart is so dead. XD)
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