[&&]Exploration

[kowala]

Nightfeather watched Miragesoul run away from her.
Doesn't seem to want my opinion anymore huh. Well now that she has a thorn stuck in her foot this dark she-cat might aswell help her out.
Nightfeather hurried out and pulled up Miragesoul's paw. The dark warrior carefully grasped the thorn with her sharp, pointy pearly whites and pulled it out quickly to get it over with. Pulling it out slowly would cause Miragesoul more pain, that wasn't the goal.
"Try not to get dirt on it now," Nightfeather blandly explained, "The dirt will go into the wound and if it gets infected then I can't help you." She spat out the thorn, the smallest but pungent taste of blood in her mouth. She could almost see the redness of the blood on her tongue and the looked at the thorn now on the ground and saw the slight hint of the scarlet blood.
Blood, why don't we all bathe in it? Ugh. Nightfeather turned to look at Aquaeyes, more or less disgusted with the thought of every cat swimming around in blood.
"Aquaeyes, Miragesoul.'' Her tone was oddened because her thoughts were on the silky redness of blood.
"What do you think about the downward spiral of Shadowclan? Hmm?" The sly she-cat lowered her voice, all things are alive and kicking and listening silently in the Night.
"What do you two think about the absence and possible death of the leader? A gathering is coming up quickly like the sprouting of new life and we have no one to represent the dark and menacing Shadowclan. What if... No, why don't we all vote a new leader up to the stand and see what they got. It's worth something. We can't let all the other clans think that Us, the might Shadowclan, are weaklings." She paused letting her words sink in.
"I say we go with my idea, only if the leader is absent 5 days before the full moon. If he comes back out of the hole he crawled into then we'll let the whole plan go, but if he's gone..." She trailed off, letting them know her point.
Nightfeather then thought about her life, her love and what it all ment to her. If Blackstar somehow learned of this plan the she would be exiled from Shadowclan and would be a rouge for the rest of her life. She would be disconnected from everyone and Hardsoul... Hardsoul, she wouldn't be able to see him. Unless they met in secret. If anyother Shadowclaner saw them together though, they would chase her off the territory and possible hurt her.
If they can catch me, Nightfeather thought. She was a very fast runner, almost as fast as Steelpool; one of the Riverclan toms she met at a gathering once. They talked and she noticed his lean body,
'Do you run often?' she said lustily, trying for the obvious tease.
'You noticed I see,' he said a smile dancing on his muzzle.
'Wana race me? You seem pretty fast. Your a fast and sleek talker.' Nightfeather smiled and tilted her head a bit upward.
'Race you I shall. How about around the island, I know it's far but it'll show us both who is the fastest and who has the most endurance.'
'Fine with me'
Nightfeather ended up losing by about a couple of tail-lengths but they both had fun with it. They heard the yowl and slowly made their way back to the others; panting.

Nightfeather made her way back to her current time, mentally and waited for the other cat's answers.

occ: 649 WORDS!!! WH-HOOO!

[streampaw]

^{Hearing Miragesoul's command, she follwed her over to Aquaeyes. She took note of the moon, and that normally there would be a Gathering tonight. She thought, maybe, that she might go alone to the Island because of her tradition. Upon hearing Miargesoul, she nodded. "Yes. I agree with that." she said in a similar tone to Miragesoul's. She was watching the others carefully. She could trust Miragesoul, they were a lot alike, and Aquaeyes had yet to give her any reason not to trust him, but the others... Suddenly something caused her pelt to rise. Her ears flicked back and she blinked in astonishment. Hardsoul had just apologized for what he said. "How touching..." she snarled in her mind. All the she-cat did was nod her head and nothing more. She looked to the moon, its silver color reflection in her eyes and off her pelt. She payed no mind to Nightfeather, only on the moonlight. Silverpelt shone dimmly that night, and she thought that Starclan was saddened by the loss of faith. Something Nightfeather siad caught her attention. She looked down at her, her tall frame outlined bu the silver of the moon, and said, "Sorry for interrupting, but I agree with you Nightfeather. It seems like a very thought through plan, but if you plan to take us to the Gathering, we must decide now. The full moon is upon us." she meowed cooly. She turned her head up the the moon once more and decided that she would go the the Island, whether it be with Shadowclan or without.}

[Fernear!]

[/b] Her paw acked for a bit, but she bypasses it, trying not to let her eyes show it.

'ShadowClan may seem weak, though we difinetly are not. We should appoint a new hierarchy before sunhigh. BlackStar may be most likely gone, but that doesn't meen any of us are weak.' She held her head high as she limped lopsidedly towards camp. Her paw was quickly letting out large amounts of blood, this didn't worrie her -- yet.

Golden paws seemed to fly across the edge of the lake territory. Their scent glands filled with the strong scent of blood. It has been suns since the group has eaten. This was their time. They could scent roughly five cats. It would be a mid-sized snack for them, but now, they were desperate.

MirageSoul had no intention to scent for prey or anything, and besides, she could scent nothing over the stench of blood and.. crowfood. 'Does anyone smell crowfood?' she hissed looking back to NightFeather and DawnWind. It was strong, but after she asked it, she continued.

The ShadowClan camp was now in sight and she began to feel hopeful. She could look forward to having a warm nest to sleep in, and maybe a few cobwebs for her paw. She knew that cobwebs would work, after the few battles she's been in she's learned atleast two herbs or ointments medicine cats use.

The lead tom stopped at a seemingly abandoned camp. He grunted and began to search for the blood scent he could smell. It was close, though he couldn't seem to find it. The five she-cats and elderly tom followed behind him. He ordered his lead she-cat to search the small dens.

Her nose seemed to fall to the ground as she got near the medicine cat's den. The once strong smelling herbs seemed to overtake the den, while the moss that was going to be used for removing tiks, was making the scent seem lethal. She shook her giant head, took her paw and pushed pine needles onto all herbs and moss in sight.

Moving onto the next den, the tom asked what was in the first den. She replied and continued with her observation. The next three were the leader's, warriors' and apprentices' dens. They were much alike; though the leader's den had more cobwebs in it. She took the moss and dropped it at her leader's paws. He nodded, for he could scent cat. He had heard stories about small cats like the tribe cats, living in clans near a lake. They seemed to have found them.

MirageSoul stopped dead in her walk. She dropped her paw and let the fertile soil seek into the wound. It pained her, but her eyes were locked on the golden pelts of the small group. She looked at the cats behind her. They were NightFeather, DawnWind, HardSoul and AquaEyes. Her eyes told them to run. They were silently pleading for them to run, these cats were nearly five times larger than herself and much stronger.

MirageSoul had heard stories about the well known ThunderClan deputy, GreyStripe, and how his daughter was killed by one of these, during the time they were searching for the lake. None the less, she knew these cats were hungry, just by looking at their abdomins they were half-starved.

She let head head fall, it was her, the reason they were here that is. Her blood must have a strong scet for them, to her it's all that she could scent. She began to back up deeper into the trees. Hopefully her clanmates would follow. This would be bad.

These cats definetly knew of their presence, though they may not see them at the moment. Because there were seven of the giant lion-like cats, and only five of the cats like her, it would be a battle not needed to fight. They would have to escape.

[694 words of the actual post!!]
[/color][/size][/ul]

[kitsune]

As they continued walking, Aquaeyes noted that that thorn really had been pretty deep. Why hadn't they just found some cobwebs before even trying that...? Then again, he'd been all for ripping it out. Suddenly, Nightfeathers was there, as well as Hardsoul. Aquaeyes automatically fell to the back of the ragged patrol, lithe form seeming to make the shadows ripple. When Nightfeather spoke, he nodded noncommitally. It was true, Blackstar had to be replaced soon: ShadowClan couldn't just struggle through the storm without a leader, deputy, or even a medicine cat... they were going to go down eventually.
But who'd replace Blackstar? Miragesoul, he doubted, would be willing to take over where her mate left off... Nightfeather, for some reason, just didn't strike Aquaeyes as the kind of cat who'd be interested in leading. Hardsoul... he didn't seem right, really... Dawnwind... Well, in the end, it'd be the clan who made the decision, and the clan alone. Another problem, the medicine cat. When Smokefur had died unexpectedly, he'd had no apprentice. When they did choose a new healer, how'd they be trained? Would they have to ask their neighbors for help? When Dawnwind chimed in, that brought Aquaeyes back to the present. "I'm not sure if we'll make it to the Gathering this time," he said uneasily. "It's almost moonhigh, and will the other Clans even be attending?" When the small "patrol" returned back to their camp, Aquaeyes felt fatigue return to his paws. It would feel good to curl into a nice, warm mossy nest...
"What is that?" The tom snarled in disdain, lip curling. " 'Worse than fox." He glanced around disgustedly. Wait... why'd they stopped moving? Aquaeyes followed Miragesoul's gaze.

Those cats were enormous! He stared at their enormous heads, their cruel fangs... "What...?" He murmured, shaking his head before realizing that it wasn't just an illusion. At that point, however, his fur was standing on end and he was muttering rather rude words under his breath. He walked backwards, not daring to turn his back to them, still hissing at the enormous felines. "Come one step closer and I'll flay you!" He snarled at them, even though they probably didn't understand what he was saying. Aquaeyes wanted to jump at them, to bring his claws across their muzzles, to claw their ears to shreds.... but if he did that, he'd be shreds, and dead.

Do I have anything to live for? he asked himself.

[kowala]

Nightfeather saw the enormous cats and the high of an oncoming battle raised her up. Her golden, mesmerizing eyes were wide open and firey, she turned and looked into Aquaeye's eyes. She saw the wanting, the pure pleasure of ripping and clawing. She smiled a truely evil and menacing smile, all her pointy teeth were visible, glinting slightly in the pale moonlight.
"You and me both," she hissed, she bared her teeth and let out a slow silky hiss that seemed to slither out into the darkness of the Night.
"And," she continued, the words flowing fast; he high of battle made her mind whirl.
"You have much more to live for." She winked her piercing golden gaze and stepped closer to the beasts. Her claws swiftly unsheathed and she felt alive.
Show me what'you got.
She looked into the eyes of the seemingly dominant male. She saw bloodlust in his eyes. He was practically feasting on the scent of blood.
Miragesoul.. She soon realized as she remembered the blood that freely flowed from the she-cat's wound.
Her head tilted slightly upward as she let the battle high consume her soul.
If they wanted a fight, they would get one.
She pulled her upper lip over her teeth and smiled wickedly.
"Show us what'you got, hmm? Let's see if you cat's are as strong as you are fabled to be."

[Fernear!]

[/i]

The muscular figure of Thomas turned to face the black she-cat. Her long fur seemed to stand on end. And luckily for her, he could read eyes nearly as good as she could. If a fight is what they want, then they'll get it.

Thomas flicked his head to his clan to tell them to stay. This one was his. He got into a hunter's crouch, though it wouldn't work right now. Intimidation is what he loved to do.

He could understand cat, he was one, well a big cat but still has the word cat in it. His eyes were his voice for the time being. Read my eyes small one. You will know what I say. he said to himself. His eyes then held assertiveness, determination and strength in them. He was asking for a battle for sure.

Then he stopped, about four horse-lengths away from the she-cat and spoke words of.. wisdomish. 'If you fight me. I strongly suggest you have a healer. It won't come out the best way.' he might have sounded to promising to himself, there was a small chance that he would be beaten..

[/color][/size][/ul]

[streampaw]

^{She twitched her ear at Miragesoul's question. "Crowfood? But Miragesoul, there's-" she was cut off. The scent reached her delicate nose, but it wasn't normal crowfood. She followed with deeper caution, looking around every time she heard something. When Aquaeyes spoke, she felt calmer. "You're right... But I'm still going to the Island... There might be someone there." she said. Her pelt rose as the crowfood scent grew so strong that Dawnwind almost fell over. She glanced around, not noticing that she, as well as the rest of the cats, stopped dead in their tracks. Infront of her were huge cats, their eyes glowing with hatred and their fangs gleaming. Her tail stuck out straight and every hair on her pelt stood up. She looked at Miragesoul when she had turned to them. Her eyes were telling them to run, but Dawnwind's legs wouldn't move, she wouldn't be surprised if she collapsed. Her heart was racing, beating against her chest as she stood paralyzed infront of the demon cats. She was panting, and the scent of fear mixed with that awful scent of crowfood stung her nose. She turned to the other cats, some of which were ready to fight. Her eyes carried Miragesoul's message, but with higher intensity. "Run. Save yourself. Get out. Run!" her eyes screamed to the other cats. She began to back up, terror flooding over her body and breaking the spell on her legs. She wanted to run, she ha to run. But if she turned her back on them, they would surely kill her. She was panicing, her heart making her feel sick. She back up farther into the brush, trying to hide from the monsterous cats. She turned to Aquaeyes whe he snarled at the demon cats. "Aquaeyes you moron! You'll get killed going up against this beast!" her eyes said, she couldn't speak and her eyes were the only way that she could communticate. The huge cat spoke. She could understand him, and his words chilled her body. "He-he's r-right... W-w-we c-can't win against h-him... W-we-we'll d-d-d-ie..." she studdered. She backed herself into the shadows. There were trees all around her, some were so tall. She clawed her way up to closest tree, looking down on the beast like cats. "Just don't hurt my clan..." she though in her head and trembled on the limb above the cats.}

[Mudmaskhardsoul]

Hardsoul spotted the giant cats and dropped into a crouch. They were GIANT! The leader of the group seemed confident, and he wasn't sure this would end happily. He flexed his claws, but now the little fight at halfbridge with Barbed Wire made Barbed Wire look like a kit! His eyes franticly searched the enormous cat for a weakness. He spotted the joint where the enormous cat's legs connected with it's body.

If I could just get there, I could claw his hamstrings and make him fold. How can I tell the others?

These cat's meant business! He looked at Aquaeyes and Nightfeather, at least they wouldn't run! (no offense to everyone else) He glanced up at Dawnwind, "They can climb trees you know." She was running and hoping for the BEST? If there was only one thing he had learned from past experience it was that things just don't fix themselves. You have to work hard to earn the safety of the clan. If that meant losing his life, so be it. He looked at Miragesoul, her paw wa in the dust. It would be infected and she would lose half of her ability in battle. If that is the battle was over in two seconds. Hardsoul liked staying in one piece, and he intended to do his best to stay in one piece.

[kowala]

Nightfeather smiled.
So, this wild cat can read what's in the eyes as well. This should be fun.
Nightfeather turned to the others and raised her voice so they could hear.
"This cat can read the eyes as well as I can. Let us talk. I'm sure we can figure some sort of bargain out."
Nightfeather slowly, cautiously walked up the large golden cat.
'Greetings Cat. I am Nightfeather, a warrior of this clan. I don't know what you and your tribe; if I may call it that, want with this camp and the cats that inhabit it. If you wouldn't mind explaining to me what you all want here then we can figure out a proper solution to this dilema.'
She hoped she got the idea across to the larger cat. If she didn't she prepared herself for a quick dodge, those paws looked huge and the claws long and sharp.
They obviously are sharp mousebrain! Cats like that could probably take down those huge horse things that are in the barn in Windclan territory.
It seemed unlikely but it felt as if there was another cat looking over her, somehow looking after her like a guardian angel but also like the war God; surveying the battle field, watching and waiting for the outcome of the quarrel.
Another thing that didn't surprise Nightfeather was that she wasn't afraid. She wasn't afraid of dieing, Death had already followed her like a murky, morbid river; hopefully trying to drown her in its depths.
She then thought about the other cats behind her: Miragesoul, Hardsoul, Aquaeyes and Dawnwind hiding in the quiet safety of the trees. She thought that if her negotiating didn't work and these cats decided to attack what the outcome would be: Death or Life? Nightfeather didn't know which but she hoped for a good responce. Her words were not in anger but in cool, friendly meaning.
I hope all goes well..

[mudmask]

((only Dawnwind is in a tree, i think all the others are on the ground))

Hardsoul went stiff as Nightfeather approached the enormous cat. Well, if she wanted to kill herself, so be it. He relaxed his muscles, then, like the ground was swallowing him up, he sank into the Earth. The Earth, Air and Wind were his friends. He looked back up to Dawnwind, and gave her a bone chilling stare. He hated her stuttering and hiding in the shadows.
Coward! Let her die!
He spat out furious insults at her in his mind and wished he had taken back his "sorry"

He sat up and spoke at the gigantic figure of Thomas, and took a step foward,"What do you require of us or our territory, mountain cat?" Then Hardsoul sat back down and drew up his paw, licked it, and set it back down. He wanted to seem more relaxed at the new ones. "prey pehaps? territory? You must excuse our manners," he fixed at death glare on Dawnwind, then turned back around, "We aren't used to having so many, guests..." He flicked his ears and sat down a rabbit-length from Nightfeather.

[kowala]

Nightfeather glared menacingly at Hardsoul, her eyes burning with hate.
Let me talk fool! Blood will be on claws if you anger them!
Nightfeather got her calm, serene mask back on and brought her beautiful eyes back to the mountain cat's.
'Please excuse him, he doesn't know what he's getting into. Please talk to me. I would like to keep this conversation between the two of us.'
She looked over at Hardsoul again and gave an icy, sting from her eyes.
Cat doesn't know what he wants. tries to take everything and tries to make himself happy.
Wrapping her tail around her paws in lazyness Nightfeather tried to work out a bargain if the cats wanted one.
Hunting, territory, everything whirled in her head. If they decided to take the deal she offered them then they all might come out of this unmarked. If they decided not to take it and got affended then things might get a little out of hand.
Lets all hope it comes out good.
Nightfeather saw out of the corner of her eye that Hardsoul had dipped his head at her. She turned her gaze to his and saw the fading silvery light that had inhabited his stare. Nightfeather then remembered the last thing her mother had said to her when she was only a little apprentice.
The last Night she saw either parent.
'Sleep tight little one' Whitespot Nightfeather's all black fured mother told her as she licked the whit spot on her chest.
'Sleep tight and don't fear then Night my little Feather, let it all in and you will eventually see the light..'
Nightfeather snapped back to reality and waited for the large cat to speak, she thought she saw the reading of a name in his gaze; Thomas, but she wasn't sure.

[Mudmaskk]

Hardsoul smirked at Nightfeather's glare. "Ohh, touchy. We are having mood swings latley aren't we Nightfeather? First you say you..." Hardsoul's voice trailed off, as if he ws in a trance. He knew he wasn't helping, and shut his trap. Not for Nightfeather, but because of something he saw.

For some reason, he knew only he could see it, because the silver cat he saw wasn't from Starclan, it was his mother, Larkwing. All that the others could see was the reflection in Hardsoul's eyes of light. She approached, her pelt shining like waters of a pure lake. "Darling, do not fight these cats." Her voice was not wheezy, like it was when she died of blackcough, "You will surly perish in their paws like a mouse." Hardsoul softened, then fixed his paws firmly on the ground. "Mother, I can't tuck tail and run, that would be like a kittypet!" Hardsoul meowed impatiently. "I didn't tell you to run," cooed Larkwing softly, "You need to learn that not all agreements are made by fighting. I must leave now, my time is up." Larkwing slowly took a step backwards, then turned and ran. The light around him faded and Hardsoul found himself back on the ground.

Hardsoul took a step back as his senses returned to him. He dipped his head at Nightfeather, but remained in his place.

[Fernear!]

[/i]

The golden cat looked behind himself and saw his pride. Then to the brave she-cat. Very well he thought to himself with his head down. He wasn't dumb, he knew this she-cat would be able to read him quite well. He found no use in having a conversation with their eyes anymore.
'Well. Yes I am Thomas, and this is my pride. I don't expect you to take us down, though you would present a strong fight. If I were you, follow with the oak tom. He knows well.' The large tom-cat was trying to be as persuasive as possible. He didn't entirely want to feed on his descendants. Nonetheless, his pride hadn't eaten in moons, and they were getting restless.[/color]

[Shall we begin the new rule?]

// Keela //
The dove that flies beside the hawk

My pink nose twitched at the scent of fear. My stomach rumbled at the sight of rippling muscles. The small amount of cats that stood only a few fox-lengths ahead of me, would be hardly a battle. My haunches were positioned to lash out at the black she-cat that stood ahead of my lover. He was seemingly calm, which was unusual for him. So this surprised me, then his head turned back. His eyes met mine as he saw my pain. The pride was dieing, it hadn't eaten a large enough meal in too long.

My body lurched, I would need the meal sooner than ever.

// Miragesoul //

My loyalty had clearly been faded, for I was the one running. I let my tail un tuck as I turned around. My limbs shook as I saw the leader. Though my paws were telling me different I turned towards Nightfeather. I would stand behind her though this, though we may not make it through.

I attempted to let out a sound, but I just squeaked. My head dipped, my throat cleared, and I spoke.
' We do not wish to harm you, as we hope you don't...'
Mousebrain! Why would you say that when they clearly want to feast on us! I shook my head and sat down. Hopefully I wouldn't create anymore trouble to the scheme Nightfeather seemed to have.[/size][/ul]

[mudmask]

My stomach took a turn for the worst as the giant cat called Thomas introduced himself. He forced a deep breath down his lungs and stepped foward, "I am Hardsoul, warrior of Shadowclan. Our leader is not present." I stepped back into my previous position. The new frost on the ground crunched under my weight and made detailed pawprints. Those cats would make ice prints that looked like Starclan dug up a tree! The crisp fresh air tryed to fight its way into my fur, but my pelt stood firm.
{under construction!}

[Fernear!]

[ooc; Will be continued in Ploegy's post.]