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Post by Kestrel on Jan 16, 2007 17:08:59 GMT -5
You'll never take me alive
A cat came to camp one brilliantly sunny day; she marched boldly into the heart of MistClan with defiance in her mismatched eyes.
She walked with her head high, proud and confident. Few trespassers walked among the Clans with such surety.
A spluttering breeze ruffled the newcomer's gray and white fur in a way somehow reminiscent of feathers. That fur lined a body built for speed; fine-boned and graceful, slim and light; yet there was strength there.
And those neat, delicate-looking white paws hid claws of almost unparalleled length and sharpness; like razors.
She moved quietly, but she was the sort of cat who drew attention to her. She had all the authority of a leader; she carried herself proudly.
Kestrel, the well-known -but never seen, at least by the majority of Clan cats- monarch of RisingClan, stood in camp, awaiting the attentions of the leader.
I'm alive
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Post by Shadow Spirit on Jan 16, 2007 22:06:09 GMT -5
Lillystar noticed this un-invited guest before anyone else and strode to meet her. She stood protectively in front of her clan, not letting the stranger pass until things had been sorted out. The wind ruffled her mottled fur of saffron, ginger and white, making the flower-like patterns of her namesake shift.
"What brings you here rogue...and without permission?" she asked, not yet angry, but very wary.
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Post by Kestrel on Jan 16, 2007 22:12:18 GMT -5
You'll never take me alive
Kestrel was not at all surprised to see the wariness flit through Lillystar's eyes.
She nodded in respect and greeting, and it was the sort of nod a cat gives to its equal.
When she raised her eyes once more, she met Lillystar's gaze boldly and without reservation.
Her pretty face was grave.
"I'd prefer not to be referred to as rogue," she meowed evenly, not a trace of hostility in her voice. "Even when I was one, I despised the name. But I degress; I am here becasue of a graver business."
The faintest shadow of a smile fluttered across her composed face.
"I am Kestrel, leader of RisingClan."
I'm alive
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Post by Shadow Spirit on Jan 16, 2007 22:28:42 GMT -5
Lillystar scrutinized this stranger. Her lithe shape and pretty face meant she was strong and well-fed, not lacking in skill it seemed. She relaxed a bit, with the understanding that "Kestrel" was not here to fight. She nodded her head in acceptance of the friendly gesture and then stood strongly once again.
"So...you are not a lowely rogue, but one with a clan of her own..." Lillystar observed. "What matters have you to speak of then?" She would be civil so long as Kestrel did not ask too much of her or her clan.
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Post by Kestrel on Jan 16, 2007 22:32:49 GMT -5
You'll never take me alive
Kestrel was glad to see her fellow leader relax.
"First of all, Lillystar, how much do you know of what is going on in the Rogue Meadow?" she asked, nearly the exact same question she had asked Amberstar.
She wondered distantly if Lillystar would be as willing to rally against BoneClan as Amberstar and TreeClan, or whether she would keep to her own affairs.
Kestrel realized that maybe she had been expecting too much. One of TreeClan's own warriors had turned traitor; had MistClan suffered any such losses? If not, then they had no personal reasons to fight.
Kestrel resolved to accept what came. It was the best way.
I'm alive
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Post by Shadow Spirit on Jan 16, 2007 23:09:06 GMT -5
Lillystar considered Kestrel's words carefully. She shifted a little, wondering just how much she should tell the she-cat. Her heart wanted to trust this cat, but her head told her to be careful, a trap could easily be thrown over her.
"I know the rogues have formed clans of their own, though I do not know the extent to which their numbers have become..." she began. "I myself have heard of RisingClan, BoneClan and the rumors of a StealthClan...but until now I did not know you were one of the leaders..." She kept her dark golden eyes fixed on Kestrel as she continued. "Many of my cats were once rogues and I bear no grudge against them, but I will defend my clan against any traitorous tyrants that try to harm us!" The last part was said with a great load of certainty and conviction.
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Post by .::Umberwings on Jan 17, 2007 1:28:21 GMT -5
A soft feather, the ghost of a whisper, almost barely, ever so gently against Lillystar’s side. Even if this was a private conversation, the young medicine cat apprentice moved, those fierce yellow hues staring intently at the Risingclan leader.
Staring at?
No.
More intense was the gaze – as if the young black she-cat, so very small in her size for her age it was almost unnatural, was staring right through Kestrel – looking intently at her soul.
Umberpaw hadn’t seen her mentor lately. This bothered the young she-cat, her mind sought to learn everything possible.
Ah, but what was this?
One of Heartless’s surviving kits, one who had chosen a good path. |
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Post by Kestrel on Jan 17, 2007 17:28:45 GMT -5
You'll never take me alive
Kestrel faced Lillystar fearlessly, her face grave...but maybe it was angry, too. Beneath the skin, where it couldn't be seen.
Not at Lillystar but at Bane.
"I am not yet sure," she began, "Whether Bane intends to harm any Clans besides mine. It is a dim possibility."
"His Clan is murderous. BoneClan-- they kill without reason, rape on a whim. Among there number are cats who devour their own kind, and cats who are mad for blood.
The BoneClanners stir up the screams that wake the world, and those screams seem to charm them to the depths of their black hearts." Her voice was hard. Bane and his fellow sinners had reaped injustice upon the world, and Kestrel could scarcely stand it.
"I have a warrior whose mother had been raped by Bane himself-- simply because 'the world is not a nice place.'
Honeymist sent her children away, and was killed by her own daughter: the heir to BoneClan's leadership, Darkangel."
Kestrel's voice rose as she adressed the whole Clan as well as their leader. "Do these seem to you like the actions of a Clan who mean us all well? You have nothing to fear from RisingClan, but I came here to tell you all to be wary of Bane.
BoneClan is thirsty for blood."
I'm alive
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Post by Shadow Spirit on Jan 17, 2007 21:50:00 GMT -5
The news Kestrel gave her this time chilled Lillystar to the bone. She was appalled to think that any cats would do such terrible things, and enjoy it no less! Noticing Umberpaw, she curled her tail around the small apprentice, trying to shield her from the cold. She shifted uncomfortably, the wind was buffeting her hard and her long fur swayed to and fro.
"Honeymist...was a cat of my clan...before I became leader..." she said quietly. "We buried her the day I arrived..." Her voice was grave and pain shot through her eyes and she recounted the one thing from her first days as Lillystar, that she wished she could forget. After a moment of quiet grieving, she looked straight into Kestrel's eyes. "So Kestrel, what exactly are you asking of us...?" |
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Post by Kestrel on Jan 17, 2007 22:00:30 GMT -5
You'll never take me alive
Kestrel's eyes softened for a moment out of sympathy for the leader and sadness for Honeymist's pain.
Then they sharpened again, regained their usual passionate fire.
Nodding, she meowed, "I ask nothing of you, Lillystar. I am here merely to explain the situation to you, so that we may avoid trifling, even dangerous misunderstandings."
She turned and took a few steps toward the entrance of camp before pausing again.
She turned to face Lillystar once more. "The mission of my Clan is to destroy BoneClan and bury the ashes; the Rogue Meadow and the Clans will be safer when they are gone," she expanded. "We have mobilized on BoneClan; it is now war between RisingClan and BoneClan. Before coming here, I have arranged an alliance with Amberstar; when the time comes, she and I shall lead both our Clans into battle against Bane and his dark warriors.
After I leave here, I will journey to StoneClan and explain to them what I have just explained to you. If they wish to join my alliance, I will welcome them; if they would prefer to keep to themselves, I will leave it at that."
I'm alive
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Post by Shadow Spirit on Jan 17, 2007 22:56:15 GMT -5
It seemed Kestrel was leaving, which made Lillystar feel she needed to make a decision. She took a few steps toward the other leader, leaving Umberpaw sitting behind her.
"Kestrel...I offer you any service we can give, but I will not put my young ones in danger...I can only spare my senior warriors..." she said, hesitantly. "We have many apprentices and kits living here...and I will not jeopardize the next generation...can you be satisfied with my limited offer?" |
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Post by Kestrel on Jan 17, 2007 23:09:52 GMT -5
You'll never take me alive
A faint, weary smile came to Kestrel's face. "I would have been satisfied with no answer at all, Lillystar," she replied. "I do not demand help, only ask of it."
She bowed her head in respect to her fellow leader and in thanks. "Your decision is a wise one. Even though you cannot spare the full strength of your Clan, what assistance you can give us, I am grateful for."
She turned and padded away. "And so we have an alliance," she said thoughtfully, and her smile lost its weariness.
When her eyes softened and the passion, the intensity, the weariness departed from her face, she really was pretty; and young, too, for such a leader.
"Thank you, Lillystar."
And then Kestrel was gone, her path set strong before her; to StoneClan's mountains she was headed, and as she went, she muttered under her breath, "Three Clans."
I'm alive
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