Clan's return

[.::Umberwings]

A pair of broken yellow hues stared back.

“Hello Ripple.”

Against the limits of her body’s slowly regaining strength, the ebon apprentice rose to her paws, flicking her tail at Silverthroat, and limped painfully over to Ripplepaw. Although she did not know what caused the sense of sadness that she felt from her companion, Umberpaw knew that she had to try to comfort her.

The young cat did not make friends easily, but Ripplepaw was one she knew would be one for life.

“Life…can be painful sometimes. But…we must remember that it all happens for a reason.”

Starclan had a plot – they were weaving their tale even as the mysterious apprentice spoke.

[icekit]

Icepaw watched gratefully as Giddykit left the camp.

"I'm glad he left." she turned her head toward Shadowstreak. "Maybe I'll go to the my den to get some rest now." She quickly added, "If thats ok with you."

[panda]

(from "Poor Panda")
Panda cautiously, climbed up the rocky path towards the waterfall and hidden camp. Taking one last deep breath, she leapt through the waterfall, quick enough so that she didn't get too wet, and landed inside the damp cave.

Panda was surprised at the amount of cats in the clan. She was also a little unnerved by the way they were speaking to each other, with hints of surprise in their voices, and hostile looks towards the cave entrance. Had something just happened? Panda was sure she would hear about that soon enough.

Looking past the cats, she saw a great cavern above her, with shafts of light (moonlight?) coming through. Then she saw many passages with many different scents coming out of them: one to the right with the sweet, and bitter, scent of herbs; another of stale milk from kit mothers; next of a single cat with the familiar scent of Lilystar, which she guessed was where she slept; and three others with many different scents of cats.

After awkwardly viewing her surroundings, Panda sat down, stomach growling upon viewing a pile of fresh kill, and began to groom herself. Hopefully some cat will come and show me the ropes of clan life. But I hope they hurry up!

[Shadow Spirit]

Lillystar collected herself and addressed her clan from the middle of the camp, rather than high up on her ledge.

"Cats, gather 'round...its time we all had a talk!" she told them urgently. "The cats that just entered our camp and disturbed our meeting were rogues and as most of you learned at the gathering, rogues are forming clans of their own...it is becoming a serious problem that could result in casualties sometime in the future..." she started. "I urge all of you to watch your backs constantly and let no cat younger than a warrior leave the camp alone, in fact I believe even warriors should patrol in groups for sure...one can never be too careful..."

She was trying to choose her words carefully so no cat would become alarmed. "As you can see, two new cats have graced us with their presence: Bristlekit and Panda, two young ones I found skirting our boundaries," she said with a gentle air and motioned with her tail for them to come forward. "I hope you welcome them and take them into our clan as full members...I hope to get them mentored soon...and I have noticed we are in need of a deputy as well...so everyone keep on your toes!" Finally she added, "Let us all rest now...Silverthroat please tend to Shadowstreak's tail and everyone else, take in some sleep...we'll hunt at sunhigh tomorrow, for now I think everyone needs to relax from the events we've been through..." She finished slowly, barely able to stifle her yawn. Then she strode to her den and collapsed on the thankfully dry moss in her bed.

Shadowstreak winced as she tried to keep her tail from moving too much. She nudged Icepaw, allowing her to rest now that Lillystar had spoken her peace. Then she walked stiffly to Silverthroat's den to get some cobwebs for her tail and maybe some poppy seeds for the pain.

[Ripplemist]

Relief clouded her eyes as Ripplepaw watched the dark apprentice make her way over to her. Umberpaw seemed to be recovering. That was good.
"Hi Umberpaw," she mewed back in greeting, attempting a half-hearted smile. Her ears heard yet another new cat leap through the waterfall and approaching the crowd around Lillystar, but she twitched them and ignored the cat and listened to her friend instead.
"Life has taken my family away and now a friend goes to the Rogue Meadows, but I don't see the reason that life did so." Her ears moved once more to flatten themselves sideways, as painful memories flooded into her head. The snow and the silence and the sound of her cries many moons ago, and what had happened just now.

[.::Umberwings]

“Life…”

The ebon she-cat stopped, looking away from Ripplepaw, her yellow hues focusing upon something that only the small cat could see. Her voice changed, becoming softer and gentler than before.

“Life…can be difficult as well. Things happen that are not meant for us to understand.”

Brilliant hues fluttered back to Ripplepaw, pain reflecting deep within the very core of Umberpaw’s being.

“I know I will never understand why Starclan called Demonkit, my brother, to their ranks. Why my mother forsook those beliefs and became the cannibalistic killer she is.”

Agony. Soul-wrenching, blinding agony.

“But that is simply life.”

She lightly touched Ripplepaw’s shoulder, the comforting touch of one friend to another.

“You will meet your friend again someday.”

[Trillium]

Trillium allowed herself to settle down and take in the words that her leader had just spoken. She gave slight nods to acknowledge the presence of the two new members, but her mind was elsewhere. If she were to take Ripplepaw on a hunting expedition at sunhigh, it would definitely be wise to ask another warrior (and perhaps their apprentice) to accompany them.

[icekit]

Icepaw nodded her thanks to her mentor and started to walk back to her den when she noticed a black and white cat sitting alone.

"Hi..." She yawned "My name's Icepaw, whats yours?" She laid down and half closed her eyes waiting for a reply.

[panda]

Panda froze as she saw the white cat approach. What should I say, what should I say! She sat there stammering, fur on end and took a breath, finally relaxing. I guess "hi' is best, and then my name...what's my name? Oh yeah!

"Hi! I'm Panda and I just got here..."

Then Panda realized that the cat was slowly drifting to sleep, and might not have heard her. She smiled, and realized she was tired also and starving by now after traveling so far. Having just joined Mistclan, she didn't want to take any valuable food, and with one last look towards the fresh kill pile, turned back to the sleepy cat, wondering where she should sleep and waiting for a reply, and food in the morning.

[icekit]

Icepaw opened one blue eye as the cat spoke,

"Panda... Cool name." She said "My mom gave me the name Icekit because of my blue-gray pelt. But thats kinda change'n to white now." Icepaw laughed sleepily. "Want to come to my den for a little while? I'm sure Lilystar wouldn't mind."

[panda]

Panda laughed at the cat's compliment, wondering why all of the cats had either kit, paw, or star after a normal name. I guess that's how they do it here, but I wonder if I'll have to change my name...

"Thanks! Your name suits you. I'm really tired too, but with all the excitement, I forgot about sleeping...I would love to go to your den...if you could show me the way!"

Panda yawned and released all of the day's tension, eyes drooping and muscles sagging to the floor. Panda was glad that someone her own age was talking to her and was kind enough to invite her to sleep with her. Maybe she'll be my friend!

[icekit]

[to New Friends]

[panda]

[To new friends]

[Bristleclaw]

Bristlekit squeaked. She had not known that Lilystar would introduce her in front of the whole Clan! How else would everyone know you, you twit? she scolded herself. But so many different cats...

Er...hello...I'm Bristlekit...

Awkwardly, the large kit sidestepped and slinked back into the shadows.

[Doubleheart]

[ if i should die within this hour ]

As the two ( or was that three? ) invaders took their leave, from the meetiing that they had wrongfully entered, Double dropped his guard on order from his leaderess, and sat back on the ground; gazing upward at Lillystar as she spoke. He nodded silently in quiet agreement and recognition, turning only to look upon the newcomers that had thus been introduced. His gaze softened when he saw them, young as they were, and so free and uncaring.

Lillystar took her leave and Double looked to the ground, sighing openly as his mind wandered. What was there for him to do now? He had no apprentice, he didn't even know any other other cats. Those who were likely to talk to him were far too young and childish for his intelligent mind and frame, and those he could talk to - fellow warriors - would be much too busy testing their own apprenticies' ways, teaching them. Why, the only cat that Double had even made a slight connection with was the warrior lady Trillium, and even in this case, it was with but pshyical movements that they had acknowledged one another. Double doubted that he had ever said a word to any of the Clan cats, and in that moment, he deeply missed the leader whom he had agreed to serve - the fair and kindly Whisperstar, with whom he really had enjoyed his time.

It seemed that he was in for a long, and somewhat lonesome ride. But it evened out - so long as he had the chance to defend his home, his clan, and prove his bravery and worth; then would the kindly tomcat be satisfied.

[ i have lived to die when i desire ]

[Ripplemist]

Ripplepaw gazed steadily back at Umberpaw, and she saw the pain deep inside the golden eyes, both physical and spiritual.
"I sure hope so," she mewed quietly, breaking off eye contact to press her muzzle to her friend's shoulder. "I'm sorry about Demonkit and your mother." And she was. She had lost her family to Twolegs, but she knew that there was a chance that they were still alive and happy, and that there was the slimmest possibility that she may meet them again, but the chance was there. But Umberpaw's brother was gone, lost forever. As for their mother.... Ripplepaw froze as she recalled something from the battle at BoneClan several moons ago. As the sandy she-cat who had injured her friend in such a terrible way first pounced on Umberpaw, there had been a flash of recognition between the two, and the cat had backed off, uttering Umberpaw's name. And what was it that the scarred black cat had said to her?

"Whoever decides to disobey my orders, you can eat them."

The word cannibal sprang unbidden to her mind.
No, wait, that's probably my wild imagination, Ripplepaw thought, and shook the thought out of her head.

[Lucky]

((from Take Me and I'll Never Forsake You))

Giddy padded quickly through the waterfall. He'd have to get used to water. He sputtered around and around to get himself dry. The tom nudged for Droplet to get behind him. He stayed quiet, stiff as a statue. "Don't make a sound," Giddy growled, "I want to be polite. Cross your paws and hope no one chases us out."

[Wishclaw]

Happy happy happy happy... Wait, what was this?

Wishclaw sniffed, it was that cat who came into the camp, interupted the meeting, and the friend of the one who attacked Shadowstreak! The she-cat flattened her ears against her skull, her mood rapidly changing. It was one of her mood swings, a rather bad one too. She turned to the two cats who just entered through the waterfall, eyes flashing dangerously.

"Memories consume; Like opening the wound, I’m picking me apart again."

Slowly she moved towards them, a snarl plastered on her lips. Anger, something she rarely showed, but can be brought on by frustation or hatred, also by confusion. Her eyes were narrowed into thin slits, throwing daggers at the two cats.

"You all assume; I’m safe here in my room... Unless I try to start again. I don’t want to be the one, the battles always choose; ‘Cause inside I realize that I’m the one confused."

She would fight for her clan, or should she chase them off? It would be much easier to do that, her longer legs could easily out-run them, leave them a few marks to remember. She was closer now, several tail-lengths away.

"I don’t know what’s worth fighting for, or why I have to scream. I don’t know why I instigate- and say what I don’t mean. I don’t know how I got this way; I know it’s not alright."

She stood now, looming over them like a tree. She remember this kit now, he was at the gathering, yes. He was from Treeclan, what was he doing here? Trespassing, she had the right to attack him.

"So I’m breaking the habit tonight."

Wishclaw glared at them, the two small cats that were before her, and snorted. She'd rather attack, but what if they had something important to say? She might as well figure out why they were here.

"What is your busness in Mistclan, mousebrains?"

Ooc: I'm so sorry that Wishclaw hasn't been active, everybody! ;0;

[Lucky]

Giddy crouched down. "Stay behind me," he whispered to Droplet. Then he spoke to the cat. "I've come to speak to Lilystar. My sister and I want to join MistClan. You see, I take care her. We need a home. When I joined TreeClan, I thought I was home. I wasn't, so I went with my father. That still wasn't right. I know now where I belong. It's here in MistClan, with Ripplepaw."

Giddy got a little happier. "My sister and I would be great Apprentices!" he squeaked.

[Lazy Bristle]

Bristlekit's head whipped around. That young tom was back for Ripplepaw? What did he want with MistClan? She growled, not caring that others wouldn't hear or see her. She stalked around the cave, in the shadows, towards the tom and the younger she-cat. Then, realising that she shouldn't attack without orders, she called for her leader.

"Lilystar!"

Then she turned her head to look at the young rogue tom.

"Why did you say you were here?"

She spoke in a low growl. She didn't care that she was only a kit and shouldn't even be here, ready to attack this rogue. She should be an apprentice by now, anyway.

Ooc: She's a feisty one, that Bristlekit is ;D