Voices

[rose]

Her wide, pale eyes stared ahead, looking blank and horribly afraid. Terror hid itself within every corner of that minty gaze. Her ginger tail bristled incredibly, to the size of a furry fox's.

"It was you, Rose... You murdered Cougar... he would've had a better life with her, anyways... you would've made him a poor wife..."

Rose's tears glitsened like rain drops. The sky grayed and darkened, and flashing thunder lanced through the shadowed sky like a white claw. Shivering in the drenchingly cold rain, Rose hung her head in despair.

"No... it wasn't me, I promise..." she muttered, ears flattening. "I could never kill him... I... I loved him... I was just so shocked because he betrayed me..."

But however hard Rose told herself this, the voices persisted.

"That was the same thing you told your king, and he didn't believe you then... you'll always be an outcast, a rogue, a deceitful, murdering, lying rogue who cannot be trusted... You can never love again. You were young and foolish to fall in love at age six moons..."

Rose wailed in despair and stumbled, falling face first into a brown mud puddle, her fur dirty and gritty-feeling. The soaked ginger fur, stained with mud and grass stain, rose in anger. "Shuttup," she mumbled angrily. "It was her fault... she killed him... I could never... it was Thistle's fault..."

Then, the slender, green-eyed she-cat sobbed, inside and out. My soul... it's decaying... She thought sorrowfully. Soon I'll be nothing but a shell...

[Amberstar]

<sub>A long walk alone was what this amber leader needed. Her eyes cast down as she looked at the ground, deep in thought of the recent news. Boneclan.. How could there be such thing? There were only four clans, after all! She was broken from her thoughts, and realized with a sigh she was not alone. Amberstar crept towards the she-cat, but didn't dare show herself as she sniffed softly at the surrounding grass she's passed through.

This cat was not of her kind, but it was her duty to show respect and greet these cats if they were lost. Was she.. Talking to herself? She sensed no other cats nearby, but it alarmed her anyways. It was only then that she high stepped over the tall deep grass and exited from the forest cover and made her way towards this cat. She made it apparent she was there and stepped in front of the cat before interupting her of her thoughts and mewing a greeting. Greetings, she-cat. She started with the usual hello. Now down to business..

You have tread upon Treeclan soil. Rest assured, I am no threat until you yourself attack me, but I have come to acknowledge you as no threat, and to ponder as to why you have come here. A home? A lost stranger looking for a cause? My home is welcome to you, but I must know your name and business here. She spoke this all swiftly and smoothly. She was a practiced cat, with fierce knowledge to leadership.

Since I have asked your name, I will state mine. I am Amberstar, leader to Treeclan.</sub>

Sorreh for the delay! Gathering 'n all, which was above all a failure.. -_-;

[rose]

Startled, the ginger she-cat looked up, dark green eyes glowing with tears of frustration and sorrow. She couldn't help but let out a faint hiss of dismay.

"I-I'm Rose. And I'm not crazy, if that's what you're thinking." She paused, wondering how to answer her other questions. Amberstar looked patient and wise, and Rose clearly wasn't a threat. She couldn't help but be weary, though her hostility wasn't coming very strongly.

"And no, I've no place to call my home," she stated firmly, remembering darkly the way her fiance's late father had chased her out with hostile rage, slashing at her heels and clawing at her already red fur.

The voices within her head stayed quiet, though Rose could hear them mocking her, and she hissed inwardly; she wanted to claw their faces off and stuff them down their torn throats! She glanced back at Amberstar, wondering what she was going to add, but plainly forgot.

Sitting simply, Rose awkwardly stared at the long-furred cat and her bright eyes and questioning gaze.

[Amberstar]

<sub>She tilted her head softly. I never thought you to be mad. Simply unusual.. But then again, no cat is simply normal. She said with a gentle smile, trying to calm the disturbed cat. No scent was visible on her fur that she knew of.. Not of the other clans. Not even in the deep undercoat. She nodded her head and sat in front of her.

'Tis quite a pleasure to meet you, Rose. I can offer you a home, as I said earlier. There are other cats to get along with, rest assured. She flicked her tail softly over the ground. Treeclan is always home to a cat that needs one. And you, Rose, are no visible threat. She sighed solemnly.

It is dark times for me, however. Forgive me of my wariness, but I have little trust since a betrayal within my clan. Her eyes brightened as she looked at the she-cat.</sub>