[ never look back ]

[Hiddenwrath]

So father…did you ever expect to see you daughter so alone? I thought not. This clan, this…Risingclan? Do you think they’ll have a place for me?

I hope so dad. I hope so.

The fela melted across the border that divided the clan she sought from a small stretch of No Man’s Land – which, in turn, the female knew very well separated it from the dark clan she had passed.

The clan that scented strongly of death, of blood.

It was hard still, to think of her father. Her old clan had considered rogue cats to be ‘evil’ but Shade had been anything but that. No, the dark gray tom had been a kind, almost gentle oaf – even though he didn’t have a clan to serve, to protect him.

As much as she had loved her father, Hiddenwrath knew that the path his paws had sought his entire life was not the one she sought herself.

No, she had heard of Risingclan from her father – what they represented. And now that her father had passed on, the she-cat had nothing left to tie her to this life.

It was time to make a new one.

The she-cat moved, padding only a little further into the territory until she found a small clearing of sorts. There, in the middle, the orange and white marked fela sat – awaiting any cat to come and speak with her. Yellow-green hues blinked, glancing once up at the sky as if seeking comfort in her father’s spirit, before she returned her entire attention to her surrounds. So aware, delicately balanced the fluffy fela was, it would be neigh impossible to sneak up on her.

Ah, but Hiddenwrath was no bumbling kit, inexperienced and inept. She had been made warrior before she had been cast out – fought in battles, defended her clan against raids.

She was a capable cat, and there was no arrogance in knowing something that was quite simply the truth.

[Kestrel]

You'll never ^take _me alive

The wind in the grass. The dusty blue sky. The hard earth. These things defined RisingClan.
The dry grasses rustled, and a slim white paw appeared. Following the paw came a cat, a swift-looking agile she-cat, the wind ruffling her feathery gray and white fur.
Her mismatched eyes, one bright electric yellow, the other serene sea-blue, both flashing with keen intelligence, surveyed the newcomer before her with a practiced eye.

The newcomer was a fighting cat, and no fool, that much was obvious.

RisingClan's monarch relaxed, though only slightly. "Newcomer, I assume you're here for a purpose," she meowed softly, her sharp gaze softening slightly. She guessed this cat was here to join, for she had neither the scent nor the manner of a BoneClanner.

^I'm alive

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[Hiddenwrath]

A rustle of grass, mere moments before the other she-cat appeared from it. Hiddenwrath’s head swiveled, looking at the stranger who, in turn, was eyeing her with a pair of rather stunningly-shaded mismatched pair of hues.

Yellow and blue.

Perhaps the other cat shared the aspects both those hues represented, a mirror parallel of one another?

Maybe Hiddenwrath was allowing her mind to think too much.

“I seek to join Risingclan, if they are willing to accept me.”

Her head bowed slightly – she knew very well to respect those ranked above. Maybe there was some good that had come out of life as a clan cat. Her tone was kind, and it was no masquerade, no façade. No, Hiddenwrath was a kind, even friendly, she-cat.

[Kestrel]

You'll never ^take _me alive

Kestrel smiled slightly, pleased. "We would be glad to have you."
She padded forward, stopping directly before RisingClan's newest member. "I am Kestrel, leader of RisingClan," she murmured, awaiting the knowlege of the other she's name.

^I'm alive

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[Hiddenwrath]

“It is a pleasure to meet you Kestrel.”

Hiddenwrath’s smile in return was pleasant, and she turned fully so that she may face the leaderess fully instead of giving her almost a sidelong look. It was a respectful action, she hid nothing.

Even so…

“My name is Hiddenwrath.”

A clan cat’s name. Would the leader question why she was not with her clan anymore? If so, she would answer. The truth was ever important.

[Kestrel]

You'll never ^take _me alive

But Kestrel did not ask. This Hiddenwrath's pst was her own business, and no one else's.

If she wishes to tell, she will. Who am I to press her?

Instead, she adressed the she-cat with a question. "Why RisingClan, of all the Clans? And what skills may you bring us?"

Kestrel sensed no dark intent in this one, but her answer would determine whether Hiddenwrath had a place among the Clan.

^I'm alive

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[Hiddenwrath]

Why Risingclan?

Hiddenwrath lifted her gaze to the sky – as if seeking an answer.

What skills could she bring?

Honesty was the virtue of a true warrior.

“My father spoke of Risingclan. He said ‘They’re the clan of noble cats, fighting against the evil that burden this world’. We were both traveling to come here, both to come and seek acceptance.”

Pain. Oh, so much pain. Her father’s death was an open wound, a fresh burden upon this kind she-cat’s soul.

“He died, before we made it to your borders.”

Yellow-green hues fell – changing from the sky to the earth beneath her paws.

“If anything, I want to see through his dream. I want to live the life he knew was true. I want….I want to put the end to the bane that strike darkness within the hearts of all cats – whether clan cat or rogue.”

Her voice faltered – why was she saying all this to Kestrel? She sensed, somehow, that this leader was a cat she could trust.

“I can hunt. I can fight. I would never, ever, betray any I’ve committed my loyalty to.”

[Kestrel]

You'll never ^take _me alive

Kestrel watched Hiddenwrath for a long time before reaching out and tapping the she-cat with her tail. There was something like sympathy in her mismatched eyes.

"Welcome to RisingClan, Hiddenwrath," she meowed softly but with authority.

She turned and padded halfway up the hillside. Glancing back, she called, "RisingClan camp is this way. I will show you."

It was a good answer, she thought, and her wariness departed.

She sensed only honesty in Hiddenwrath's words and face.

^I'm alive

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[Hiddenwrath]

“Thank you leaderess! You will never regret this decision.”

Hiddenwrath leaped to her paws, padding after Kestrel to the clan camp.

To her new home, her new destiny.

Father, do you see me? I’m living your dream now – our dream.