setting the [ b a r ] [Stealthclan Meeting 1]

[Sunsetfire]

There are those who think
That life has nothing left to chance.
A host of holy horrors
to direct our aimless dance.

A planet of playthings.

.x.

It was almost a tranquil scene, for the rogue camp between the twin oases. Nurtured by the pure, life giving waters and the warmth cast from the ever present sun above, newly grown nurtured plant life grew hither and yon – dappling the camp with the green of sun-danced life.

A paradise, a jewel hidden away from war-torn and shattered worlds. The wars that raged between clans and rogues, clans against clans.

But it wasn’t a paradise untouched.

A golden ripple flowed through the tapestry of plant green and earth brown, and the tom leaped up onto a portion of the ridge which stuck out. The ridge was one of the camp’s best defenses, besides the thorny thicket near the front, completely protecting the hind portion of the camp and extending the latter length of the territory. Although there were the occasional points where a feline could stand, there were not enough footholds for any cat to reach the top. Plus the fall from such a height would surely kill the cat foolish enough to venture into such a matter.

The tom settled upon his jutting point, amber hues, deepened by fire’s baneful touch, burned as they looked over the came.

It was time.

The first meeting of what was forming into Stealthclan was ready to begin.

“All cats come to the Ridge.”

Although the tom didn’t raise his voice any more than it was normally, he had learned on their travels how to project it better so that it could be heard. A fair trick; and a useful one.

Sunsetfire was large now, nearly the size he would be in adulthood. Golden fur fell over his large, muscular frame, untainted save for a dash of white on his chest and tail-tip. Dark amber hues burned with that everlasting fire. Burned with courage. And pride.

It was a pity Bane’s only son didn’t walk his father’s path. They were more alike than either of them knew.

The young tom had not only matured physically. His mind, already wise and brave when he was so young, struck from his kithood by Darkangel’s terrible act, was too far far older than before.

But he remembered the old rogue’s advice, as he and the others, newly met, had hid in that bramble nest that fateful day.

He could no longer be the kit he was once. But he did play. He did live.

Revenge wasn’t something to dwell on continuously as one went through life. As one grew, changed.

Life was far more than that.

The seated Stealthclan leader flicked his right ear, once. This scene, paradise, before him was his dream. A dream come to life before his very eyes.

It had been hard work, setting up the boundaries, protecting the sheltered camp from any rogues who chose to attempt to claim it, hunting, training.

Always training.

Sunsetfire knew they must remain strong, remain keen and sharp as any killing machine. Training to hone their skills, crossed with battled from enemies, did just that.

He had acquired scars. Most were hidden beneath his golden pelt; save for one almost dashing scar across his forehead from the raking talons of an eagle who’d tried to steak some of the clan’s catch. Food was another precious jewel they had to protect – only the two oases provided fish and waterfowl for the cats to feast upon.

Briefly, his mind settled on Darkangel – the first in many many moons. But there were no thoughts save for a cold chill, a ripple of anger.

Mind drift. His mother. Darkangel had called the queen sniveling and pathetic. But Sunsetfire had never seen Honeymist as that. She had been strong, in his eyes, to have survived what Bane had done and do all she could for them? Yes, that was strength.

Mind drift. Fallingsky.

Ah, now there was a stab of pain, as fresh as the day what felt like forever ago that they had parted ways. He and his pure sister had always been close, so very close, and that bond severed had almost been enough to end Sunsetfire’s resolve.

He could never forget the promise he made her. And somehow, the young leader knew that they would meet again.

The golden leader didn’t even think of his father, the Bane that had caste himself upon the lands. He didn’t even deserve such an action.

The soft padding of paws drew Sunsetfire from his thoughts, and he sat to his full height. His eyes, which had momentarily dimmed as his mind had wandered, returned, lightening up once more in their fiery glory.

It. Was. Time.

.x.

We dance on the
S t r i n g o f p o w e r s

We cannot perceive.
“The stars aren’t aligned
Or the Gods are malign.”

blame
is better to give
than receive.

[Zeporah]

The older queen stealthily tread through the undergrowth, leaving nothing behind her but her own footprints. One of these was distorted, for one of her hind paw's toes were swollen, and now with time passed, has been fixed to remain that way. She was famished, and surprisingly thin for those who had known her about a week earlier, mostly because of her kitting, but now food was hard to come by, now that she has been forced to leave her kittypet roots to keep food in her own belly. Her own two eldest sons, Yin and Yang, had left once they arrived in this semi-peaceful valley, otherwise they would be helping her hunt, and keep the kits safe. She was on her own now... and if it wasn't for the help of her adopted daughter, Ice, Zeporah would be having a far tougher time protecting her kits as well as feeding them and herself. Together, they took turns guarding the kits. When she wasn't nursing them, she was hunting, when she was, Ice was hunting...

It was a tough life, she knew, but her hunting experience, and Ice's growing one, was keeping the small family aloft. More then once, Zeporah went out at night, hoping for a careless piece of prey, as she thought of her sons... She was frustrated with them, but she loved them just as fiercely as she hated them at the moment... They couldn't have picked a less appropriate time to leave their mother on her own, with kits to feed... but no... she couldn't blame them for leaving. They were young toms themselves, with dreams and lives of their own... They still could have waited she thought, flicking her furiously as she stalked the undergrowth for some sign of life.

She froze. Her ears flicked, determining the location of the sound till she crept closer. A little mouse scurried across the grass, only to stop to investigate it's surroundings. Zeporah eased her black and white body into the hunter's crouch, her hunger aiding her ability to step lightly, approaching the mouse with the utmost caution. Within due distance she lept, killing the mouse instantly. Right there she ate her kill, it's bones a crunching goodness within her salivitating mouth. Finished, she licked her chops and continued on, not at all knowing she was on Stealthclan territory. How could she when she's never crossed any borders, afterall, she's never gone too far from her nest, afraid for the safety of all her kits. Not to mention the fact that they must have not known she was already here. In either case, she had stalked to their camp unnoticed by the new locals.

A chaffinch, still unawares of the new invading cats, pecked at the ground for seeds, it's feathered tail flicking as it jerked it's little body in the avian fashion. Zeporah, for the bird, kept well out of sight, and only moved when it was busily pecking at the ground. She crouched lower, preparing to pounce, but the bird took off at the deep meow coming from the bushes just on the other side. Zeporah hissed her frustrations, and was about to burst through the bushes to rip the stupid feline's hide open when something made her stop. She hesitated, not knowing whether or not this could be one of those 'clan' cats she heard that one she-cat, Dog-breath, or whatever she was formally called, had called them. Cautiously she moved into the bushes, till their safe canopy sheilded her from view. Down below was a clearing, with heavily laden flora that promised good hunting, but amidst this miniature valley was a flame-colored tom on a ridge. She glared at him, muttering curses under her breath as she angrily stared at him. Finally, she turned away, where she paced along the belly of the bush till she had a different perspective of the tom. She eyed him further, noting the scar along his head, before she stalked stubbornly into the opening.


"Perhaps next time you'll keep your trap shut, youngling. Some cats are trying to make a living you know!" she spat, contempt making her look nastier than what she really was... For the most part anyway.

[Highway]

Highway was the first of the actual clan cats to respond to his leader’s call. The gray and white tom blinked, ready to call greetings to his benevolent yet strong young leader, when a she-cat, a rogue fela he’d not seen before, stubbornly padded into the camp and speak harshly to Sunsetfire.

Even the peace-loving cat, Highway flicked his ears before glancing one to his leader. Sunsetfire had yet to respond to the she-cat, was looking her over and giving her time to vent her grievances if she felt she needed to.

Blinking yellow eyes, the tom bounded away, right over to a freshkill pile, one of several that could be found throughout the territory. They help those who needed it – even if they were rogues and didn’t belong to the clan.

He returned, carrying a heavy sparrow which he set down next to the she-cat rogue.

“Miss. Here, enjoy this. Us Stealthclanners extend a paw of hospitality to you as long as you remain within our clan’s borders, as long as you mean peace while you venture here.”

He paused, it was hard to not speak without using any German, but he didn’t wish to puzzle the poor queen.

“We do not mean you any harm.”

[Zeporah]

Distracted, Zeporah's blazing eyes flickered away from the orange tom, where they followed the movement of another cat whom she had not noticed in the clearing. He was a sturdy tom, who's color reflected the storm clouds just before their peak. Her eyes narrowed as he approached, bringing with him a bird from a pile of prey that was also decently hidden in the untamed grasses. The sight of which made her stomach grumble, but she said nothing, only watched him approach with a wary stare. The tom set the bird down, and, with a demeanor that was placid and true, explained to the queen the reason for the gift. The fur along her spin rippled, a little miffed that the tom would think that she was incapable of catching her own prey... yet... she was too wise to know that free game was free game... Not even she could pass up a free meal... but even the thought hurt her pride. Zeporah, as we all know... is a very prideful feline.

"At least someone here knows their manners..." She grumbled... loud enough for the tom on the ridge to hear. She leaned down, her elbows sliding into fuzzy ridges at her sides, her pale, honeysuckle eyes still dark and wary of these two cats. "Now you leave me and my... ... Just leave me alone, or I'll rip you to shreds," she said, a low growl rising to her throat. With that, she picked up the sparrow, turned, and calmly began to walk out of the clearing, her tail held proudly above her, like a flag waved over a battle victory.

[Firephoenix]

“You didn’t finish, she-cat.”

A voice rumbled from behind the queen. The tom – his creamy yellow pelt dashed with gingery crimson belly and throat marrings, a even deeper red mask tainting his face, had almost majestically padded from the underbrush – dark, so dark, eyes watching her. Those obsidian hues blinked, an ear flicking slightly.

“Or are you referring to those young kits of yours you hid? The young she-cat you left with them is scaring away more game than Sunsetfire did with yours.”

He knew. But then again, of course Firephoenix knew. After all, this had been his territory before the Stealthclan cats had decided to make it home.

His head lifted, looking around. So far, only Highway and this rogue queen. Where was the rest of the clan?

Although he was only loosely attached, he still knew enough to heed the young leader’s call.

“How safe of a life do you think those kits will lead? Queen – I see you are one to do well with raising them, but if I was able to follow a trail back to a nest, much more skilled cats certainly can. What those kits need is a home, where they don’t need to be moved around again and again.”

[Doubleheart]

(( i hate the ending myself. ))

Just a sad song with nothing to say - it seemed to be the story of their lives. Every cat with their stupid, worthless sob-stories, stories that they didn't even tell; they just sort of looked your way forlornly and expected your kindness and decency to shine, and help them out of the gutter. A sort of 'I know something you don't know, but I'm not going to tell you' idea, probably formulated by some brilliant mastermind drinking tea and bleach, eating away his own insides.

Self pitying idiots.

D'mitri, to say the least, had no idea where or was or just why he was there. The young tom preffered to where ever his four paws might take him (arguing with his own paws was like arguing with a large hungry predator, or trying to drive in the lane that the number 42 bus, a double decker, really wants to drive in - generally a stupid idea), but sadly this meant the sacrifice of his own possible well being, and his sense of direction. See, not only did he not know where he was ; he didn't know how to get back to where ever he came from.

His green eyes adjusted gradually, and the tom paused in midstrut, one paw held in the air in an almost dainty manner, and he stared into the distance. A voice had called, and it told all cats to come to 'The Ridge' (which, at the very least, gave him a name and a destination). D'mitri knew that he would need to find company in order to in turn, find work, and continue to do what he had done his whole life; cheat for a profit.

Breaking back into his strut, D'mitri strolled into the clearing, with an air about him that looked like he knew just where he was and why he was there, even though he surely didn't. It was a very pleasant sensation, strolling into a strange land so confidently, putting your own safety in danger; but knowing that you would never really come to any harm. You were brave enough to attempt to infiltrate, smart enough to discover who might ask of your services, and not stupid enough to stick around when the heat gets turned up. Perfect plans and perfect places made for large profits, and this cat knew it from experience.

Some of the strangers, whom now surrounded him, were speaking to one another, and D'mitri listened vaguely to their conversations before moving on. Somewhere, he didn't quite know where, the handsome tom sat down, close to the cat he assumed was the leader, but far enough away to look inconspicuous. It was undoubtable that this leader, if he was such, would pick him out and speak of not having seen him around before, but D'mitri was clever enough to bluff his way out of it. There were many alibi's; I'm just passing through, a scout sent me here, I was attacked elsewhere and had to flee; and if all else failed, he could always fake interest in joining them and their plea, whatever it might be.

The tom cats mind was racing, and he took a quick look around himself at the small selection of cats, taking in their words and trying to make sense of them - find the backstories. In that way, D'mitri was half like a journalist, and half like a big book of all-seeing, all-knowing knowledge, but in most ways he was.. indescribable.

He knew then that it would take a longer stay for him to understand what he had stumbled onto, and so he settled his mind and body for a longer stay, turning his bright and intelligent green gaze onto the cat at the front, a knowing glimmer flittering behind his eyes. Mission nummber one, figure them out, and adapt, to be the sort of cat they will develop a liking for.

Easy.

(( but it started with an alright scene. ))

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[Zeporah]

The queen froze in her tracks, the fur rippling up and down her spine in an agitated gesture. The tip of her tail twitched, then flayed as she turned her head. Her eyes, which were once a fiery cold, now were a frigid pale yellow. She spat the bird out, not even noticing that one of it's feather's stuck near her mouth, and slowly, viciously began to stalk back to the flame-spewed tom. She didn't stop till she was face to face with the tom that dared... dared to say she was a bad mother.

Anger surged within in her, boiling like a hot pot in her belly. At first, she had nothing to say, just the cold, calculating way she stared at him was a good counter to begin with.

"How dare you..." she began, her voice a rumbling growl not unlike a dragon's belly, "How dare you say I'm a bad mother... I've raised more kits then your mouse-size brain could even count. I've never... never lost a kit... And I've always been on my own. I've never needed anyone else before, not even now since my sons have left" she spat out the last part, some of the saliva probably landing on the brute's face. With a final hiss of contempt, Zeporah zipped around, picked up the bird, and began to trot and weave her way back through the bush from which she came.

Now, she's still in the vacinity... Just to clear things up.

[Firephoenix]

“Now when did I accuse you of that?”

Firephoenix shot easily back. He had, after all, stated clearly she’d do well in raising them. How could she gain the words ‘bad mother’ from such a statement?

Unless that pride was blocking her from hearing properly. With a growl, the fiery tom lashed his tail and called, his voice rippling through the air so that the she-cat could, hopefully, hear them.

Although her listening was quite a different story, now wasn’t it?

“Your pride is what’s going to make you lose them. Or do you think Boneclan’s some kit’s tale that doesn’t need to be paid attention to? Do you think those murderous bastards are going to ‘oh so simply’ just not affect your life as well as those of your kits?”

[Highway]

“Shuttup Firephoenix.”

Highway growled, glaring at the other tom. His own tail flicked, as he rose to his paws to pad past him, slapping the semi-rogue male rudely across his face.

As the other tom spluttered with confusion, Highway shot –

“You’ve been on your own for too long idiot.”

-before he loped into the bushes after the she-cat with a call of ‘Please, excuse me Miss!’

Hopefully she’d treat the kindly tom a bit nicer – he had, after all, been completely polite and respectful towards her.

[Amberstar]

_{Everyone just shut up! yowled the tawny young deputy. He growled as he sat at the young leaders feet, tail twitching. He buried his face in his paws, staring out across the willowy territory. A purr erupted from his throat to indicate he was pleasant once more. A battle is raging between our enemies.. We must act quickly. He said almost inaudibly, but those close to him could make out his wise words. Bane is on the move. We must choose our sides wisely, young leader. We shall win.}

[Kestrel]

|ooc| Miss Murder: Enemy, love. Es ist nur bloss erst man.

[Zeporah]

The queen heard the tom\'s words, but by the way she kept moving, without even a flicker of her tail to signify that she had heard, kept moving. The bird in her jaws was the only thing that mattered, and bringing that to her kits was the top. Yet, even as she continued, she did not expect the hold up of the tom who had bestowed the gift upon her, until he was shouting at her as his paws pounded to catch up. Zeporah stopped, looked over her shoulder to see who it was through narrowed eyes, before she dropped the edible unceremoniously at her feet.\"Yes?\" She croaked, biting back the edge in her voice, though the guard within it was unavoidable. For, if you haven\'t noticed, the queen was temperamental. She had an amount of pride in herself that makes her strongly independent, yet not enough to make her unwise. Because of her indepedence, she finds help, or want of it, highly not wanted, as she makes it so often clear... She also knows, especially since the absence of her twin sons, that the protection of other cats was a blessing in and of itself... She\'ll just have to get over the territorial indepenent side of herself.

Meanwhile, she waited patiently, which was unusual for the queen, for the tom to speak up. She otherwise wouldn\'t have given him the time of day if he hadn\'t treated her like the proper elder she was... Truely not in the same since as her being too old, but simply to compare her age and experience versus his own. If she knew clan life, and had a taste for it, she would be viewed as a senior warrior.

[Brighteye]

Harlequin padded from the brush, where she had been napping until the commotion started. Her chain of ginger diamonds that was her namesake rippled as she padded forward, belly heavy with kits, right into the middle of a StealthClan meeting. What luck, this was just the place she was looking for! Well well well, she said, it seems t'jat Steal'jClan is joining the war. She peered at the tom who had just spoken. So if you're not jeh leader, dear, than couldja' tell me w'jo is?

OOC: All her h's are j's ^^.

[Highway]

The young tom blinked his yellow eyes, looking at the older queen. His ears were half flattened in a show of respect, and he dipped his head slightly.

“I know it’s not much…but I apologize for Firephoenix. Not to excuse his words in any way….he has lived here before we came here and hasn’t had much interaction with other cats.”

He hesitated, seeking the right words to continue.

“Are you really a mother? You must be the best one ever, to have kits out here when a war is brewin’!”

Thankfully, the words were not meant to be flattering – as with everything else that came out of his muzzle it was pure honesty.

The code he chose to live his life by.

Highway shifted, pawing at the ground a few time as he thought.

“Ma’am…Stealthclan is in need of strong warriors…no, I’m not asking for you to join, no will any of us ever attempt to force you, that would be wrong, but…our leader had just called a meeting. Would you like to sit in on it? Maybe you’ll like the words you hear.”

[Sunsetfire]

Ah, new members, perhaps? Amber hues watched as the queen came, then left, a tom, and another queen, one heavily pregnant, both came and entered the camp. It was hard to read the emotion behind that steady gaze, even for the most experienced cat, but Sunsetfire merely twitched his tail tip, sending Firephoenix off to seek the ways they had entered the territory and find ways to seal them.

Then his deputy spoke, and the young leader finally nodded once, slightly, in agreement.

“You are, indeed, correct Chainrust. I have called Stealthclan here, today, to discuss our future. What path will our paws trod down – which side will we choose. However,”

He stopped, his ringing voice an echo in the silence of the camp. As he rose fully to his paws, a golden beacon to his clan, his attention was now fully trained upon the newcomers.

“-newcomers! Stand forward, introduce yourselves, and tell me your purpose for being here.”

[Doubleheart]

(( i hate the ending myself. ))

It took a little while for D'mitri to see anything productive happening with this little meeting he'd so intruded upon, but his patience was not dissapointed - after some small talk from the cats around him, which he rightly ignored, the golden toom at the head of the gathering began to speak. D'mitri adjusted his position to give himself more comfort, and tilted his head as he listened to the cat as he gave his orders.

He seemed rather authoritive, D'mitri noted - but he had already gathered that he was head of this.. Clan? He had said StealthClan, after all, so surely they were a Clan. They seemed small in numbers, the brown tom thought silently, but he was not one to judge. He suddenly realised that he had been called upon, as one of these so called 'newcomers', and so he drew to his paws (after a moments pause) and took a few steps foreward.

For a moment, he matched his gaze to that ot the leader, hardening it and refusing to allow any hint of emotion or thoughts cross them - as if testing the other, or perhaps trying to show his own strength. Then, as if he had not done such a daring thing, he inclined his head with closed eyes, then burst open the deep, crisp green as he began to speak.

"My name, sir, is D'mitri. I come only to wonder, if you and your Clan may have need of my.. services." The young tom deliberately left out just what his services might include, but as he raised his head once more, a faint smirk was tickling his jaw. Now what would this Clan make of his apparent - or nonapparent - strangeness?

(( but it started with an alright scene. ))

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[Juniper]

The she-cat found D'mitri offestting, at best. She sat down a bit away from him, and adressed the young leader. My name is Harlequin, she said, And my purpose for being jere is that I am looking for a safe place. She smiled. For my kits. This clan looked like it could use some brightening up.

[Sunsetfire]

D’mitri. Harlequin.

Sound names – but there was more to a cat than a name.

Sunsetfire watched the two for a long moment. The golden tom didn’t move, save to shift his gaze from one to the other with the slightest air of consideration.

Heartbeat. One. Two..

Three.

“She-cat, Harlequin, if it is a safe haven you seek to bear your young, here you shall find it. We extend a paw in assistance to any cat who ventures into this territory without the intentions of harm. Whether you choose to join – that shall be your decision and yours only. None of my cats will try to recruit you.”

Then, fiery amber hues flicked to the tom.

“D’mitri. I extend the same offer to you as well, and perhaps you could share to us what skills you say you possess.”

[quintessence]

"Straighten up and fly right, kid."

Oh, he was flying all right. Not in the literal sense, but in the figurative one. He soared above a foreign landscape as a reckless speed; who knew when he would crash and burn?

He had, after all, been doing that a lot lately. Not his fault; damned screwy luck, is all.

The 'he' in question was a calico tom, his mottled fur a muted blend of blacks, whites, and soft tans. His keen eyes gleamed deep aqua.
His name was Quintessence, and thieving was his game.

Not the was. Past tense; those times were over now.

No, Quint was here for an entirely different reason. He intended to follow his old friend's advice and leave his home for a while...he had a lot of being -cats, dogs, twolegs alike- angry at him back where he came from, and he needed to stay away and let them calm down. Forever might be a decent time span, but maybe it would take longer.
Anyway, Quint was a reformed thief, and he was here to live out the remainder of his life on the right side of the law.

The calico threaded through the lush grasses, silent and stealthy as a snake.
These cats had piqued his interest, and their name -StealthClan- suggested this was the place for him.
He was, after all, the best thief his homeland had ever seen; cats and twolegs alike found that out pretty fast.

He slipped into the sunstuck camp so swiftly and quietly that no cat could have noticed him.
Only when the former cat-burgular (ha ha) was sitting quite comfortably did he raise his voice in a yowl.

"Greetings StealthClan!"

He pushed back a giggle-- how strange he sounded!

[Zeporah]

The black and white tabby queen sat with regal elegance, her own pale yellow eyes watching the tom with interest as he began, apologizing for the rude tom\'s coherences. She nodded lightly at this, accepting and dismissing the apology in turn. At his further question, and equal praise, the queen smiled softly. She wasn\'t one to give herself airs, but it was nice to know that someone recognized her mothering talent. Yet, the smile was small, given to the recent information of a war. War? she thought, I haven\'t heard of a war... Who ever heard of cats having wars? She kept this bit to herself, though, not letting her surprise show, not even a flicker of her tail to give it away. She did nod; however, as an answer to his question about the kits.

She remained still, watching as he nervously padded at the loam betwix his feet. Her whiskers perked in a cat smile, amusement at this feat quite apparent. Finally, he added his last bit, leaving the queen silent for some time. \"Listening what he has to say won\'t fill my kit\'s bellies, tom...\" She started, her gaze narrowing in the seriousness of the matter. \"But I\'ll stay nontheless.\" With that, she picked back up her bit of prey, and walked back into the Stealthclan camp.

OOC: Zeporah is in the building. ^_^ Again.