[Welcome Home] to .:Hell

[Goldenblaze]

<sub>The sun was setting on the land here in the east lands where Boneclan now resided. It's angle sent ghostly shadows stretching across the floor from the various weeds and rocks that scattered about the landscape. It was only until they reached the sheltered clearing nescled against the mountain in a small valley did the mist begin to swirl mysteriously around their feet.

And then the darkness fell.

Goldenblaze led the way into the valley from the rear of the group, keen eyes seeing through the mist and fog and clever steps knowing the way home. Of course, Hopeless could not share his 'father's' feeling of homeliness in this dark area. He shuddered, zooming ahead or to the side if he so much as brushed against something. He let out terrified squeaks every so often, but he remained otherwise silent, crouching and shuffling towards their destination. Where was his real home? Where was mother, and the rest of her dark acquaintances?

Bane Goldenblaze called out quietly into the darkness, attempting to retain some privacy on the matter. He didn't want anybody else to know about the kits until he spoke on the matter to Bane. But that hope was lost when he heard a hiss and a loud, demanding voice. The hell..? What the hell is this? Barbwire suddenly growled haughtily as her father entered. She peered with a supreme air over the side of a rock, staring with badly concealed curiosity. Oooh, Daddy, did you bring food? She purred suddenly, dropping off the rock to approach poor Hopeless. He gave a strangled squeak, moving rapidly backwards away from her, until he ran butt-first into Goldenblaze's leg. Startled, he tailspun, then crouched in a pitiful pile almost underneath Grafitti.

NoGrowled Goldenblaze sharply, being received with an angry look from his self-deemed princess of a daughter. He dared speak to her in such a matter? She hissed, but said nothing as he moved past her to approach Bane's den and growl lowly in greeting, looking for the Dark King. He had much to discuss with him.</sub>

[Chimera]

To put it kindly, Chimera wasn’t happy. Oh no, the little spitfire growled and grumbled the entire way to the camp, a majority of said grumblings about different ways she could kill, carve up, and eat Goldenblaze. Damn bastard, he wasn’t their father! She wouldn’t accept it, plumping her defiant rump down metaphorically on the mere suggestion in the back of her mind that he just might be telling the truth.

Another voice entered the scene after the tom inquired after some Bane dude, Chimera blinking her eyes as some she-cat. Food? Her? She chuckled at Hopeless’ reaction, “Isn’t he just fun to torment?” The little calico Siamese grinned wickedly as she bounced forward to paw, claws unsheathed, at her dear sweet pathetic brother’s face. It was all in play, however, even if they connected the claws would only create shallow wounds – so much more fun to slowly torture before killing.

Poor Hopeless. He stood no chance, really.

[Pripyat]

I believe in people dying.

Night was falling. Dusk brought with it a hush and a chill breeze, whispering gently through the grass. Already stars were beginning to burn against the bruised-purple sky.
No ray of golden light pierced the deep shadows of the BoneClan camp, although dying sunlight still touched the ground elsewhere in the remote landscape.

The mist swirled out and the mist swirled in, and a pair of blue eyes opened in the dark.

A single shadow detached itself from many, a lean black shape drifting silently across camp, deceptively quick.
It was a cat, a tall tom with wide blue eyes and a scarred face. A set of deep cuts marred one side of his face, fresh, just beginning to scab over; although the cool night breeze stung the wounds he showed no sign of pain.

He stood silently for a moment, head tilted, his gaze jumping from one face to another. Finally, his erratic attention settled on Goldenblaze, and he spoke. "I am curious--what's this about, Goldenblaze? We haven't gotten into the kitnapping business full-time, have we?" There was humor in his tone, and cheerfulness (not unusual, given that this was Pripyat), and most of all innocent inquisitiveness.

[/blockquote]

this river is wild.

[/i]

Tiercel watched, mismatched eyes shining bright in the dim light. The habits of the BoneClan cats still mystified him; on the one hand, some of them seemed almost normal--they spoke kindly and politely, hunted for each other, treated the other kits well; but on the other hand, he had both seen and heard terrible things. Words passed from one cat to another, casual mentions of torture and cannibalism. Just yesterday the black one, Pripyat, had returned to camp covered in blood from one end to another. Tiercel was not sure what to think about that.

But he was growing used to their rhythms. Although unsettling, their ways of speaking and behaving no longer felt quite so alien.
And that frightened him.
He did not want to get used to life in this black, sinful place. Did not want to like some of the cats here. Did not want to feel less horrified at the sight of blood. He was being desensitized, and he did not like it one bit.
Stockholm syndrome.

On the Peregrine front, things were improving. He was now able to hold civil conversations with his mad sister. But his anger was still great; some days, it felt like his brains were leaking from his ears under the heat and pressure of all that rage. How could a cat be so angry at someone without hurting them? Another scary idea to ponder.

For now, though: distraction. Strangers in the camp. Well, more strange than him.
Invited? Uninvited? They seemed reluctant, but they also did not seem restrained.

Natural curiosity held the young tom's attention. He lay not far from the small group, his paws tucked under him, his blue and yellow eyes rapt.

[/size][/font][/color][/blockquote]

[Grave]

Motion. Voices.

What was going on at such an ungodly hour of the night?

With a mighty yawn, muzzle opening wide to reveal already sharp teeth, the tall, leggy, absolutely scrawny kit out of Spiderlily and Pripyat fully worked and stumbled out of the den where he had been peacefully after a long, wild day of play about the camp. Not paying too much attention to where he was rather attempting to go, meandering in the general direction of his father, Grave practically tripped over Tiercel, stumbling for a moment before blinking with sleepy bright blue eyes down at the captive tom – one he really wanted to be friends with because they should all be friends and team mates in the clan, “Sorry!” He chirruped contently, smiling and waving his tail over his back as he hopped over the reclined young tom.

There were newcomers; other kits, and Grave breathed in their unfamiliar scents as he finally bounded up beside Pripyat, leaning in as he studied them. Two females and another boy, one of which one of the females seemed to like menacing. There wasn’t any real comprehension in Grave’s young mind – sure, Mom and Dad came back from time to time wounded, or covered in blood, but the kits hadn’t started any sort of proper training yet. Aside from that young rabbit Spiderlily had brought back a few days before – between the antics of the four playing kits there wasn’t overly much left of the rabbit when they were through with it.

So maybe Grave was indeed slowly learning, even if the cheery boy didn’t exactly understand or even realize it. There was such a fine line between life and death that his parents seemed to understand so well.

“Who’re they?” His bright, eager, young voice rose from his too-thin self as he glanced up at his father, “New playmates? Are they gonna stay?”

[ooc ;; Annnd, to keep this thread alive.. *needs to be posting more anyway*]

[Bane]

"Bane."

The recognisable voice of Goldenblaze reached the depths of Bane's den. The tom was already standing, staring absently into the darkness, or so it seemed. It came as no surprise to him to hear the commotion outside - moments before it occurred Bane had known that a spectacle was about to occur. Call it instinct, and an eye for trouble.

The tom waited for several moments, allowing his clan to gather and question. He felt it necessary for them to witness this; and as always, Bane liked to make an entrance. A decent crowd had gathered before Bane appeared - his black form melting from the shadows and standing on the ledge, looking out over his clan with piercing green eyes. Goldenblaze was slowly making his way towards where Bane stood - an abrupt flick of the tail signalled for him to stay where he was. The dark tom's eyes settled upon the form of his old friend, and softened ever so slightly.

"Goldenblaze."

He spoke his greeting quietly but with a sense of authority, following it with a brief nod of the head. He sensed the anticipation and interest of the cats around the camp, and only momentarily acknowledged the presence of the young kits and their scent all over Goldenblaze. The matter was intriguing, and although Bane would give his old friend a chance to explain, the BoneClan leader already knew what was going on.

"I trust you have a good explanation, my friend."

This time Bane spoke louder, allowing the others to hear, although once more this was spoken with the softness that let Goldenblaze know that the dark tom would listen intently and act out of the best interests for his old companion.[/size]

[Goldenblaze]

Goldenblaze gave a grudging and irritable glance at the slowly gathering crowd around him and the three young kits. He had wanted to speak to Bane... Alone. Question him about Heartless. Afterall, he had met the former member, had known of her whereabouts, or at least of her existance. And some other female, one without a face in Heartless's mind.

He shrugged his massive shoulders. It would be dealt with accordingly.

She lives, Bane. She is well and healthy. Goldenblaze's eyes darkened as he spoke in riddles. Riddles only Bane would understand. Hurt and a mournfulness passed through it's cold gaze, but it would have gone unnoticed unless you were looking for those emotions. Yet, somehow, there was trust in them, too. He trusted his old friend, his old leader. He trusted Bane to have a reason behind this, and to understand what Goldenblaze spoke of, as he whispered his words, hardly audible in the silence.

These are her... Our, kits. Left rather unceremoniously in my care, I suppose. Though possibly with ulterior motives The ragged tom thought to himself. Even if Bane thought to chase them out or kill them, Goldenblaze mildly wondered if he could. Though he had no love for the kits, or at least one that could keep them in his favor, they still had connections to Heartless.

She was gone in all the other members mind, but Goldenblaze was slowly going insane. He clung to the idea that Heartless could be cured. She had to. She would. Otherwise, what else was there for the ragged tom to live for?

He would have lost his mind before he could find an answer to that question.

[Bane]

As the tom listened to Goldenblaze's carefully chosen words, it seemed that Bane's first suspicions had been correct. Perhaps this really was a discussion that would have to be done in private. Although he feared what the consequences might be; would his old friend be mad at him? Or rather, had these events led Goldenblaze to further madness? Bane prolonged the silence between them for a few seconds longer, casting a furtive glance over the rest of the clan. Then, slowly he stood. He flicked his tail as he turned to pace back into his den, and but whispered to Goldenblaze...

"I think it best that this is done in private, after all."

Once more the shadows embraced him, and in the dull cave he settled near the back, sitting upright with his tail neatly tucked around his forepaws. In this privacy, he allowed his facade to lift ever so slightly, and eyes to soften with care and intrigue. This must be hard for the golden tom, and Bane had no intention of making it harder. Merely, he wished to know all the details, so that his decision as leader of BoneClan would be an easier one.

"Tell me all that happened."

It was a demand, but it was quiet and soften with Bane's keen interest in the wellbeing of his clan, and Goldenblaze. [/size]

[Goldenblaze]

Desperation was beginning to grow in the tom's mind, looking up at Bane as he silently brooded over Goldenblaze's words. Then, without warning, the dark tom leapt off the rock overlooking the area and whispered a few words to Goldenblaze in passing. Relief flooded him, and he let his shoulders sink, even if a little bit.

Watch them He murmured to Pripyat in passing, having trusted the pychotic killer to keep an eye on the three kits at flight-risk.

But, Goldenblaze turned away from his three kits with a grunt, following Bane into his den, watching him sit down carefully before adjusting himself in the most comfortable way possible. Still, Goldenblaze couldn't find the heart to sit; he was far too harassed and anxious to have such a privilege of sitting.

He took a deep breath, trying his best to maintain focus. Bane He said quietly, though it was not a command or a question of any sort. Merely a way for the tattered tom to organize his thoughts.

I saw Heartless. At the old Boneclan grounds. She... Seems not like Heartless. She is, but she seems different. Empty. But she recognized me. He said slowly, trying to make sense to the dark leader. Though he had a feeling Bane knew a lot more than he'd led on, call it a hunch, he felt the need to explain himself. Not out of guilt, of course. Meeting her was pure coincidence, and Goldenblaze trusted his loyalty to Boneclan to not be accused as a traitor for having left the current Boneclan premesis. He wanted to go back to memories. He wanted to clear his head.

She had said that I... We, had kits. 6, but 3 are apparently dead. It was the first I had heard of her having been expecting. But, she promised that another cat would be expected to be training them nearby Boneclan territories.

It worries me that she knew about our new location, but I didn't question it.

I came upon the three quite by accident, and as promised, I came across this alleged Shinentai. I was not expecting him to drop them so unceremoniously in my care, but he simply vanished after having shown himself. And what was I to do, Bane? He had wanted so badly to take them home... But he had not been left without doubts.

Still, I cannot help but wonder... Why he left them here. I don't know what that band of cats has in store, I know little more than two of the cats names. I do not know... What your orders were, or are. I thought the best action at the time would come to discuss the matter with you Goldenblaze said quietly, looking over his shoulder, listening for the sound of their voices.

Having finally admitted his deeds, or haven possibly gone behind Bane's back in meeting this Shinentai fellow, he looked a little more complacent. But something else was bothering him.

She also mentioned to me that you had met. In between the time of your alleged death and her fall from sanity. She knew of your existance, your living.

... I was so torn, thinking she had been killed. Why had you kept that information from me? He asked quietly, almost pleadingly. His brazen eyes sought out Bane in the darkness, his ears flat against his head. He kept his breathing under control, waiting... Watching.

I want to find a cure for her. I have to. I feel as though all that I have worked for with Boneclan has been accomplished and fulfilled. All the differences between the clans seem so petty and simplistic now. It's as if this is all I can do in the world, now. I miss her. More than anybody can ever know. It was here, in the dark enclosed area of Bane's den, that the hardy warrior admitted his fears, his sorrows, his one weakness. Never to anybody else would he have admitted this to but Bane. He trusted his old friend to help him with his explanation. Goldenblaze seemed so confused and lost now, he felt so disconnected from the real world, reality seemed surreal.

Finding Heartless's cure was the only thing that could possibly make him better.

[Pripyat]

I believe in people dying.

Pripyat's blue eyes flicked from Bane to Goldenblaze, alert and sharp as the edge of a blade. It wasn't hard to piece together what they were talking about; these were Heartless's kits, and wherever she was, she had been in contact with her old mate.

The black tom's curiosity was piqued, but he shifted his gaze away. This was none of his business. Perhaps he would hear more later. Instead, he turned his attention to the kits.
"Watch them," Goldenblaze murmured. Pripyat nodded mutely.

One ear angled back for a moment, listening as Goldenblaze made his exit. Then he approached the kits, lively curiosity written across his face.

"Hello," he meowed brightly. "My name is Pripyat. What're yours?" He grinned slightly, a friendly grin that nevertheless revealed a wink of white fangs.

[/blockquote]

[Chimera]

“Jus’ where the hell is he going now?”

The fiery youngster snarled as Goldenblaze went away, following the smooth-talking black tom into the shadowy depths of the den, but the little she-cat huffed in anger and eyed her fool brother for a long, deranged moment. As if she planned to leap forward and slash out. As if she planned to gut him. To feast on his still warm flesh. Then, pointedly forcefully, the angry Chimera turned her head away, glancing to her sister then around to the clan cats present.

It was then when a black, blue-eyed tom came closer – the bloody one from before, and Chimera grinned widely and strode a confident step away from her two siblings towards the time, “I’m Chimera.” It was a bold proclamation, the mere way she stated her name, but there was little that she did subtly.

[Bane]

Bane listened with genuine curiosity, but much of it he failed to understand. Despite this, he allowed the warrior to finish before he himself began asking questions. There was a lot to discuss it seemed, and Bane intended to leave none of it untouched.

"Who is this Shinentai? Is he friend or foe? Tell me all you know of him, and this band of cats you claim to know."

This was first on the agenda to the BoneClan leader. Bane liked to know of any cat that might be of importance to him, and in great detail. He knew every cat in his clan by scent, sight, sound and knew their personalities perhaps better than they did. It was something he had been taught to do, that each new being he met should be logged into your memory with as much detail as possible. It makes for less mistakes, and gives many opportunities to play with their minds. And so it was only natural that the thing of most importance to Bane was knowing who this tom was. Next, to the other matters at hand.

"Goldenblaze, you are certain that those kits are yours? And what do you mean, another cat is expected to train them? I will not take any kits that will be trained by another and not by me and my clan."

"And Goldenblaze, listen to me carefully. I met her too, yes. And I kept it from you for this exact reason. I knew it would tear you apart and that you would seek to bring her back. But she can't return, my friend. Even if you did manage to cure her, it goes against all my better judgement to allow a murderer and a traitor back into my clan. I miss her too, more than you could imagine, but she has proven that her instability is unpredictable, which makes her a threat to everyone. Besides, some cats don't forgive so easily - I expect many of our clan would want to see her dead for what she did to us. I'm sorry, but that is how it is."

It tore Bane's heart to have to tell this to Goldenblaze, but what else could he do. His eyes filled with sorrow and remorse, but he could not sway his mind from his duties as leader. He needed to know who this Shinentai was, who the two cats Goldenblaze knew were, and what this band of cats might be up to. [/size]

[Goldenblaze]

<sub>Goldenblaze flicked his tail in compliance. He would hold nothing from Bane so long as the welfare of Boneclan was at risk.

I know very little about this band of cats. I just know Heartless is apart of it, and another member of this group is also Shinentai. Those are the only cats I know of.

Heartless mentioned having a master, or a leader, of sorts. I do not know this master's name, and instinct tells me she would not have told me, even if I asked. They hold on to their anonymous standing jealously. But of them... Heartless seems stronger than ever, and Shinentai seemed like quite the force. Powerful.

He took a quiet inhale of his breath, amber-bronze eyes shining and flicking in the dark.

I am far from sure these are my kits. Aside from the fact Heartless promised me they were.... I may not look like much of a cat at all anymore, but they bore resemblance to how I appeared at my prime.

It seemed like such a long time ago...

Heartless had told me that Shinentai would have been training the kits 'in the near future' at the time of our meeting. Shinentai was in fact training them. Using the young tom, Hopeless, as target practice, much to his misfortune. It seems their ideas on training differ from ours.
The she-cat, Chimera, is definitly a handful. Hopeless fits his name. Grafitti appears to be quiet and intelligent.

He listened quietly for the following few moments, having stopped breathing, his heart stopped it's beating. He couldn't find her cure? She couldn't come back?
The better part of Goldenblaze's mind knew the sensibility in Bane's words, knew that in a better state of mind and in Bane's position, he would have made the same decision. But he couldn't help but try to find ways around Bane's words, tried to somehow put the blame on the dark leader's shoulders.

His shoulders suddenly slouched. It seemed as if all visible connections that kept him anchored to the world vanished, leaving him falling endlessly. He said no more words on the matter, only fell silent, looking out the entrance to the den at the three kits. The young she-cat who acted so much like her, as much as he hated to admit this little devil had any connections to the Heartless he loved.

Instinctively, he tried to find a way to get out of the sudden black that filled his mind. He tried to find a will again, tried to be the Goldenblaze he once was. But he was far gone.</sub>

[Pripyat]

I believe in people dying.

Pripyat's grin grew wider. His razor teeth glimmered in the dark.
"Chimera! Are you Heartless's daughter?" Yes, he could see it. The look she cast her brother? That vicious, fleshhungry look? "You look like her, a little. Something in the eyes. Your expressions."

Pripyat rocked back and sat, curling his tail excitedly. "So, what brings you here?" he inquired. "Your father looked a little...ruffled, really. It's too bad, worry is bad for your health. And, yanno, he's a good cat." He threw a sympathetic glance back at Goldenblaze. The tom had been through a lot. Pripyat felt terribly for his comrade; to lose his mate...well, Pripyat could only imagine losing Spiderlilly. Just the thought stopped his heart for a moment.

Anyway. Pripyat fixed his attention on Chimera once more, rising to his paws as if he had too much energy to sit. "Your brother and sister have names?" He glanced around Chimera. "Hello? Hi! What're your names?" He hopped slightly in place, grinning like an exuberent kit.

[/blockquote]

[Chimera]

Now…that was one hell of a grin. The little calico grinned wolfishly back at the dangerous looking black tom, tail flicking from side to side – here was a cat she felt she could get along with, compared to the pathetic wastage of fur and flesh most of these other Boneclan cats seemed to be. She peeked with curiosity at the too-thin tom-kit that was standing close by, Pripyat’s son by the scent, before those ever blue eyes went back to the older cat. “Hell yeah I am.” She smirked slightly, but there was a different sort of look in her eyes, a bit more caution then previously.

You see, Chimera was fiery and bold, unafraid of most everything. But she wasn’t stupid. These cats claimed to know Mother, but why wasn’t she here with them now, if they were so knowledgeable of her? Something stank here, and it sure as hell wasn’t carrion. “Wanna'it plain and simple? Our asses got ditched.” Speaking of the matter, she was going to kill Shinentai the next time she saw the bastard.

“That’s Hopeless, he’s gonna be our dinner at some point yanno, and Graffiti.” Was this Pripyat fella just full of energy or what?

[Bane]

At Goldenblaze's sincere reply, Bane nodded with understanding and confidence. After speaking to the ginger tom, BoneClan's leader grew a new understanding of what he needed to do to keep his clan strong. He would not let Goldenblaze give up and believe himself a failure, but neither could he allow Heartless to return. However, Bane had a plan of action and as he stood and moved to get a clear view of the three kits from his den, the plan grew clearer in his mind. The sleek black tom turned to catch Goldenblaze's own fiery eyes, and Bane looked back with confidence.

"They will stay with us, my friend, and they will be trained well - by us, not some stranger. I wish to talk to them, and find out what this Shinentai has been training them, to see if I can figure out his gameplan. Meanwhile, I have duties to hand out, and information to gather. Come."

The tom glided out of the den, to stand on a ledge just slightly above the heads of his clan. Bane left space beside him for Goldenblaze to settle, and he waited with tail neatly placed on his forepaws for the clan to quieten. When he sensed all their attention was focused, he began. For a long while Bane had struggled to find what he must do to restore faith in BoneClan, as well as prove his worth as their leader. Since their defeat, he had been left a broken cat and still he didn't feel completely healed. But since his return, he had spent many hours scouting the lands, gathering information and coming up with ideas to restore BoneClan's former glory. But it would not be like before, and the changes might be difficult for some of the clan. However, Bane truly felt that this was the right thing to do. Now, he could put his ideas into action. Taking a deep breath, he began.

"BoneClan, please welcome our newest members; Chimera, Hopeless and Graffiti. They are of our blood, and will be treated as kin."

"Upon my discussion with Goldenblaze, it has come to my attention that there are many a threat out there; to the clans, but also to us. As such, I have devised that there are duties to be given."

"Sharpfang, Barbwire, and Goldenblaze - you will form a patrol and search all Rogue territory for signs of a band of cats, in particular one named Shinentai. You are not to communicate with them and nor must you be seen. You will report to me daily.

Pripyat and Spiderlily, I wish for you to gather information on a cat named Anarchy, who I believe has been making a name for himself recently. Same rules apply.

Darkangel, organise patrols among the rest who will patrol other clan borders and keep our own protected and well hidden. That's all."

As for Bane, he had his own duty, but that was best kept unknown to everyone else, including Goldenblaze. As well as meet Goldenblaze's new kin, the clan leader devised that tonight he shall try and meet with Heartless again. He believed her to be the best source of information and that perhaps it could not be gained by anyone but himself. He needed to know what the hell she was doing, and ask her as nicely as possible to stay away. For Goldenblaze's sake. Bane had given him a duty, and would keep the tom occupied, busy and being of worth to this clan as long as he could. This was one old tom who wasn't gonna fall, and would find new meaning in this life.

Duties given, Bane effortlessly moved to floor level and carefully approached the kits, who were engaging with Pripyat. Bane gave him a smile and a nod of dismissal, and sat low down with his legs folded beneath him, so as not to appear too threatening or ominous.

"I'm Bane. Your new leader."

And something told the leader that there was basis enough to start a conversation. The female, Chimera, certainly seemed to be the mini-Barbwire and Bane expected her to speak on behalf of them all. Smiling contentedly, the information-gathering began.[/size]

[Goldenblaze]

<sub>Not every moment lasts forever. That was what Goldenblaze had said the day he realized he had fallen in love with Heartless. Back then, he hadn't realized how true it would be. How could he have predicted that Bane would fall in battle, and Heartless would lose control? How could he have predicted that Shinentai and his band would pick her up? He couldn't. He thought back to those days.

He remained stationary as Bane slipped from his den. How could he have predicted any of it? When he got in that battle with Night and Heartless, and he followed them to Boneclan. He had fought with Bane... How pitiful Bane thought him. How Bane spat in his face, called him childish, and dared him to a battle. How Goldenblaze accepted, proved his worth, and promised his loyalty to Bane. How could he have predicted that Bane would trust him enough to call him friend? He gave his loyalty to Bane. Many years had passed since then. He was faithful to Bane through and through. He was a weathered warrior, he was growing old, he was dying. It was like a disease he couldn't control, how it spread and consumed him. But still he remained by Bane's side. But Heartless...

Heartless.

How could he have predicted that they would fall in love? How could he have seen how he broke her naturally dark and mysterious mood and played? Chased her through the fields, wrestled? How he would fall in love with her, and have kits of their own? He flicked his single ear. How could he have predicted...

But Bane was determined not to lose Goldenblaze. He looked back out the den bleakly, noticing that cats began to gather. He gave a shuddering inhale, shaking and shivering, before he pulled himself together, even if the stitches were crude, and he emerged. He took his place at Bane's side faithfully, seeing through the crowd instead of at them. His heart slowly beat out a rythm.

Sharpfang slipped through the crowd, eyeing Goldenblaze warily. He still had a strong dislike for the tom, even though he had tolerated Barbwire thus far. What was he doing at Bane's side? That was his job. He gently growled as low as he could, watching Bane. Barbwire took her place, still smouldering, but as she looked at her father, she knew something was wrong. Even Misery and Whitedevil slipped into the crowd, watching silently. From a distance, Transal sat near her father, watching Bane quietly.

There was a shift. They could feel it, rippling outwards, spurring them onwards, as Boneclan always was. No longer were they idle, they were going to take this forest by storm once more. Only Goldenblaze missed the shift, so deep in his thoughts was he. But, he accepted the assignment wordlessly, as did Sharpfang and Barbwire. At Bane's dismissal, Goldenblaze looked at him once more before remaining motionless on the rock, staring down at it. Barbwire gently tugged at him, leading them away, to join the waiting Sharpfang. Goldenblaze only disappeared with them into the surrounding mist.

As the cats began to disperse, Hopeless remained where he was, seated behind his sisters as far away from the group as possible, without looking like he was at flightrisk. The entire time Pripyat spoke, he only flattened himself more and more into the ground, looking with wild panic around himself. And then Bane leapt from the rock and approached. He only backed away a couple steps, his summer blue eyes the mirror images of Heartless's, wide with sheer terror at everything happening. But that was Hopeless.</sub>

[Pripyat]

I believe in people dying.

Pripyat grinned down at the kits. Hopeless? Classic Heartless name, that was. He'd reconize it anywhere. Grafitti was a little weirder, but hey--Chernobyl was a pretty odd one too. He definately wasn't one to judge. "Well, hello, there, Hopeless and Graffiti! I hope you're--" He broke off at the sound of Bane's voice, twisting to see.

His grin flickered and died as he listened, his blue eyed wide in concentration. His tail flipped once as Bane mentioned his own name:

"Pripyat and Spiderlily, I wish for you to gather information on a cat named Anarchy, who I believe has been making a name for himself recently."

...Anarchy?
The grin crept back across his face. Anarchy. "Will do, Bane," he called out, an expression of dark glee on his face. "I remember him, he tried to join BoneClan once! Ruined our plans. This will be easy."

The cat spoiled their plans against RisingClan and turned traitor on them. Pripyat, for one, was very curious what he'd been up to since. And whether he was still dragging that RisingClanner along behind him.

Oh, what was this? Bane was approaching the kits?
The leader seemed to want a word with the kits sans Pripyat, so he offered a grin and backed away, leaving them in peace. "Talk to you all some other time, then?" he mewed cheerfully.

With that, he vanished back into the shadows.

Now, where was Spiderlilly? They had work to do.

[/blockquote]

[Chimera]

Boring, boring, boring.

Oh look, how boring. Chimera rolled her eyes as the black leader came back out to attend to his clan, that damn one-ear following behind him from whatever the hell it had been that they were talking about – she still swore she had heard both Mother’s and Shinentai’s names said when she had been focused into the darkness. Even this Pripyat figure, while first an intriguing possibility, quickly fell back into the boring category. Ugh. She was surrounded by idiots.

When Pripyat left – from the looks of it there was some stranger she-cat, a tabby, waiting by the camp’s entrance - the black cat from before padded up towards the little trio. Chimera rose herself up, glancing back towards her brother and sister as if to make sure they were still there, at her back, before looking to…Bane, was it?

…Bane. There was something familiar about that names, a half murmured story that Mother, once in one of her fits, had uttered to her surviving kits.

However, instead of thinking back on that, Chimera merely stared at the older tom for a moment. Had the bastard dared to even suggest…he wasn’t her leader! Who the hell said he was?! One ear twitched, slightly, just a subtle moment as he sat low in front of the little trio, playing at looking unassuming and less threatening.

It was a coiled spring, as quick as a striking serpent, when the fiery she-kit struck forward with an unsheathed paw at his lowered face, reacting much quicker then even her mind could keep up with to those tainted words, something that probably seemed so normal to everyone else…but she could see the truth in them.

She could see it all.

They wouldn’t ever see Mother again here, if this tom had his merry little way. They were taken, stolen, from the life they had known; left by a cat they trusted to become whatever the hell this tom wanted them to be. Chimera knew the truth, and fought it as savagely as her own mother had fought her mate that one fateless day moons ago; ears flattened back against her skull and prepared to take any retaliatory action that this Bane decided to throw at her; blue eyes narrowed both daring and unafraid of it all.

Ladies and gentlemen; this kitten had balls.

[Bane]

Unfortunately for her, Bane could react quicker.

He met the she-kits paw with his own, neatly forcing it out of the air and down to the ground. He did it calmly and smoothly, as if it was second nature.

Without reacting to what had just happened, Bane looked around absently, before returning his attention to the kitten. He had no intention of hurting her, though he could see through her tensed muscles that she was ready to defend herself if need be. In a sense, that sparked the BoneClan leader's interest, wondering how a kitten so young could have learnt something like that. Cats don't start getting defensive until they're at least fully grown.

Although he knew the she-kit wouldn't be particularly co-operative, there was no harm in trying. In a soothing, quiet voice Bane spoke to the she-kit once more.

"That was mighty impressive, that move you tried. Who taught you that?"

He asked it as if the answer was of no relevence, but simply for his own interests at trying to get to know the kit better. He would have liked for the other two to have their say too, but it seemed this one had it all covered. She reminded him of someone... yep, just like her mother.[/size]

[Chimera]

It was a pity, really. Chimera had been half hoping that her strike would be lucky enough to properly connect; however, it wasn’t to be the case. Bane caught her paw and pinned it beneath on of his, but there was no proactive counter strike – which she had been expecting and planning for. Her quiet sister and fool brother had yet to voice anything, so this was her game, her ballpark, to play within…and Bane seemed to forget that she had another paw in which she could slash with.

But for a moment, the fiery young she-kit waited. Waited, and watched, ears flicking just once in an indication she had heard the black lord’s words – but even they, manipulatively calm, were not to be trusted. “Why do you care, hm? Ain’t yer business!” She hissed back, ears finally pinning against her sky completely. Considering these three youngsters’ training, between Mother, Shinentai, and the others…perhaps it should be too surprising that they were to become weapons for the being they heard Mother call Master, before.