_::you just [can’t] break the broken.

[Cloudedlegend]

The lull of the approaching evening was nothing to stop Cloudedlegend from making his initial move, like that first pawn in a game of chess, moving silently along the edge of the stream. He had been in this little valley, a place so different then what he knew, for a little while now – and he had taken it upon himself to check out all the clans. This one, which he had heard to be called Mistclan [aptly named though it was] stood out to the young warrior – from both the show of force in it’s actively patrolled borders but also from rumor he had heard through other rogues that lived in the area. A noble clan, was it?

Something…had struck the nomadic tom, had made him remain close. He was sure that the clan’s leader or even its warriors had grown knowing of his scent as he kept close, looking and trying to decide if he dare try again. What if he didn’t fit, like those other times before? He didn’t know if he had it in his heart to make friends and leave them behind again, forever, this time around…but he needed a home. He needed a clan, something to place forth his entire self into.

He needed this, didn’t he?

Cloudedlegend had decided earlier on that today was the day he tried again, instead of being the vagrant ghost that haunted the borders he had stepped across the clan’s boundaries, choosing to remain somewhere close to the edge however. His chosen position was a large stone that cut its shape in one such stream, just inside the border, just a single quiet shape looking towards where he supposed the clan’s camp was.

Judgment day, again. Would it be worth it?

[Shadow Spirit]

Flowers color her fur...

Lithe and graceful, even for her impresive size, the MistClan leader made her way out of camp. She skirted the waterfall expertly, letting not a drop touch her fur. It was frigid out and to get wet now...all her clan needed was their leader to catch a cold. There were new cats coming all the time, and now Umberwings had birthed her kits...how ever would she feed everyone?

Her ponderings brought her to the edge of the stream, and she bent to lap a few mouthfuls of the rush. It rushed down her throat, shocking her aware with its icy brilliance. She paused to breathe in through her nose, warming the air before it reached her lungs. Just then, she noticed she was not alone. The stillness of leaf-bare deadened the scents of the world, and it had taken her a moment to register her company. It was a tom, sitting rigidly on one of the large stones that cut across the water. Watching him with interest, she called out.

"Wandering tom, what brings you to my Clan's territory?"

...justice rules her mind.

[Cloudedlegend]

ooc ;; Well, I was waiting for Rippleluff to post, but here we are. x3

Another.

Cloudedlegend had not been left waiting for long at all. As he had noticed before, the borders here were heavily patrolled – with ever constantly rotating shifts so that no one group or cat became complacent with the job. The leader and deputy were intelligent, experienced to say the least. But even the large, lean orange tom hadn’t expected it to be the clan leader herself today. He could say he recognized her scent from times before when he had remained on the other side, simply looking in and wondering if they would have a place for a cat like him.

She spoke, after watching him as he did her for a few moments, and Cloudedlegend was happy to simply allow himself to sit there in silence for a few more extending minutes – not in disrespect, but in proper consideration over his words. Finally, his yellow-orange gaze lifted a bit, watching the she-cat solidly. “For what reason, clan leader, does any non-hostile nomad ventures into a proper clan? I am no raider, seeking to steal away valuable clan resources.” The tom stopped, considering his next words, his tail flicking a few times on the rock he had settled himself on. “If allowable, I would like to ask admittance into your clan.” Concise and even blunt, but when he had to speak the quiet tom didn’t wish for it to be any other way.

[Shadow Spirit]

The mottled leader stared placidly back at him, considering his appearance. He seemed well-built and not at all awkward. Using precise words, he properly and politely explained himself. Lillystar was impressed with his no nonsense approach, as many a cat would immediately begin to plead for sanctuary or preach their values in her presence. She valued every cat in her clan, but it was a nice change of pace.

"You have a pleasant speaking manner, tom," MistClan's leader said. "I think we could use you..." "Are you a swift hunter, a strong warrior, or do you seek the trials of a medicine cat apprentice's life?"

[Cloudedlegend]

A compliment was by no means what the tom expected for the leader to counter back with; however it was what he received first. He remained still aside from a slight flick of his ear tip, nothing to give away whatever it was that he might have been thinking of, and she continued on with a more typical manner of leader speech. Although… “The clan my existence began within had no medicine cats or healers to speak of; those who were wounded or sick either were strong and recovered…or died. I doubt very much that my paws seek such an enlightened path, clan leader.”

“I am a warrior, a fighter, and if permitted I would wish for my position to stay the same.” The orange tom dipped his head slightly then, a deliberate show of respect towards the she-cat before him, and even a sign of his allegiance should she will it, “My name is Cloudedlegend.”

[Shadow Spirit]

MistClan was never lacking in lovely she-cats, but recently Lillystar had noticed a distinct absence of older toms. They could always use more warriors and she knew that there were several she-warriors of age now that were seeking mates. The tri-colored leader was no match maker as far as cats go, but she liked the idea of a young, strong tom being available to her girls. She hoped he would prove a valuable asset to her ever-growing family.

"You may join my clan then Cloudedlegend, though I must warn you that our clan is named appropriately and you may find yourself quite wet on many occasions," she mewed. "Just to reach our camp you must walk on a slippery sliver of rock to avoid a soaking by our waterfall." "It is an excellent barrier, but none too pleasant in this cold."

[Cloudedlegend]

Of course, such information Cloudedlegend was well enough unaware of – and even if he had known, well, did such things as choosing a respectable mate take time? He knew little enough on the matter as it were; the tom more of an apt stoic warrior then any sort of lover. But whatever happened, happened, and the lean, muscular tom planned to uphold himself here to the best of his ability.

A home. It seemed something so small to most cats, clan or rogue, that had established homes. But to someone like him, a vagabond, without one it was everything, “A little wetness is of no harm to any cat.” He mused quietly, tail flicking from side to side, as muscles tended under orange fur and he launched over from his stone in the middle of the creek, to land near the clan leader. “I would be much obliged to see the camp, clan leader.” There was a respectful pause after that; she had yet to actually give him her name for him to properly address her.

[Shadow Spirit]

The tall she-cat gave Cloudedlegend a warm smile. She always appreciated those cats who were extra polite. Waving her tail to signal him to follow, she made her way to the waterfall entrance to camp.

"Oh and my name is Lillystar," she said, stepping carefully onto the slippery stones to skirt the crashing water.