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Post by hannah on Nov 27, 2011 20:00:04 GMT -5
ivyclaw ;[/font] She could hear murmurs behind her, and her ear flicked in recognition. Her fur bristled and her claws silently unsheathed into the earthen soil, dampened by rain. She parted her jaws to taste the air, but the rain heavily diluted the scent.
The cat spoke, and she whipped around readily, her fur on end as she prepared to defend her fallen leader's corpse.
She sighed as she realized that WindClan's leader stood before her. Allowing her fur to lie flat, she dipped her head in greeting, listening attentively as he spoke. For a moment, she seemed ready to snarl a response. I don't need any help, thanks, she thought hotly, though she knew it was untrue. In the torrential rain, her Clanmates would not search for her. It would be near impossible to track a scent, and even then, she knew that they would not risk braving the storm. She wouldn't have allowed any cat to do so.
She sighed in resignation, nodding. "Thank you, Swiftstar." Her piercing eyes locked onto the WindClan leader, her gaze steady.
She almost asked if the cats would help her take Smokestar back to camp instead, but she thought better of it. This was for his Clan to do, and his alone. She would not dishonor him by allowing another Clan to carry him to safety. Ivyclaw followed his gaze to the WindClan treeline and noticed the three cats huddled together.
For a moment, her hackles rose. Swiftstar had three warriors with him? Why so many? Why any at all? Temporary insanity drove her to pin Swiftstar as her leader's murderer, but she pushed the thought away immediately. Other than Smokestar's early moons of needless battle, WindClan had no quarrel with her Clan. She calmed herself and shook the rain off her pelt.
"ThunderClan will not forgive your act of kindness tonight."
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nøx
newbie.
on the internet, nobody knows you're a cat ...
Posts: 25
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Post by nøx on Nov 27, 2011 21:02:21 GMT -5
.. Swiftstar;
Ivyclaw looked haunted. In a way Swiftstar understood some of what she must be feeling. Greystar hadn't been murdered but Swiftstar recalled the cold, empty loneliness of his leader lying dead at his paws. In spite of it all, surely some small part of her must remember that a journey to the Moonstone lay ahead of her and then ... well, and then. Everything would change for her. The memory was still fresh for Swiftstar. Of course, it was different for every deputy who took on leadership but, in many ways, they were all joined together by a secret.
He flicked his ears, returning to the present. Ivyclaw had spoken.
" ... your act of kindness tonight." she finished.
' Good, ' thought Swiftstar, relieved.
He knew Ivyclaw was proud, but not arrogant. It wouldn't do her well as a leader to be so. He had been nervous to approach her but there was no awkwardness between he and the ThunderClan deputy ... leader. Just a shared sadness.
Swiftstar looked up the slope behind him.
"Vulturewing, Cloudtuft ... I want you to return to camp. Don't yowl to the whole clan what's happened here. I will speak to Ferretfang when I return. This filthy killer is still running free. Be careful. Blueclaw, come down."
The two named warriors, she-cat and tom; mates and loyal to their leader turned without a sound and streaked into the trees that eventually opened onto WindClan's territory while Blueclaw, young and eager to please, joined the two cats huddled around Smokestar's prone form.
Swiftstar turned back to Ivyclaw.
"With your permission, I will go with Blueclaw to your camp and inform your clan about what has happened here ... that you need help carrying Smokestar back home," Swiftstar meowed somberly.
Before Ivyclaw could respond Swiftstar stepped forward and briefly bowed his head low before Smokestar's body.
"You deserved better than this, Smokestar," he said under his breath.
The rain pounded his face as Swiftstar squinted up to where Silverpelt swirled behind the dark clouds. Was Smokestar looking back down at them? Would he be able to hunt in peace with StarClan while his murderer still stalked the territories?
Swiftstar knew he certainly wouldn't feel at ease. How could he? How could anyone?
Me: Swiftstar & Blueclaw [NPC]
You: Ivyclaw
Word Count: 367
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Post by hannah on Nov 27, 2011 21:10:33 GMT -5
ivyclaw ;[/font] Ivyclaw watched as he instructed his warriors. She admired his confidence and the respect he held. One day, and one day soon, that would be her. She inhaled deeply, the reality of the event flooding over her system.
She was going to be leader. She would be Ivystar. She would be the one who made decisions on behalf of her Clan. She would be the one leading them to battle and, just as respectably, leading them away. She shivered. Was she ready for this?
She didn't have time to ask herself that now. It was already too late for doubts. She had to be strong for ThunderClan. So strong she would be.
For a moment, she wanted to insist that Swiftstar stayed behind and let his warrior travel alone, but she knew that would not lead to a pleasant outcome. With a single warrior trotting into ThunderClan's camp late into the night, her Clan would think they were under attack. With Swiftstar, she hoped her Clanmates would see sense. No leader would charge into a camp seeking a battle with only one warrior at his side.
"You have my permission," she nodded. She thought for a moment, wondering who would be the best cats to help her carry her leader home. "Two warriors should suffice... Lionsong should be one of them..." she seemed to be muttering to herself now, her gaze fixed at the ground beneath her paws.
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