Warriors RPG (V2)

[Hopeflower]

"Nice catch," the medicine cat meowed, appreciating the skill it took to catch a fish - especially with the river flooded even slightly. She was nosing around a burrow beneath the roots of a tree, picking up the faint scent of fox and instinctively pricking her ears. From the smell of it, the fox hadn't been here for a day, maybe two. But all the same, it was good to be cautious.

[C S]

Tiberium lowered the fish to the ground and pinned its head with a paw. Its tail powered from side to side, smacking wet pebbles about before the white tom ended the struggle with a powerful snap of his jaws. With his kill still in his mouth, he looked up to Mistpool, mumbling his thanks through the limp fish. He noticed that she seemed uneasy about something, but assumed it wasn't a pressing problem for she still seemed fairly relaxed around the tree roots. While he would have liked to start eating his catch, he couldn't help but think of the shecat. He had eaten earlier, but he didn't know if she did. For all he knew, she was busy in her den all morning and didn't even think of having a meal. He started walking towards the medicine cat, wondering if she would like the fish.

[Hopeflower]

Mistpool cocked her head curiously towards Tiberium, even as her paw busily pushed aside a thick clump of grass to reveal small shoots of what looked like catmint. With a small sound of satisfaction she looked up and mewed with a slight teasing lilt to her voice, "Is that all for me?" Her blue eyes glittered with amusement, betraying the joking nature of the question.

[C S]

The white tom started to reply and found that his voice was barely comprehensible through his scaly kill. He laid the fish down within reach of Mistpool and mewed "If you are hungry enough, it is". He smirked and added, "Do you know where to start, thunder-cat?"

[TyrannoTitan]

"Is this it?" Swiftstrike questioned, Arion nodding halfheartedly. It was a small cave blocked off by a (at least to them) large boulder. Crude as it may be, the rogues knew what they were doing: the boulder could only be moved from side to side, preventing anything caught inside from being able to free itself. Nudging the rogue leader sharply in the direction of the boulder, the two cats managed to heave the rock aside, a rush of air spilling out as they did, taking their breath away. A few hushed murmurs were heard from within, and Swiftstrike's heart leapt at the thought they were all alive and well. "Inside. Now." the deputy growled, not about to leave Arion alone for any length of time. Begrudgingly the tom complied, the two filing into the cave as they followed the sounds a short distance inward. Sure enough, they could see a small group of cats huddled in the back of the cave, who looked up fearfully upon seeing them. "Swiftstrike?" a low, hoarse voice called out from the back of them, and although it sounded different in a way, the deputy immediately recognized it as Cyclostar. "Cyclostar!" Swiftstrike meowed as he ran toward Windclan's beloved leader. The deputy was too caught up in his happiness to notice at first that Cyclostar seemed older then he last saw him. Although he knew his leader had a lot of moons behind him, he always carried himself like a cat that just became a warrior: confident and strong, no matter the age. Now it seemed like his true age was finally getting the best of him. "Swiftstrike...its good to see you..." the Windclan leader croaked, sounding more sickly then he appeared. Considering there was no water in sight, Swiftstrike was not surprised, but definitely concerned, by this fact. "And...Tailwind?" Cyclostar continued, spying his son sitting a short distance away. He smiled. "I knew you would see sense...you...you aren't like them." Windclan's leader breathed, and for once, Arion frowned deeply. Despite all that had happened, his father was able to believe that Arion came back on his own accord.

"Cyclostar, we need to get you and the others out of here. We need to get to the river, you need water." Swiftstrike growled, his face deadly serious. He hadn't the time to explain how they came to this situation, these cats needed immediate care. It was then that he realized what others were being kept here. All of the cats around him seemed to be of a similar age to Cyclostar, and in some cases, were laying protectively around small kits that should not be without their mother, let alone outside the camp. It was if Tailwind rounded up all those he deemed a liability and dumped them here. "Disgusting little maggot..." the Windclan deputy growled beneath his breath, glaring hatefully at Arion, who continued to frown. Thankfully, Cyclostar did not hear him, and instead rose shakily to his paws. "You're right...we need to get these kits back to the camp, quickly..." the Windclan leader meowed, trying to force away any signs of weakness...

[Hopeflower]

The medicine cat shook her head, dipping her head to sniff the large fish. It smelled strange, compared to the forest prey, and when she nudged it with her nose, it felt cold to the touch. "I've never eaten fish before," she mewed. "Where would you start?"

[C S]

Tiberium pinned the fish to the ground with one paw while he skinned it with with the other, the tips of his claws hooking onto its scales and scraping them off, exposing the flesh that resided underneath the hard cover. When he had taken off enough of the scales, he stepped back and mewed "Go on, take a bite"

[Hopeflower]

Mistpool leaned down, curiosity driving her on. She took a small, tentative bite, not wanting to waste too much of the fish, in case it turned out to be not to her liking and Tiberium was hungry. She let the unfamiliar flavor reach her tongue before she dared start chewing; the flesh was colder and slimier than she was used to, and it definitely wasn't the same as forest prey, but....her ears pricked in surprise when she found herself enjoying the taste. She wouldn't want to eat fish day in and day out, like RiverClan did, but she could certainly see why they had a taste for it. Swallowing, she murmured, hearing the surprise in her voice, "It's good."

[C S]

Tiberium grinned and replied with a mew "Like I said, its your if you want". He looked past Mistpool at the roots she was inspecting before, seeing the green stalks and leaves of an early plant poking up from them. The herbs were reappearing and it would seem Thunderclan had a head start ahead of the other clans when it came time to gather them.

[Hopeflower]

With a quick glance at the bank opposite theirs and a mew of thanks, Mistpool took another, bigger bite. It was probably best to eat what she could quickly and leave the rest to Tiberium; standing in the open, eating a fish hooked from the river, was probably the easiest way to get a RiverClan patrol fired up. She wanted either the fish to be gone or to have left the scene before said patrol turned up.

[C S]

After a few moments,the white tom's ear twitched in the medicine cat's direction at the rapid snapping of her jaws. He turned his head to look at her and raised a brow. He remarked "I knew you'd like it, but take your time eating. I don't want you choking on a bone or something"

[TyrannoTitan]

In time, a cat burst into the Windclan camp, the nature of the news he brought evident on his features. "They're back! Cyclostar is alive!" the tom yowled, and immediately the mood in the camp shifted. The Windclan members that were there voiced their happiness, while the rogues remained scornfully silent. Instead of tension and unease, the air that surrounded the camp was filled with relief and anticipation. Swiftstrike was the first to enter the camp, followed closely by Cyclostar and the elders, all of whom took one part or another in carrying, or helping those who carried, the kits back into the camp. They had yet to get anything to eat or drink, and their weakness was noticeable, but they knew that the younger generation were in a much dire situation. Many of the Windclan cats hurried over to help and question the new arrivals, the kits taken to reunite with their respective parents, leaving the Thunderclan cats to guard the rogues while they reunited with their clanmates. Although he was the first to enter, Swiftstrike remained at the back of the group, between the entrance and the Windclan leader's son, who had a similar attitude as the other rogues...

[The Kingpin]

In a large bush opposite the side of the camp the group had arrived from, the black-pelted tom watched silently, amber eyes narrowed. Whelps never saw it coming thought the Tom, both amused and disgusted. It boded badly for times ahead to see a group of rogues take over an entire camp. This may have been one of the first, and it may have failed.....but the fact it had initially succeeded, the fact it succeeded at all, meant that it would happen again. And odds are....it wouldn't be long before that happened. Just a question of how long it took for word to spread amongst the other rogues...

[Hopeflower]

Swallowing, Mistpool replied, "I just don't want to end up on the wrong side of a RiverClan patrol." She cast another glance at the opposite bank.

Shadowstar's serious expression lightened considerably at the news. Then she took in the condition of WindClan's leader, and shock flared in her green eyes. She started to get to her paws, hesitated, looked at the rogues, and sat back again. With the returning cats so weak, it was a bad idea to leave these vermin unguarded. Much as she wanted to welcome Cyclostar and the others back personally, and to help them get the food and water they desperately needed, right now the more pressing issue was to get the rogues - and quite possibly Tailwind as well - out of WindClan's camp.

[TyrannoTitan]

Firestreak sat down next to the Thunderclan leader, though his eyes remained on the reunion of Windclan cats. "I like to think this ended pretty well." he meowed, smiling faintly.

"Now...we get down to business." Cyclostar meowed lowly, as the cats that surrounded him parted. "You miserable creatures should die for your crimes." the Windclan leader began, startling a few of his clanmates. "But...to stoop to your level would be to dishonor the clan as a whole. No. Neither party has suffered any casualties, and I will not be the one to change that. You all are free to go. But so help me, if you return to this clan again, I will not hesitate to strike you down." Cyclostar growled, the weakness in his voice gone as he issued his threat to the rogues. Many remained expressionless and silent, while others showed slight traces of fear. "Tailwind..." Cyclostar continued, the cats parting further to reveal Swiftstrike and the Windclan leader's son. "Despite all that you have done...you are free to rejoin your kin, my son." Cyclostar meowed, giving the other cat a weak smile. Many Windclan cats were openly outraged at such a notion, but none questioned their leader's decision. "But should you refuse, you suffer the same fate as the others. You come near my clan again, and I won't be so forgiving." he warned, giving his son a stern look. Tailwind seemed speechless, unsure of what to do or say. Without warning, he bolted from the camp, Swiftstrike lunging after him, only to be called back by Cyclostar. "Leave him. We'll know his decision soon enough." the Windclan leader meowed loudly, his expression unchanging as he watched his son flee...

[C S]

"We could always go back into the forest and you can finish up there" Tiberium mewed, flicking a tail towards the tree line

[Hopeflower]

Shadowstar nodded, watching as Tailwind raced from the camp. "Yes, I think so too. That was well fought, all of you," she meowed, looking at her warriors; her gaze settled finally on Firestreak. A small but warm smile graced her features. Chuckling quietly, she added, "And as cliche as it sounds, we couldn't have done it without you, Firestreak." She got to her paws and gave a long stretch, revealing she was not without wounds. There was a long, deep scratch along one shoulder that was still sluggishly oozing blood. She stood watching Cyclostar and his Clan, waiting to see if their help was still needed or if it was time they took their leave.

Mistpool nodded and attempted to grasp the fish in her jaws, finding it difficult to hold because of the slippery texture. A small growl of frustration built in the back of her throat, her eyes narrowing in determination to get it right. He made it look easy!

[TyrannoTitan]

A few of the more healthy Windclan cats began to round up the rogues, forcing them out of the camp and, eventually, out of the territory. The clan, now that its members had recovered their fighting spirit, were mostly even in terms of numbers with the rogues, and Thunderclan's presence made sure there were no last-ditched efforts. Cyclostar, his business with the rogues finished, approached Shadowstar, a weak smile on his elderly features. "I cannot thank you enough for what you've done for my clan, Shadowstar. We are forever in your debt." the Windclan leader meowed, bowing his head in respect to the other clan leader.

Firestreak looked on, his previously happy expression now twisted into a frown. Despite the good tidings, he was painfully reminded that he must return to his life of solitude. What he wouldn't give, to rejoin his clan and be at Shadowstar's side for the rest of his- ...Firestreak stopped himself, shaking his head. He knew that couldn't happen -for more then one reason- and all he was doing was torturing himself. The orange and white loner let out a quiet sigh, trying, and failing, to convince himself to be happy...

[Hopeflower]

Shadowstar dipped her head in return, meowing, "It was no trouble; rogues threaten us all. Best to show them that if they mess with one Clan, they're taking on more than they can handle right from the start." She paused, then added more quetly, "I'm only sorry that Tailwind was involved with this...StarClan knows how much he means to you." She let the tip of her tail rest briefly on the WindClan leader's shoulder, unable to imagine the pain of being betrayed by your own kin.

[TyrannoTitan]

Cyclostar's expression darkened for a moment, although he appreciated the gesture. "Yes...despite all he's done, I have faith he will see the light once again...some day." he responded, though it sounded as if he was ashamed of the faith he had in his wayward son. "You are all free to go whenever you wish. Just remember that you and your clan are always welcome here." the Windclan leader meowed with a faint smile.