Warriors RPG (V2)

[Hopeflower]

Shadowstar, not expecting to be spoken to, jumped and sat up, hurriedly swallowing her mouthful of squirrel. She swiped her tongue around her muzzle and turned to face the speaker. She recognized the voice, even if she didn't know the name. "I heard that Cedarstar was ill, and that Littlefern had sent for our medicine cat," she meowed, wrapping her tail over her paws to keep herself from shuffling them like an embarrassed apprentice.

[The Kingpin]

Wraith smiled knowingly, understanding the Leader's discomfort. "Cedarstar is the least of their concerns at the moment, if things are as bad as they seem" he purred grimly. "The stench of death and disease floats on the wind around the Shadowclan border. It is no mere chest illness harming their Leader. If the strength of the stench is any indication, I would chance a guess that several of their number are either dead or dying from it" he hissed, eyes narrowing as he considered the possibility several of his old friends could well be among those dying cats...

[Hopeflower]

Shadowstar's eyes widened in horror as she listened. "And I sent Mistpool there," she whispered. She stood and looked around, in time to see the exhausted medicine cat pad into camp with her head down and her tail tip brushing the ground. The blue-gray tabby glanced around, spotted Shadowstar, and started to make her way over. As she came closer, it became apparent that her paws were soaked.

[The Kingpin]

"Then I suppose you best hope the illness doesn't float on the wind...lest your generosity prove your undoing" He warned as he eyed the approaching Medicine Cat warily. "Now is not the time for the clans to weaken from disease. You are encircled by foes who would see the Clans obliterated. Be wise, be wary and be watchful of what surrounds you" he cautioned, his amber eyes narrowing as he watched Mistpool with a scrutinising gaze, searching for any and all signs of weakness that may hint disease...

[Hopeflower]

"Mudsplash is dead," Mistpool murmured, a tired rasp in her voice, sitting down with a long sigh by her Clan leader. "And Littlefern's apprentice...Shadepaw." She looked around to see who Shadowstar had been talking do, but even when she spotted the dark tom, she merely twitched an ear; no emotion sparked in her dulled eyes. "I've never seen anything like it....there was nothing Littlefern and I could do. We had to feed the sick deathberries." A shudder rippled down her spine. Shadowstar rested her tail on the young medicine cat's shoulders, despite knowing there was really nothing she could do or say that would reassure Mistpool.

[The Kingpin]

"It's only going to get worse from here, I'm afraid. I presume you took the time to inquire about the events leading up to one's falling to the illness, so that you can watch for it in your own clan-mates?" purred Wraith from his tree-top perch, tail curled around his paws tightly, only further obscuring his form...

[Hopeflower]

"Littlefern said they don't know where it comes from. It starts out with coughing, as if the cat were just coming down with whitecough," Mistpool meowed, glancing from the tom to Shadowstar. "But then they start bleeding. They cough up blood, it comes from their nose and ears, even their eyes. It spreads by licking the tainted blood from the sick, or from your own fur if it gets on you. Twistedjaw had me wash my paws in a corner of the marsh hardly anyone visits...and they're going to ban cats from going there. But there's no accounting for prey."

[The Kingpin]

"Shadowclan frequently scavenges from the Carrionplace when times are hard. While an ample source of food, is an equally ample source of illness. It may well be the source of this pestilence" purred Wraith lowly...

[Hopeflower]

"it could be," Shadowstar meowed slowly, "but this doesn't sound the same as the disease that the rats carry..." Mistpool gave a helpless shrug.

[The Kingpin]

"Trouble often comes from unexpected places. The wise should not be so quick to dismiss a potential threat" growled the raven-pelted tom...

[Hopeflower]

Shadowstar dipped her head, acknowledging the point. "True. I suppose for now all that can be done is to warn the Clan and keep an eye on the situation - not to mention the other Clans." The black and silver tabby rose to her paws and gave a quick stretch, nodding to the dark tom and adding in a slightly lighter tone, "By the way, I don't believe I got your name."

[The Kingpin]

"You needn't worry about the other Clans. Unnamed foes are ones less intimidating, if only for the fact a lack of a name implies weakness in the eyes of most. Were you to approach, their first reaction would be that you intend war, or, at least, to breach their borders. I however...have a more flexible range of options" purred Wraith with a smirk. "As for my name, I tend to prefer not to dwell on the past. My name is Wraith...though if curiosity does indeed distract you as to my lineage...know that I was once a Warrior of Shadowclan, and was exiled due to....differences of opinion with my brethren" he growled lowly as he stood...

[Turbo Tyrannophonic]

Four seasons later...

Leaf-bare and the hardships it brought had come and gone by now. The Clans survived as well as they could, but, as usual, mother nature remained cruel and uncaring. Lives had been lost - some young, some old - while others had only just emerged. The territory of the Clans seemed to exemplify this theme of rebirth and renewal. Although the air was still tinged with a sharp chill, the snow had long since melted away; already the flowers and trees were returning to their luscious glory.

Firestreak took in a mouthful of air, his jaw open to better taste the bite of the morning chill. Although he definitely had his fill of cold and dreary days, he knew by sunhigh that the cold would melt away much like the snow. Appreciating it now made the coming warmth all the sweeter.

The young tom was no longer left, alone and cold, to stalk through abandoned Twoleg nests in search of mice. Several moons after the battle for WindClan, he had returned to ThunderClan with his head held high. He still felt a twinge of guilt every now and again for leaving his clanmates in the first place, but now, at last, he understood his purpose. His kin, looking down from Silverpelt, would want him to see that ThunderClan live on. Living in cold, quiet exile would not give honor to their sacrifice. It was all very clear to him.

But his return hadn't been the glorious one he had imagined. Some of his clanmates were happy to see him, while others eyed him with mistrust and, sometimes, spite. He didn't blame them; he had abandoned them, and now they doubted his loyalty.

Firestreak's ear twitched as the Clan began to stir. The young warrior had a knack for waking up early, even if he only spent the time grooming. His life as a loner had been a difficult one to dismiss completely, and waking up before sunrise seemed to be a hard habit to break.

[Hopeflower]

Shadowstar curled her tail over her back as the silver and black she-cat emerged from her den, blinking in the morning light. She found herself, as she often did these days, wondering at how lucky her Clan had been that the disease ShadowClan had suffered four seasons before hadn't spread beyond their Clan. Cedarstar, Twistedjaw, and Littlefern, though shaken, had seemed nearly elated as they passed on the news that the disease seemed to be gone. Everyone had kept a careful eye out for the symptoms for moons afterwards, though, and every piece of fresh-kill was still sniffed suspiciously before it was laid on the pile.

The young ThunderClan leader yawned widely, shaking her coat in an effort to wake up more quickly and get the past out of her head. Today's dangers were the ones to worry about. A fox had been scented near the camp the previous evening, and as always, the borders needed remarking. Though never completely safe, the Clans had settled back into comparative normality - for the time being anyway.

[Turbo Tyrannophonic]

Spotting the ThunderClan leader out of the corner of his eye, Firestreak gave Shadowstar a respectful nod in greeting. The she-cat had been kind enough to give him another shot at Clan life, and for that he was grateful. Although other cats may have a problem with his return, Shadowstar had never shown him any ill-will, and he was glad to call her a friend.

He tried not to dwell on it, turning his attention elsewhere.

The orange striped tom made his way to the tunnel leading out of the camp, hoping to join the dawn patrol. Although the Clans had largely maintained a fragile peace during the harshness of leaf-bare, there were whispers circulating the forest. WindClan, which had been so grateful to ThunderClan for their help, had returned to their guarded ways. Though showing lenience toward the Clan when appropriate, no cat was surprised when ThunderClan was no longer welcome within their territory without good reason.

And then there was RiverClan and ShadowClan...

[The Kingpin]

Wraith, or Shadowsoul, meanwhile, loosened up, flexing his claws as he yawned, shaking off the water from his muzzle as he made his way towards the Patrol's meeting spot. While becoming part of a clan had given him a firmer routine than he had in the past, it did not change his tendency for early walks, nor his inquisitive nature. Being part of the dawn patrol was one of the better ways to sate those urges, not to mention keep his mind occupied. Afterwards, he'd head out to find some food for the freshkill pile. And onwards his routine would continue, until eventually the time came for him to rest, until the next morning when it would begin anew...


He hadn't always been so eager for the restriction, control and discipline of Clan Life. Only three seasons ago, he had hated the idea of becoming associated with anyone but himself. But that all changed one night during the previous Green-leaf. It was an incident that had cost him his only remaining relative. The wolf had come from nowhere, attacking with not so much as a hint of warning, the grey lupine diving for him and his brother as they rested after a late night meal. They had been arguing at the time over Wraith's reckless adventuring, leaving them deaf to the warnings of the surrounding forest. Before either could react, the wolf was on his brother, tearing at him violently. Duskpelt had fought valiantly, as had Wraith, but when a stray blow knocked the black tom out, his brother stood no chance. By the time he had awoken, his brother was gone, nothing but blood remaining to tell the tale of a brave young tom, cut down in the prime of his life...

[Turbo Tyrannophonic]

"Morning," Firestreak mewed with a nod as Shadowsoul approached, his tail twitching.

The young tom's impression of the ex-loner had definitely changed since his own time outside the Clan. Jaded opinions of guarded loners be damned; the two were kindred spirits in a lot of ways. Firestreak reckoned the dark cat had it even worse than he did. He wasn't just an ex-loner - he was ex-ShadowClan as well. If Firestreak got flak for his predicament, he couldn't imagine Shadowsoul had experienced any better. Although the two did not always see eye-to-eye, he was definitely interesting - and welcome - company.

Shortear was supposed to join them on the dawn patrol, the tom realized with a twinge of irritation. It wasn't fair to blame the Clan for not sharing his early habits, but it did little to sate his impatience.

[The Kingpin]

"Morning" responded Shadowsoul casually, sitting once they had reached the meeting point, his long tail coiling around his paws, twitching slightly in irritation over the slowness of their companion. "Ahh...time...That one thing which you never have enough of...and yet so few realise how valuable it is" said the black tom lowly...

[Turbo Tyrannophonic]

Firestreak purred, amused. "Save some words of wisdom for the apprentices," he replied, flicking the dark cat's shoulder with his tail. Shortear finally joined them, the rough she-cat looking none too happy about being up at such an hour. "Ready to go?" Firestreak asked good-naturedly. Shortear mumbled something under her breath and took the lead, disappearing into the gorse tunnel. The orange tom gave Shadowsoul a shrug and followed after her.

[The Kingpin]

Shadowsoul shook his head, half amused, half disappointed at the female's reaction. "She'll learn...in this place, that's all one CAN do...well, that or DIE, I suppose" he mused as he followed through the tunnel, his eyes and ears immediately checking for potential oddities in their surroundings, knowing the place by heart by this point...