Clinging On [CLOSED]

Everything was black. All Reedstar could feel was a chilly Leafbare wind pass over his soaking fur and hard-packed soil underneath him.

I'm dead. I'm really dead. She killed me.

Anger began to blossom in his chest, and then suddenly his eyes flashed open and he was sputtering up water. Reedstar slowly stirred to life and pushed himself to his paws. He felt as if he'd been hit by a monster, and his head was pounding... But he was alive. By StarClan, he was alive.

Dusk had settled by now and the world was growing dark, especially under the cover of the thin tall trees. It took him a moment for his eyes to adjust and for his senses to come back. I'm in... SkyClan territory. he realized, looking around. The river carried me here. StarClan carried me here. Reedstar prayed a silent prayer before starting off into the darkness, further into SkyClan territory. He was cold, hungry, and exhausted... but most of all, he was enraged.

"I'll kill her." he mumbled darkly to himself as he limped through the unfamiliar land, unsure of where he was heading. He couldn't head back to RiverClan... at least, not for now. I'll kill her and leave her body to rot where the world can see... and then everyone will know what it means to cross me...

Night was slowly starting to settle on the SkyWind territory as Falconfang led a group of two others to check on the borders of the former SkyClan territory. Tensions were still not settled since WindClan and RiverClan joined forces to nab the remaining territory from ShadowClan, so the WindClan deputy was prepared for anything. Well, almost anything.

There was someone limping, shambling even, on their territory, not even attempting to conceal their appearance. Raising his tail to stop his fellow cats, he leaned forward and narrowed his eyes. That figure certainly seemed familiar, and the smell of fish, though hidden under the scent of what seemed to be a bath in a river or something… Reedstar! Now what in the world was the RiverClan leader doing here? Did it have something to do with his words towards Lavenderheart? Striding towards the RiverClan cat, Falconfang stood in front of him and slowly dipped his head. "Greetings, Reedstar," he mewed with a hint of wariness. "What brings you to our territory? Surely you can't desire rabbit this late." He could see how soaked the leader was. Had he jumped in the river before coming here?

Reedstar blinked in surprise, only his sheer exhaustion keeping him from jumping out of his fur in alarm. I didn't even scent him... I really need rest. He tried to summon up something clever to say, but he couldn't come up with anything. "I don't want your rabbits, Falconfang." he said, his fatigue and irritation clear in his voice. The warrior didn't like the way he had claimed the territory as his own either. I can't deal with you now. Falconfang would surely ask some awkward questions. If he didn't feel like falling asleep on his paws, perhaps he could have conjured up some believable excuse, but nothing came to mind. Put this fleabag on the defensive, then. Maybe he'll quit then. Or claw me to shreds. Reedstar did not have any doubts about who would win in a fight between him in the state that he was in and three healthy WindClan warriors. "I would wonder the same about you. It's a fair distance from here to WindClan territory." he mewed with a flick of his tail tip. "Or has Raccoonstar taken to having her warriors stay in SkyClan camp?"

Falconfang flicked his tail in irritation, but he held his ground. He had the advantage here and Reedstar surely knew it, so if the leader wanted any help, he would be wise to hold his fishy tongue. "We're merely here to patrol our territory, Reedstar. Surely you don't leave your borders unmarked, am I right? We wouldn't want any trespassers here." He gave a noted, pointed glare at Reedstar. "You two, keep marking the borders," he mentioned to his fellow warriors, glancing at them before turning his eye back to Reedstar. "I'll walk Reedstar back to RiverClan." He took a step forward, towards the leader.

OoC: Perfect excuse for the fact that no one else posted here.

Reedstar stiffened up and took a step back. Oh, he wanted nothing more than to return home and claw Mapleclaw to ribbons, but... no, not yet. He was weak and tired, and who knew what lies that snake had spread about him? It wasn't even that hard to imagine her speaking to the whole Clan and turning them against him. And all that besides, a WindClan cat did not need to know about his... troubles. Word would spread like wildfire if a RiverClan patrol stopped them.

"Are you my mother, Falconfang?" Reedstar spat back. "I'm not a kit to be escorted everywhere I go. If you're afraid of me stealing the StarClan-forsaken birds that SkyClan liked so much, then you have nothing to fear. I don't have a taste for them. I'll be out of this territory soon enough. I'm heading to the Moonstone."

Falconfang frowned; for someone who was trespassing, he sure was touchy. He couldn't stop a leader from going to the Moonstone, however, so he just shrugged and nodded. "Very well, but in that case I will still lead you to the edge of our territory. We wouldn't want you getting into any more trouble on WindClan territory." There was an edge to his voice, a meaning that all of this, even the former SkyClan territory, belonged to WindClan, no matter if Reedstar desired the return of the long-gone clan.

Reedstar looked as if he was about to protest when he sighed resignedly and began to walk past Falconfang. "Then you'd better keep pace and enjoy my conversation. It will be a long walk."

Saying 'keep up' to a WindClan cat might have been considered a joke, especially from a recently deceased lethargic RiverClan cat. Reedstar tried his best to keep his heavy breathing as discrete as he could, though he wasn't having much luck. Mingy WindClan bastard. he almost growled aloud, but held his tongue. If I was well-rested I'd have just dunked you and your miserable warriors' faces in a stream somewhere and have been done with you.

Not responding, Falconfang easily caught up and walked beside the leader, the two cats moving in silence towards the border as the deputy thought about why the RiverClan leader could possibly be here.

"Everything's alright in RiverClan, I take it?" Falconfang asked simply, finally breaking the silence with a seemingly simple question, though Reedstar's reaction might give him more of a clue as to what was exactly going on.

Reedstar narrowed his eyes at the sudden question and it took all his willpower not to growl. RiverClan camp flooded in the night, killing three of his most trusted warriors and an apprentice, blinding another, with one unaccounted for and presumed dead. Leafbare hit them just as they started repairs, with most of their prey washed away and most of their herbs either missing or rendered useless from the water damage. They missed the Gathering on the full moon, and then his deputy threw him into the Gorge. Now he was soaking wet and hungry in the middle of enemy territory with only a nosy deputy for company, and his Clan was now in the paws of a foxhearted traitor.

"Everything's fine." he affirmed. "The river continues to provide for us, even in the grips of Leafbare. New kits continue to be born safely despite the cold, and the apprentice den is overcrowded." Reedstar glanced up at the patches of night sky he could see through the web of bare branches, wondering if StarClan was laughing at him and his plights. "Morningfur passed on from her old age, however, and her apprentice has taken on her duties as full medicine cat. Three other warriors were also killed in an unfortunate accident. We missed the Gathering while we mourned. Nothing of note was said, was there?"

Falconfang nodded respectfully at the news of Morningfur's passing, though it was curious that RiverClan hadn't attended the Gathering. WindClan hadn't attended either. Did nobody attend? "My condolences on her passing. As for the Gathering, I'm afraid I can't say. The moon was obscured that night by storm clouds, and Raccoonstar figured it was a sign from StarClan. I suppose every clan took it as a sign and stayed away. Hopefully the next Gathering will be under clearer skies." With that said, the conversation petered away until they reached the Thunderpath, where Falconfang was to let Reedstar cross. The path was quiet tonight; no monsters were crossing as they approached.

"Go in good health," the deputy mewed to the RiverClan leader, standing a small distance from the Thunderpath until the leader had crossed. Once he was gone, Falconfang could head back to camp. There wasn't anything more to say. While he was still suspicious of Reedstar over the whole SkyClan deal, he hoped that the leader found what he needed at the Moonstone.

Reedstar nodded as Falconfang spoke but didn't reply, and the conversation quickly died off again. With only silence, he could think. His thoughts immediately drifted into all the ways he could kill Mapleclaw. RiverClan shall never feel the sting of dissent again. he brooded darkly, remembering Froststar dying on the side of the Thunderpath and her final words, and how StarClan had blessed him with nine lives. He had surely died when he fell down into the rumbling waters below, yet... here he was. Limping, wet, and far from home, but alive. It meant that StarClan accepted him, even after the terrible events of late.

And if RiverClan and Mapleclaw had turned their backs on him, then they had turned their backs on their warrior ancestors and their code. I shall bring them in line. Nobody will dare cross me again. First, though, he had to gain back his strength and get home, preferably before the Gathering. The other Clans could not hear of it.

It was a long walk, but before he knew it, the Thunderpath was before him. Reedstar's hackles raised at the sight of it. It stunk, a stink that he hadn't noticed when he'd seen it for the first time. The rain and blood of his leader must have saved him from that. It smelled acrid and unnatural, and staring at its hard black surface, he had hardly noticed Falconfang speaking to him.

"Yes, yes." he mewed, looking both ways cautiously and taking a tentative step onto the path. It would be dangerous walking on the ShadowClan side of the path, but it was either Nightstar or Dewstar. He liked his chances with ShadowClan more. It'll be faster on the ShadowClan side anyways. I'll just have to make sure not to linger. "You too, Falconfang. StarClan light your path."

With that, Reedstar darted across the road with blood roaring in his ears, bounding high over a ditch full of foul water before landing with a splash in ShadowClan territory. He wrinkled his nose. Damnable marsh... It was all mud and grass and small pools of water. No wonder ShadowClan's so greedy. This side of the Thunderpath is a dump.

He looked across the Thunderpath again, towards Falconfang's direction. Reedstar nodded and flicked his tail in farewell before setting off along the side of the road, mindful of the gathering darkness and the first stars of Silverpelt beginning to shine. ShadowClan would be stirring soon. It would be best to hurry.