Not just the warriors, the queens and kits too. [RC Sunningrocks War Meeting]

Silverfang turned her head to the other apprentice, angry. With the hair on her back rising up, she hissed at Duckpaw with narrowed eyes. "Oh, so do you believe that those fox-hearted cats will give us back the Sunningrocks in newleaf as Sweetheart suggested? You're not a naive kit anymore, Duckpaw! They will keep the Sunningrocks all the time they want if we give them to them without obstacles! The only peaceful alternative that you call is giving away the territory that our ancestors and some of our clanmates win with blood and battles! We must honour the dead of all the ones that fall in that war fighting for what is ours! If we don't' then all their deaths would be in vain! We need prey as much as Thunderclan and just like my son said: their fire is not our problem. We helped them that time offering shelter in the Sunninrocks for moons and now... they want to steal that from us!" She spatted unsheathing her claws with fury. She was ready for war and for the blood. It was necessary for the clan.

Then, her eyes watched at the young warrior again. She jumped in front of her one more time with her tail up. "Of course there's a chance of losing, mouse-brain. We're not stupid. But leaving the Sunningrocks without a fight is a complete loss for the clan. If we go to war, then at least we have the possibility to win and show Thunderclan what is ours and don't mess up with Riverclan! The best for the clan?! Ha! Don't me laugh with those sweet and naive words of yours, Sweetheart!"

"Are you really so desperate for war that you're not even giving my ideas a chance? How will we heal our wounds when the battle's over? How will we tend to greencough? How will we show our faces again, knowing we fought and failed instead of generously came to a reasonable agreement that will benefit all Clans in the end? In newleaf if they don't give back the territory, then we can go to war with them because then at least the herbs will grow back to heal the ailments. Sure, the fire isn't our problem, but what if ThunderClan falls because we didn't give them Sunningrocks just for leaf-bare? SkyClan -- or StarClan forbid ShadowClan -- could defeat them so easily and take over their land, and then they'll find a way to take ours as well." She knew she was probably being overly dramatic, but she was desperate to have her voice heard. "There needs to be five Clans in the forest, not four!"

(OOC: Haha, irony for the win! XD)

"You're right, I'm not a kit anymore. I'm smart enough to understand reason and separate it from stupidity. What is wrong with you, Silverfang? Cats have been returning from mere hunting patrols with injuries. If it's getting difficult to treat scratches and bruises, then how do you think we'll treat an entire Clan with scars far worse than that? Do you expect the herbs to just fall out of our ears? What Sweetheart keeps saying makes sense! I highly doubt that ThunderClan will give Sunningrocks back, so don't worry. If you really want battle, it'll still happen! It'll just happen later, when we're better-fed, there's more herbs, and even more warriors and apprentices in RiverClan. Apparently the weakest season has weakened your mind, Silverfang. You're supposed to be a warrior, open up your eyes and at least consider reason!"
There was a fire burning in Duckpaw's eyes. While she always hid them from other cats, her beliefs were what made her who she was. Her mind anxiously warned her to back down and shut up, but she shook it back. She wasn't going to sit there and let Sweetheart be attacked like this. It wasn't right.

Spotpaw looked at Sweetheart and Duckpaw with a look of disbelief. "Excuse me, but Riverclan is not GOING to lose. We are strong now, and I'm sure those flea-brained Thunderclanners are weak! We're going to keep Sunningrocks. This fight could be the difference between life and death! If we lose, many cats will be dead already, and the rest of us will starve. But no, we will win, and we will CRUSH those dung-faces!"

War. Why was her clan always oh so ready to jump headfirst into war? As a young apprentice, war with WindClan had just narrowly been avoided, but this one hadn't been. Was RiverClan doomed to have all their leaders this battle ready? But in her heart, Nutfur knew she could never find it inside herself to contradict Ivystar. Going against the leader was going against the warrior code. So as much as she didn't want to go to war with ThunderClan over a patch of rocks they had no need for, she would stand with her clan in her fight. She winced at Sweetheart and Duckpaw's argument. Though she agreed with them, they were having the opposite effect than what they intended. Padding over to the two she-cat's she smiled apologetically.
"As much as I agree with you, there's nothing we can do about this. It's in the warrior code to listen to our leader. The best thing we can do is try not to get anyone to hurt." Her voice was low, audible only to the cats she was talking to.

Snowpaw accepted the comfort from her mother without a second thought, snuggling deep into her fur as Ivystar began to speak again. Far from setting her at ease, the words that came from the RiverClan leader made her stomach turn inside-out. War? Oh, StarClan... As the rest of the Clan devolved into yowls and snarls, some agreeing, some arguing, the apprentice just sat there, frozen, trying to hide in Splashwillow's fur. Fighting against ThunderClan? Ivystar's stories sounded horrifying, but she couldn't help but wonder about the other Clan's perspective. Desperate for food, maybe, trying to survive, hanging on by a mouse-tail. Maybe the ThunderClan leader was trying to find a peaceful solution... Maybe, maybe, maybe. But loyalty to RiverClan was what mattered, right? She couldn't be a coward, hiding in camp while everyone else went out to protect their territory. No matter whether or not ThunderClan would survive leaf-bare, Snowpaw had to fight with RiverClan. She loved her Clan, of course she did. She respected her leader, and she wanted to keep her family safe. But war? The fluffy white she-cat winced as Otterleap yelled at the new warrior sitting near her- one of her former denmates, Sweetheart- about giving away lands to ThunderClan. The anger she saw on her grandfather's face brought back reminders of the stories Shellwater had told her. It was a little less hard to believe the things that the elder had said about him, seeing the fury in his eyes. And Minnowpaw, her sister, speaking in favor of the war as well. She should probably say something- offer Ivystar her support. And yet, Snowpaw only sat there, trying her best not to falter. Sitting there was the extent of her bravery for now. Hopefully, she wouldn't falter in the face of the enemy when they did go to battle.

Cloudstone's dark eyes glinted from the shadows of the medicine den, listening to both Ivystar and the discourse below the willow. History was repeating itself. At some point the black tom completely lost his patience and burst through the entrance. "Oh, for StarClan's sake!" he yowled, white tail lashing behind him. "With all this shrieking, it's a wonder we aren't called CrowClan!" His gaze was alight, something that hadn't ever happened before. He didn't look much like a medicine cat at the moment, more like an enraged badger. His teeth, white as bone, showed through his snarl. His piercing stare showed no mercy on any cat in the clearing.

He took a deep breath, but it did not quell his thrumming heart. His face twitched in effort to keep composed. "What are we willing to lose in this war? Our pride as a clan? Or our own lives? On one paw, losing Sunningrocks to ThunderClan will provide them with the prey that they may need to survive this season, at our expense. We will lose both that prey and any herbs left among their rocks. ThunderClan may grow prideful and arrogant if we give in so easily, but then again, the same will occur if we fight and lose." For a moment his eyes focused on a faraway tree, scarred by the flames that had so unsuccessfully tried to swallow RiverClan. That had changed his former apprentice's life forever.

"On the other, fighting ThunderClan will cement our reputation, for good or for bad. Either way, we will lose valuable cats in the fight. Perhaps not through death, I pray to StarClan for that not to be so, but fewer cats in good health will be left over to hunt not only for themselves, but for the injured. Goldenpaw and I will not have any herbs left until Newleaf arrives." He didn't want to lose another apprentice. Even if Goldenpaw could be such a pain at times, she was to be RiverClan's next medicine cat.

His uncertain gaze drifted to the infuriated Ivystar. "Whatever may happen, I will do my best to serve RiverClan." Cloudstone closed his eyes and sighed, sitting without another word.

Lakepaw padded into camp from hunting to hear his great-grandmother's speech about going to war with ThunderClan. His eyes widened in shock, and he had to consciously force his mouth to stay closed in order to not drop his fish. His mind started racing wildly, but his first instinct made his amber gaze flicker to his foster mother and.. Snowpaw. She looked terrified, and it took all he had not to drop his prey and run to her side. Instead, he walked calmly towards the fresh-kill pile and deposited his catches before making his way towards Snowpaw and Splashwillow. He brushed up against the white she-cat, hoping to comfort her as he nuzzled his foster mother warmly. He was thankful for them in his life, and he wasn't sure what he'd do without them, that's why he was going to fight. He fully supported this war, no matter how much is scared him. They needed Sunningrocks to survive Leafbare. What if the river froze completely over, and his adoptive mother, his siblings, or Snowpaw starved? He wouldn't forgive himself.

"I agree, Ivystar. We can't let ThunderClan take Sunningrocks. We need it!" He meowed, casting an indignant glance at Sweetheart. "Do they expect us to starve just so they can prance around on a rock full of prey they don't need as much as we might?! Those greedy squirrel-munchers will not take whats rightfully ours." He meowed passionately, casting his gaze around at the gathered cats. "We must fight for what's ours!" He yowled, his amber eyes fierce. ThunderClan will not win this war. He vowed silently.

"I thank you all for your counsel and support. Though I remind our apprentices that they are to show respect to our senior warriors, they have all served our clan for many moons and deserve your respect." She didn't look at any apprentice in particular, however it was clear who her sentiments were directed too. "I understand your concerns Sweetheart, but I cannot show mercy. You all forget that ThunderClan is not our only enemy. To the north lies WindClan with Ashstar lying in wait for the perfect chance to strike. To the east, SkyClan brews with their tribe cats. And far away in the marshes, ShadowClan starves in their bog-filled wasteland. Leafbare is harsh, even with Sunningrocks, we might not make it through this season. The river is frozen solid, and what few prey remains is lean, starved. If any of the other clans see our weakness, see us compromising in fear of battle with ThunderClan, more will follow. Even if we lose, we will show the other clans that we will not go down quietly. That we would rather die than give up."

Her eyes hardened as she spoke her next words. It was clear that she would listen to no more dissent from now on. "My mind has been made. This is an order from your leader. Fight ThunderClan, secure our hold on Sunningrocks and break their spirits. If you cannot stomach this, the camp entrance is behind you."

Sweetheart held back a sigh of disappointment, but she still understood that the Clan leader's word was law. Besides, she was barely a warrior herself; she may as well still be an apprentice training under Splashwillow. She dipped her head respectfully to Ivystar. "Of course I will fight for my Clan. All I wanted was to expose an alternate solution, but I know not everything can be solved with a conversation."

Finchstream felt as if her heart had stopped.

Oh....oh no, no no no no no no!  The small she-cat's ears bent flat against her head, and she stared up at Ivystar, the recognizable glint of pure fear shining in her dulled golden eyes.  This...this can't be happening!  Oh dear StarClan I'm dead, I'm dead!  She backed away from the clearing on shaking paws, in the moment too overwhelmed by terror to care if her clanmates saw her like this; she was about to be forced to go through her worst nightmare.  Even if I survive...they'll know.  Ivystar, Nutfur, Jaystream....they'll all know what I truly am.  I...I can't be exiled!  I can't leave RiverClan, it's all I've ever known!  It's my home...I want to defend it....but...I just can't.  Staring down at her wide, fluffy paws, she tried to imagine them racing across the stones of Sunningrocks, unsheathed claws shining in the half-light, tearing into the flesh of a ThunderClan cat, spilling hot red blood across the ground...she shook her head rapidly, and shut her eyes in refusal.  The bile was already rising in her throat just thinking about such a scene.  She didn't speak up or even listen to her clanmate's debate, she only stared meekly down at the ground, her paws trembling.  Great StarClan...what am I going to do?!