The Winds of Winter [PLOT FINALE]

OOC) GROUND RULES:

1.) Only those who registered in the official sign-ups can participate! If you have an NPC plot character and missed registering in the official sign-ups, please contact Staff ASAP.
2.) Remember that you can only use stun/pin moves once per battle.
3.) Disabled cats cannot use Clan Moves!
4.) No doubling up unless everyone else is engaged.
5.) No special effect moves allowed when you are double-teaming a single cat. The victim of the double team can use special effect attacks though.
6.) You have 24 hours from when your opponent has posted to post. If you fail to post, it's automatic KO.
7.) MC Buffs are not being applied for this battle.
8.) Once you do your attack, that's it. Don't post again until your opponent replies. If your opponent misses the 24 hour mark, Staff will notify you and your character will be free to move onto a new opponent.
9.) Staff will start the battle- please do not go John Wayne on us.
10.) Please direct any questions/clarifications to Staff! If you notice any issues happening in the battle, please reach out.

It was the invitation that Lichenmask had patiently awaited.

It had been bestowed upon him by the mouth of a reluctant WindClan envoy, a lovely story about how the Clans had suddenly found themselves willingly to discuss his proposition once more- lovely, but likely fabricated. Regardless of however desperately the Clans tried to paint him, he was no fool, no narrowminded cretin who was unable to beyond the length of his whiskers. Yet, instead of revealing that he was entirely aware of the supposedly clever plans that he was brazenly waltzing into, he merely minded his tongue. Let them grow confident on whatever supposed advantage that they believed themselves to have, the thought murmured on endlessly as he guided his party of mixed individuals towards the familiar grove of trees known as Fourtrees, they will not find it so amusing once he revealed his own intricately woven plans. The early evening air, heavy with a cool dampness that insinuated the promise of a fierce storm, was wrought with a sticky breeze that brought forth a biting rawness that crept through even the thickest of pelts. Thick swathes of richly colored clouds crept across the dark sky with a foreign sense of urgency, diluting the already faint remnants of red light that bled profusely from the eclipsed lunar-solar presence within the sky. Easily pulling himself atop the familiar surface of the Great Rock, Lichenmask's dark form was promptly lost within the heady shadows of the early night- only the chilling gleam of amber eyes to be found within suffocating darkness that had descended upon the sacred hollow.

Destiny lingered just beyond one's grasp, the stars finally aligning for fate to prevail.

Wolf sat near Shade and Xeuxi, tail whipping around in anticipation. Finally, they would eradicate those Clans. Her birthplace, her "family" meant nothing to her anymore. They had put a leaf over her eyes, and Shade and Xeuxi had blown it away. Claws working their way into the earth, she grinned. Finally, she would get to fight for her true family. Her Regime. Not those rude, incompetent Exiles. She prevented herself from spitting. She wouldn't make a move until Shade or Xeuxi ordered her to. She wouldn't do a thing for that overconfident, young Lichenmask.

Darkpaw had sat down where there were the most shadows when he arrived. The dark colors of his pelt blended right in. The only things that stood out were his glowing, ice blue eyes and his rather large silhouette. His large paws were raking the soil beneath him in anticipation. This really excited him. They could now show how strong the cats with Starclan are. The tom constantly looked up and over to their leader, patience wearing thin. When were they to arrive? He soon calmed himself. There was no need to get riled up already.

So close. He was so close to home he could taste it. Stonepaw was a lot bigger since the last time he'd set paw in this place. The chill in the air couldn't find a way through his thick fur. The plentiful mice in the barn had fed them all well, allowing him and his comrades to train vigorously and build muscle. Would his parents be proud of him, since he was stronger now? He'd get his full warrior name soon enough. The stocky, grey tomcat tried his best to hold his composure as they descended into Fourtrees, but his Newleaf green gaze trailed towards ShadowClan's traditional entrance. He needed to go home, or else he'd end up like his loose cannon for a brother Aspenpaw. He still loved him to death, but he'd never been the same after losing his eye to some ThunderClan apprentice. And Brushgaze, he hoped she'd be alright here, so soon after having her kits. Of course, they'd be back soon, but she must still feel bedraggled by the five scraps. 'We'll be home soon. Then I'll finally be able to rest.'

Aspenpaw followed Lichenmask closely as the mixed group of rebels emerged from the trees, stepping out into the open clearing bathed in the crimson light of the stormy sky.  As his unsheathed claws touched the soft grass, a sinister grin unfolded upon the tom's mauled face.  The last time he had sat in this sacred clearing, he had had the pleasure of watching Littlestar, his former mentor and leader, killed in a single blow.  Memories of the petrified looks on the other clan leader's and deputy's faces brought to him a sick kind of satisfaction, his remaining dark forest-green eye shining with anticipation as he dug his sharpened claws deeper into the soil.  Oh, he knew that had only been the beginning.  Tonight, the wildest dreams of all his comrades were finally to be fulfilled.  The age of half-bred scum and pitiful outsiders was coming to a close...the remaining leaders would lay dead at their paws, and the deputies, and the medicine cats...all who dared to question the truth.  The defeat of that idiot Leopardstar was what he looked forward to the most, along with his disgusting clan.  That seven-clawed apprentice who had marked his face forever would not live to see the bright new dawn...he would make sure of it.  "Come ON, where are they?!"  His hiss echoed around the clearing as his scraggly tail lashed across the grass.  "I'm not going to be able to hold back for much longer~!"

Excitement. Anticipation. Impatience. These were only a few of the emotions running through Shade’s veins all at once. After so long — so long! — he was finally going to claim revenge on the Clans that have abandoned him, that have resented him, that have taken his gift for leadership and combat for granted. He would have been a grand leader of RiverClan. But now that those foolish fish-faces have made an enemy out of him, he would rule over them as a dictator.

He quickly realized the reality of Lichenmask’s inclusion in his little vision for the future. Or rather, the lack of inclusion. That cat was far too pushy and ambitious to so easily accept the role of deputyship in his ShadeClan. Perhaps, instead, he would become his own leader of his own Clan. Lichenstar of LichenClan. ...Well, Shadestar of ShadeClan sounded much better, but whatever.

Claws digging into the soft ground of the land he hadn’t called home in what felt like forever, Shade grinned a wide, terrifying grin. A predatory grin of hunger for the blood, screams, and death of his former Clanmates.

After today, he would no longer be Shade of the Regime. He would be Shadestar, king of the forest.

---

Snowdrop’s tail twitched as she stood next to Beetlemask behind Lichenmask. No matter how hard she tried, she just couldn’t seem to get her fur to lie flat along her spine. She played it off as aggression and excitement — which she was, of course — but deep down she knew she was also completely terrified. Not of her own life, of course, but if Beetlemask’s. It hadn’t been long since he had confessed his love to her after all, and she in turn accepted his confession. Their crushes on each other were no more. They were officially mates.

And that was what scared her. What if the Clan cats managed to somehow, someway kill Beetlemask? Or what if someone killed her, and Beetlemask would be left alone? She didn’t want to ever be away from her true love. She wanted to grow old with him and raise his future kits.

The kits she now carried in her belly.

She knew she shouldn’t be fighting this battle today. It would be very dangerous for her unborn sons or daughters. But she had to defend Lichenmask’s ideals. She had to purify the Clans so that her and Beetlemask’s kits could grow up in a perfect, non-tainted Clan.

She had to fight today for her kits’ tomorrow.

It was here, finally after many moons, there would be no more waiting. Today was the day hat the forest would be purified, rid of the scum that it was infested with. Pumapaw would savour every moment. This was the reason she was born, to create a better world for all cats. Her name would go down in history, as one of Lichenmask's loyal followers. Maybe she'd even lead the new ShadowClan, once all the filthy codebreakers were eradicated. Her claws dug kneaded the earth beneath her feet, itching with anticipation.

She tried to remain calm, but all the excitement was making her restless, it had clearly got the better of Aspenpaw as he called out. "Shut up, mousebrain!" she hissed quietly "You'll give us away, and then it won't be any fun." Pumapaw pouted, she didn't want him to ruin this moment. What if, because of their murmurs, they had thrown the fight, and were now destined to lose. She couldn't bear that thought, all of this would not be for nothing.

Hillfire was somehow able to keep a smirk painted on his face. Just days ago, he had eagerly anticipated this moment, longing to finally rise and show the clans just how wrong they were. But after talking with Flurryshine, that natural excitement was dulled by the fact that he might have to fight or kill one of his kits. If it was necessary for his cause, he would do so, but reluctantly. Now beyond a sense of wanting to take down those weaklings, a newfound ice cold rage had filled him. These cats were impure, mouse-brained, weaklings who did nothing but cause harm. After this day, that would never be allowed to happen again. If it meant killing former friends or family, he would do so. He was too far in to stop now. And even if he wasn't, this is what he wanted. Ever since first hearing Lichenmask's speech about their cause, he had known he had to fight for this. To not do so would be to deny himself of fulfillment, because cleansing the clans was something that he had become passionate about. If given the choice to switch sides at the last minute, he wouldn't dream of even considering doing so. This was his place now, and he had convinced himself that he loved it.

Falcongaze padded silently amidst the group of true clan cats. His head held high and proud as they headed towards the battle that would secure the clans for them. For the purest lines... and even better. For his kit. His amber gaze looked to Jaysong beside him, his tail flicked at her side gently in assurance. Lichenmask had been proving himself well in terms of keeping his promises. Now it was time for him to keep true to the last of it. To bring down StarClan on the cats that claimed to revere them, only to backslide on their vows repeatedly. Hollow vows by ex rogues, and filthy kittypets that came in and diluted perfectly good clan lines.
"Soon." He whispered to her, anticipation deep in his bones.

Whatever Shade had gotten the Regime into, it was too late to back out now. Chase sat by her fellow rogues, apart from the Exiles. Even on the same side, a clear division existed between the two parties. Anxiety, tension, expectation--the emotions that churned among the gathered cats were as turbulent as the sky above. Sinking her claws into the bare earth, Chase cast a cold gaze across the clearing. This was the first time that she had ever ventured this deeply into clan territory. Fourtrees had been aptly named. It consisted of a wide, gentle dip in the earth guarded by four massive oak trees. In the center of the hollow rose a jagged rock into the darkness. Even in the abnormal circumstances of the pale red light, it beat the city by far. If they defeated the clan cats here, they would no longer be forced to cling to the pitiful lives that they had once lived. There was probably no Regime member who did not remember Shade's promise at that moment. This was a chance, a chance like one never before. They would seize it.

If there was one disappointment for Chase right then, it was Dante's absence. The small gray tom was nowhere to be seen. Time and time again, she had noticed his cowardice. In the beginning, she had believed that his softness would fade with training; however, she had soon been proven wrong. The fluffy rogue lashed her tail in agitation, a hint of her bad mood seeping through her impassive mask.

Beetlemask entered the place, sticking himself close to his mate. The pure-furred tom looked into the she-cat's eyes, knowing the fears that lurked in her mind. He didn't follow Lichenmask as he did in the past. Sure, he was a good leader yet he had failed to follow the things he predicted by allowing rogues to help them. He was not going to fight for that RiverClanner bu for Snowdrop... so she and he could have a future in a clan with no impurities.

He was determined to give her the best world and home he could and for that, he had to free the clans from its rotten leaders, rogues and kittypets. They were all going to pay for exiling them... all were going to see who truly had the power of the stars by their side. Starclan would help them... he was sure of that.

OOC: super short

An stood next to Shade, her wide eyes looking around the clearing with anticipation. Finally, she would be able to live free, far from the shadows! The pampered houses of kittypets she used to yearn for were nothing compared to this great land. She could raise her children in peace.

She could be happy.

The rogue raised her head high, looking up towards the blood moon. Soon this all would be over.

Looking up to Lichenmask, Rockjaw's heavy form sat among the crowd. While he assumed the clans were planning something, the excitement of what Lichenmask was going to do in return sent a shiver up his spine. What ever went down during this dimly lit gathering was certain to end in bloodshead, and he couldn't wait to show the clan cats what they could really do.

The fur on Jaysong's back rose up as she settled herself down next to Falcongaze, large paws leading her to his side, as always. She'd tried her best to tame down her unruly fur, but a few pieces of fur rebelled against her will, sticking out in whichever direction they pleased. But no matter, today Jaysong and Falcongaze would get revenge. The rest of Lichenmask's followers and the Regime could take all they wanted, but they best leave Tinystar to the both of them. At his paws, their single kit had died. She didn't know how, just that Fawnkit ran with their ancestors now. She'd take her anger out on Tinystar. He shouldn't have exiled her, shouldn't have separated her from her kit... He'd pay for that. She leaned into Falcongaze's embrace, warming up to him as the crisp air snapped at her long fur.