Safety is just a pipe dream. (Clan gathering) (OPEN)

(OOC: This takes place directly after the war)


A dark shadow ran through the tunnel of ThunderClan. The darkness of night barely bothered him as the nearly full moon hung above the camp where ThunderClan usually gathered. His patrol had been gone since dusk to that war… and now it returned. Victorious, certainly… but at a cost he wasn’t sure deserved to be paid.

"Let all cats gather beneath High-rock for a clan meeting!" He yowled, his voice loud, hopefully enough to rouse the sleeping clan members as the ones from battle filtered in. He sat patiently on high rock.

Dacepaw shifted her face further into the dirt, at first, at the sound of Oakstar's distant yowl. "No adventures... I'm sleeping, Hound...heart," she breathed to the tom who wasn't there anymore, sleeping in his own nest in the warriors den and not beside her in the apprentices den. Several more moments passed before the tortoiseshell apprentice's sleeping thoughts recognized the real source of the sound, and then her dusty face lifted to cold, still-dark night lit by a large moon. Her dreaminess drained from her immediately as she realized what had happened. Her Clanmates had returned home.

The apprentice launched to her paws and out of the apprentices' den, her big eyes immediately landing on the ThunderClan battle party as it returned. Feeling deeply uneasy by the dark looks she witnessed, Dacepaw padded nervously to sit in front of Oakstar. She awaited his announcement, looking anxiously for Houndheart to join the meeting and - more importantly - her. He wouldn't be afraid now, not like she was.

Mistwalker opened his eyes and sat up at the sound of his father's voice. He was okay! Well, so he hoped. Was there another death? He hoped not- after Pricklebrush and Marshkit, he didn't know what else he could take. He padded away from the warrior's den and sat in his usual spot, bracing himself for any bad news that came.

Houndheart, who had been nestled in the back of the medicine cat's den, perked at Oakstar's call. Perhaps he should have felt guilty about faking illness and hiding away. But he had found that it discontented him to leave Mossbloom's den. It was so empty here. The loneliness and dark wave of sadness that had washed over the remaining medicine cat was palpable. Once he had succumbed to the feeling of needing to be around the tortoiseshell she-cat, he found himself unable to leave her behind. It was a rather agitating sensation, nagging relentlessly at his stomach. Now, as she was off to face Shadowclan, the lanky tabby had found himself unable to sleep. He'd spent the entire evening rearranging the herbs in the den. Dark Forest if he knew what anything was, but matching things that looked alike was indeed in his skill set.

As he padded from the den, the young warrior sought out the familiar pelts of his friends. It appeared Dacepaw was looking for him. In his chest, there was a blossom of warmth. Houndheart would never admit it, but the way that she always sought him out brought an almost good feeling to the angsty tom. Duskpaw, and the kindness of Mossbloom in her moments when she could deal with him, also seemed to soothe the dark anxiousness that crowded his soul. As he settled next to Dacepaw, the tom's gray eyes cast over the crowd to seek out the pelt of Mossbloom. With the cats already gathering, it was obvious there had been a fight. Silently, he swallowed back some semblance of worry and tightened his jaw. She would be here. There was no reason to be some sentimental fool over simply anxious thoughts.

The sound of cats returning to camp roused Rainpaw from her slumber, and she opened her eyes in time to watch Dacepaw abandon the apprentices' den. For a minute, she squeezed her eyes shut, willing sleep to return to her, but the leader's call had her on her paws, albeit with an annoyed sigh. She plodded to the entrance of the den, spying her father's pelt among those of the other gathered cats, and flicked her ears thoughtfully before going to settle down at his side.

Rainpaw had no interest in the outcome of this battle, aside from hoping that if there were casualties, they weren't from ThunderClan. She didn't understand why her grandfather would put ThunderClan lives on the line so they could fight another clan's war. Let ShadowClan and SkyClan tear each other apart - it wasn't their business to intervene. But these internal thoughts stayed just there, as she sat quietly waiting for the official news. Her eyes raked over the returning cats, counting, trying to see if everyone had come back.

Dawngaze answered her leader's summons, itching to hear the report of the conflict. There were injuries. Something had clearly happened. Her single ear straightened up on her head, and she watched Oakstar patiently as the clan slowly gathered. His expression was grave, but then again, Dawngaze couldn't remember a time when ThunderClan battled another clan and their leader was happy about it.

Harefoot was there too but he's paradoxing right now and is likely off to the side professing his love for his wife and husband.

Mossbloom ran into the medicine den as Oakstar called for the clan, emerging with bundles of herbs in her jaws. Methodically, she began to work her way among the gathered cats, quietly and quickly treating the wounds that the cats of the patrol had gathered. Something had gone wrong... Of that she was sure. The battle from her prophecy must have happened - but what of the prophecy itself? This was no time to worry about it though, as she pressed cobwebs to a warrior's shoulder. Oakstar would explain more soon.

Echofrost stumbled out of the Warriors den at Oakstar's call. He wished he could have been one of the warriors chosen to go, he longed to fight again. Anything to take his mind off of the things that had been happening since green-leaf. He was beginning to come to the conclusion that nothing would ever change. Somethings were just facts. Life was not fair, and he would be alone forever. Any time he thought he had someone, they died. It was just a fact of life. Better to not love anyone and have no friends, then for anyone else to get killed.

Oakstar gazed down at his clan. The anger in his gaze lessened to a sadness as he knew that he had to break the news. His clanmates deserved to know what happened… even though it stung bitterly.
"As many of you know, Spottedstar came to our camp to ask for our aide in preventing a war." His white tipped tail lashed in restrained aggravation. "Unfortunately… war did break out. ShadowClan did not honour a peaceful attempt at a resolution." He looked down at the warriors who had fought beside him and smiled with pride. "ThunderClan and SkyClan were victorious… but three cats perished in the battle."

"I hope that we will all honour the lives that were taken this night. For each one fought valiantly in the name of their own beliefs of justice." He dipped his head. White chin vanishing against his pelt as he closed his eyes in solemn respect for a moment, before it lifted. "ThunderClan, revel in victory, but be cautious. Tonight we gained an enemy… but no clan will doubt the strength of ThunderClan." His amber eyes opened, looking over his clan with pride as Oakstar stepped forward, then leapt off Highrock to be among his clanmates.

His family.

War did break out. Mistwalker's ears folded back. Three cats perished in the battle. No one Thunderclan though, right? Three cats perished in the battle. He glanced around in worry, taking a mental inventory of everyone in the clan. Three cats perished in the battle. Oh Starclan, had he forgotten someone? Three cats perished in the battle. ....No. Three cats perished. Three cats were murdered, and more may die of their injuries. Three cats perished. Knowing them, three Shadowclanners killed three Skyclanners. Three cats. Three cats who would never see the sun again. Three cats. Three cats who would never see their families again. Three. Three deaths among the many. Three. Three cats who Mistwalker had a feeling would be.... forgotten.

Shadowclan was as much scum as the mud they walked in.

Her green-hazel eyes landed on the lean tom-cat the moment he peered out of the medicine cat's den. Dacepaw's thoughts straightened out again: of course - Houndheart had been feeling unwell. He was resting in the medicine cat's den with Mossbloom. Still, the tabby tom exited and Dacepaw perked up slightly. She was unable to shake her nerves as the dark mood continued to fall over the slowly awakening ThunderClan, but it felt a little easier to manage whenever Houndheart was nearby. He refused to ever let anything shake him (or so it seemed to the idealistic former RiverClan cat) and was always ready to lend strength and determination where needed. The moment that Houndheart was settled by her side, Dacepaw inched inward until her haunches were pressed against his.

At last Oakstar took a look around at his gathered Clan, and, recognizing the look on his face, they quickly fell silent. Their leader spoke. Spottedstar had asked for aid in preventing a war - which ThunderClan had in good faith provided - and ShadowClan had refused to accept peace. But that's mawmaw's Clan, Dacepaw thought, her face immediately displaying her confusion. Why would she want to fight? Oakstar smiled, and as he smiled - weary and proud - he declared that ThunderClan and SkyClan had won...

... and three cats had been killed.

Dacepaw's jaw dropped with shock, and she suddenly shrank, startled and stunned by the revelation. Her mawmaw's Clan, Thornstar's Clan, ShadowClan... had refused to accept peace and caused three cats to die. "That can't be right," Dacepaw mewed, looking at Houndheart with a look of pleading and sorrow. Yet there Oakstar was, calling for his Clan to honor those who died, and to celebrate their victory. He said they'd gained an enemy and Dacepaw's stomach churned suddenly. Enemy? she squeaked in her head, thoughts of her adoptive grandmother playing with and encouraging and strengthening her as a kit in RiverClan suddenly being made hazy by the idea of a war-hungry shadow queen. Dacepaw watched Oakstar leave the Highrock, but she felt frozen in place, staring at Houndheart and trying to understand the words that their leader had said.

Ferretnose watched quietly, having already been informed of what was to come. It gave her no joy to be dragged once more into conflict and war. For the first time, it nearly felt warranted. The same could not be said for most battles. She winked her right eye, feeling the stretch of a new scar on her cheek below it. A murderer did that to her. She thought of the kitlike deputy, cringed at how violent she had been for just one moment. It was as if a great beast was awakened in her, brought to a head by the unjustified actions of that stupid tom. Ferretnose had never felt more powerful than she had in that moment. Was it worth it? What was justice, really? Had she gotten vengeance for that poor apprentice by clobbering the cat who started it? Maybe she was the villain after all. Maybe, in the heat of the moment, she violated her own morals and corrupted her own spirit. No, no, don't think about it.

Dacepaw was understandably upset. Ferretnose felt a twang of pity for the little one. She padded forward to meet her, a warm yet terrible sorrow filling her good eye. "It's true," she whispered quietly. "Their deputy ambushed us all. The way ShadowClan just... followed after him... It was almost like they planned for this. But Thornstar seemed shocked, like it happened behind her back." Ferretnose shook her head, speaking in a lower voice. "I was there, and I saw bloodlust. I fear for what's to come."

Rainpaw shrank down at the intensity of emotion that rolled off her father in waves at the leader's announcement. The tip of her tail twitched, and she flattened her ears, rubbing her cheek against Mistwalker's shoulder in hopes that it would soothe him somehow. Dacepaw's exclamation behind her made Rainpaw lift a lip in disdain but she said nothing. At least the clans who lost cats were the clans that the original conflict was between, anyway. Rainpaw didn't know how she'd react if ThunderClanners had been murdered during a war that had nothing to do with them. They shouldn't have fought in the first place.

Her eyes flicked to Ferretnose, who had approached Dacepaw and was murmuring words Rainpaw couldn't hear. The expression on her mentor's face said that they were kind words, gentle words. She didn't understand it. Why was it so hard to believe that ShadowClan were murderers?

Mossbloom's eyes widened as she listened to Oakstar's words, before she closed her eyes and lowered her head, offering a silent prayer to StarClan for the unnamed cats who had passed away. Surely non of them were ones she had known, at least not closely....

Stormkit stumbled out of the nursery and peered out at the crowd of cats. What was going on? Had some cat been injured? Immediately, her eyes sought out familiar faces, the apprentices. She saw Rainpaw and Dacepaw. Ferretnose was with Dacepaw, so Stormkit stumbled over to Rainpaw. "What happened?" Stormkit squeaked, looking at Rainpaw with wide stretched eyes.