What about Us? [OPEN―Clan topic!]

Torrentstar was not entirely certain how he had made it back to RiverClan camp. By the time the tabby tom had come to his senses, the woven reed barriers were already looming before him. In the moonlight, the stream that served as the island's guardian shivered and trembled. He lingered on the other side of the stream, faltering. By now, all of RiverClan likely knew of his transgression. Once he stepped into the camp, there would be no going back... No, that's not correct. He realized. On that night, I already crossed the line of no return. Passion, passion―oh, how he hated that word! To think that a moment of passion had been all that was necessary to ruin everything. His entire life's work was in ruins, and who had torn it down but himself? The tom wanted to scream aloud, let the night wind carry his despair over the wetlands. Certainly, Thornstar was attractive; he could not deny that fact. He had been against her policies for so long, but he could not deny that deep down he did not hate her. No other she-cat had so frustrated him, made his heart roil the way she had. Maybe such emotions were the reason he had ended up crossing the line. The very thought of what they had done made him feel nauseous now. It was unforgivable. He was unforgivable. How was he to face his clan now? What about Ivybrook?

Running away was always an option.

The moment the possibility popped into his mind, Torrentstar let out a screech of agony. He lashed out with a heavy paw, instantly dashing his reflection that had been dancing on the stream's surface just a second ago. No. No. No. No. He would never allow himself to do that. He would truly be the worst of the worst then. His sin was already blacker than Jaystar's, for he had done the very thing he had criticized the former leader for. Most of all, if he really desired to run, he would rather tear out his own throat on the spot. Large frame heaving, green eyes burning with self-hatred, Torrentstar glared into the shallow depths of the stream. He had created this mess; he would clean it up. If StarClan wanted to punish him, then so be it. No one would be running―not tonight, not ever.

The RiverClan leader took one shaking step forward, then another. The waters had never felt so cold, his coat so heavy. At last, he pushed past the camp entrance and came to the center of the sandy clearing. At least a dozen pairs of eyes were focused on him, and he sensed them without even needing to turn and look. It was time to face the music.

boop

Honeytongue had been the first of the Gathering cats to arrive back into the RiverClan camp...And had quickly collapsed in her nest so that she could spend the rest of the night sobbing into her paws. However, her tears had since come to an end and just felt...Tired. Tired unlike how she had ever felt before, eyes half-lidded as she stares at the furthest shadow in the warrior's den and ignored the sound of hushed voices and pawsteps around her. They had returned, the rest of RiverClan. She had made a point to ignore any gentle prods that was sent her way, feeling too tired...Too broken to raise her head to pretend that everything was alright. Perhaps she would have finally managed to drift off to sleep if the faint scent of her father hadn't reached her.

Her stomach curled as claws sank into her heart and dragged it down, finally shifting to spare a glance toward the entrance of the warrior's den. ...So they had done it then? Ivybrook had truly led RiverClan home without the leader if he had just now entered the camp. Her body felt more heavy than ever at the thought of getting up and seeing him. She had fled the Gathering in shame, in sickness of her father's action and seeing him was the last thing she wanted to do. ...But she couldn't deny the natural curiosity of seeing how her Clanmates would react in the safety of their camp. Slowly, she found her paws beneath her and pushed herself upright. With dragging paws and tail, she poked her head out of the warrior's den to stare at Torrentstar who had halted in the middle of the camp.

The quietest whimper - a held-back sob - escaped her mouth as she was suddenly reminded of his actions all over again and prayed that he wouldn't take notice of her presence - she had nothing to say to him...Not now. Perhaps not ever.

Applepaw watched as his leader padded back into the camp. “Torrentstar?” He mewed, breaking the silence. He felt the eyes shift onto him and looked down, embarrassed. What’s happening? The young tom’s eyes filled with confusion. The warriors seemed to know something he didn’t. Even some of the apprentices did. His emerald green eyes followed the leader, watching and waiting for his next move.

Cool narrowed eyes stared out from the warrior’s den, anger raging furiously in their emerald depths.

Her pelt was burning with a putrid mixture of resentment and feelings of betrayal; distrust. Ivybrook had been pacing back and forth across camp for what felt like moons, paws beginning to ache from the stress put upon them. She’d finally been convinced to sit for a moment, to rest in her nest for a moment or perhaps two, when Torrentstar’s shrill yowl sounded just outside of camp. She couldn’t even bring herself to be worried for his sake, only for that of the Clan’s. Opting to simply stand in the entrance of the den, she waited for Torrentstar to pull himself together and drag his sorry tail into camp.

Whereas Ivybrook usually held a distinctive quality of mystery, emotions hidden behind moons worth of practicing the disguise, what she felt in that moment was as clear as the stream running right outside of camp. Pushing her weight forward and shuffling past the few cats that still remained outside of the comfort of their nests, the silver she-cat approached her leader. ”Perhaps if you hadn’t been such a coward, we could have spoken about this privately, but this is a conversation for the entire Clan now.” Stopping just a tail length in front of him, she allowed the silence to settle across camp, tail tip twitching periodically. ”So, Torrentstar,” Rationality was out the window on this one. ”Care to explain what possessed you to taint our Clan’s fidelity, to the extent that StarClan felt the need to reveal your sins in front of the entire forest?” Truly, Ivybrook was hurt. Of all the cats she’d become even remotely close to, she believed Torrentstar would be the last to do such a thing.

Nightpaw was curled up in his nest when he heard Torrentstar. Curoius he padded to the entrance. He glanced a look towards Applepaw. "I wonder what's happening? Did Torrentstar play a bad prank on someone?" Asked Nightpaw. He had no idea what was happening. Except for the fact that Ivybrook and other cats were mad. Nightpaw was about to suggest going back to sleep but he couldn't for some reason.

Stormbringer sat on the out skits of the camp. A half eaten fish sitting at her paws. "Figures.." She huffed out as she watched her leader finally enter the camp. She had gone to Windclan talked to Dappleshine and returned before he did. To her it was kind of sad.

The fish at her paws had long since been forgotten. She had gotten caught up in her own thoughts. Wondering to how Windclan would feel about what she had told them. How Windclan felt about Finchstar defending what had happened. How Honeytongue was feeling... How Ivybrook was feeling... Heck how she couldn't even decide how she felt..

She wanted to approach either of them and try to comfort them just as Dappleshine had done for her but she couldn't even decide on how to deal with the situation so how was she supposed to help them? She let a sigh before turning her attention to Ivybrook. Her eyes landing on the deputy and the leader as it was time for them to confront the leader.

All kinds of angry words sat in her throat ready to be shouted at Torrentstar. Ready to call him out on every thing he had done, ready to reveal what had been the truth as to what Dappleshine had gone through not only with Dacedream but how he had treated Dappleshine as well. Stormbringer was angry on the now Windclan cat's half, and angry for his current actions as well. A snarl could be heard from the warrior as she waited on the leader's answer.

“I dunno. Ivybrook seems pretty mad.” He looked at his brother, and shrugged. His paw fidgeted nervously, confused and scared. Applepaw yawned and blinked sleepily, before pulling himself up. There were more important matters than sleep at hand.

Having expected Ivybrook's confrontation, Torrentstar did not flinch away when she approached. Of all the cats in RiverClan, she was perhaps the one he had most wronged. The caustic words rang in his ears, worming their way into his heart one after another; these were little seeds of her hatred that would take root, bearing fruit in their time. One look into her eyes, so full of betrayal and hurt, and it felt as if his throat had closed up. His green gaze flickered past her, to the sight of his daughter in the Warrior Den's entrance. Honeytongue did not deserve what he had done to her; she never had. When he had needed her the most, she had been there for him. But now he had destroyed their relationship along with everything else. Words were almost too much for him to muster. Even so, silence was not a right reserved for the guilty. He clenched his teeth. "Very well, Ivybrook." Striding past his deputy, he headed for the gnarled, ancient willow in the camp central. In a single bound, he had ascended into its branches. "Let all cats old enough to catch their prey gather beneath the Willow Branch for a clan meeting!" It was late, but he knew that the cats of RiverClan would heed his cry nevertheless.

Honeytongue watched quietly as Ivybrook tore into Torrentstar vocally, tail swishing nervously as she faintly heard a couple of the younger Clanmates who hadn't made it to the Gathering question what had happened. She sighed softly, wondering who would still stand at her father's side once the truth was out for all of the Clan - before she blinked as she dimly realized that his gaze had shifted from Ivybrook...Onto her. She flinched under his gaze, drawing further into the den but the heartbeat pasted and he made his way to the willow, calling the Clan together. The golden warrior hesitated at the entrance of the den before she finally slipped out and sat down by her lonesome, head hanging and tail curled tightly around her as she waited to hear whatever would be said.

Applepaw looked up, imagining what Torrentstar had done to receive such harsh retribution from Ivybrook. He never had seen a cat act so angrily. His parents were pretty calm, and so was Torrentstar and Ivybrook-well, usually. He fidgeted nervously, concerned. Was it so bad that Torrentstar will get exiled? No surely, he couldn’t have done anything bad. He’s a good cat. Right? As doubt of Torrentstar started to invade his thoughts, he looked up at the tom, the one he had admired, and looked up too. Applepaw had wanted to be just like him, every since he was a kit. He wanted to be a brave and strong leader. But if Torrentstar had done something, something so terrible that even the most civil of cats couldn’t control their anger....who was Torrentstar? Really? What did Applepaw not know about him? There could be a lot, he realized.

Torrentstar took a deep breath. There were those in the gathered RiverClan audience who still had no idea of his sins, who were still wrapped in blissful innocence. He... had to let them know the truth. "Several moons ago..." He began, before trailing off. No, how was he to start his explanation? Nothing seemed right. His throat felt unnaturally dry, and he had to swallow in an attempt to wet it. "I have failed you all." He finally lowered his head. "No apology is enough. Several moons ago, I met Thornstar at Fourtrees to discuss our alliance. We argued, and... in the heat of our emotions, serious mistakes were made. Just moments ago, StarClan chose to reveal the truth during the Gathering. Thornstar is now pregnant with my kits..." He tried to keep his voice its usual cold, calm tone, but he couldn't suppress its wavering. He had to go on, but he paused to let RiverClan absorb the news.

Applepaw’s emerald eyes widened. Torrentstar and Thornstar! She was a leader, and part of Shadowclan at that! But, was it really that wrong? Cats fall in love. Should they be restricted by clans that they were born into? A little voice in his head answered him. ‘He broke the code.’ What would happen now? Would he be exiled? Would Ivybrook become leader? What about the kits? Would they join Riverclan, or Shadowclan. He sighed, so many doubts and thoughts flew through his brain.

It was finally time for Stormbringer to open her mouth. "How dare you.. How dare you!" She stood in her spot, claws digging into the ground. "You wouldn't have ever told us about this if it wasn't for Starclan! Yet you calmly show your face here after what you did to Dacedream? After what you did to Dappleshine?" The gray warrior growled out.

She was angry, so very angry about this whole thing, about what she had learned from Dappleshine just moments earlier. "You have lost my loyalty Torrentstar." She wasn't going to listen to her leader anymore. All of her orders would come from Ivybrook from now on.

Nightpaw tipped his head in confusion. So much drama was going on. Nightpaw laid down and grabbed a piece of prey he had been saving. What? He was hungry. Plus it helped Nightpaw take in all that was happening and stop himself from jumping to conclusions. If conclusions were even what all the other Riverclan cats were saying. It was so confusing.

Torrentstar gritted his teeth. Yes... Stormbringer was perfectly justified in her hate. This anger was his punishment, what he deserved. "I understand, Stormbringer." He said, as calmly as he could manage. He fixed the gray-furred warrior with a flickering gaze. "I hated Jaystar for what he did. I never imagined that I would commit the same sin myself." He knew what he had to do. Drawing a slow breath, he looked out over the crowd. He could try to fool himself as much as he wanted; it didn't change the fact that his legs were trembling. His great bulk quivered with every word. "RiverClan, I have never been fit to lead you, but now... I―I―" Words failed him. He choked out, "Until StarClan has carried out their will, RiverClan's leadership is Ivybrook's. May she do a better job than I ever did." Leaping off the Willow Branch, he headed straight for the camp exit. He couldn't face his clanmates, not tonight, maybe not ever again.