If You Want Peace: Chapter 1

Subject: If You Want Peace: Chapter 1 Wed 15 Apr 2020 - 11:11

((this takes place two days after the gathering! likely after dacedream's death and oakstar's demotion, but i'm not too sure how those fit in the chronology so it's up to y'all))

closed for these cats:

The stars shone down around Fourtrees, the sky clear and cloudless as Morningpaw paced the top of the Great Rock, feeling the hard sensation of the stone beneath her- a stone upon which leaders of all Clans had stood for generations, delivering speeches and news and blessings-- and a stone upon which the venerated Finchstar, her former leader, had breathed his last. It was this event that had set in motion the plans in her mind, that had spurred Morningpaw to break free of her mentor's loving embrace and seek out cats from other Clans as the Gathering ended.

The apprentice had directly approached the red-furred she-cat with fury in her eyes (Redwolf, she had learned), asking her to return to Fourtrees two nights later (after the vigil for Finchstar could be held) with the venom-tongued apprentice, his body overflowing with righteous anger; and with the ShadowClan deputy who had spoken with such conviction, objecting even when Flintstar (a coward, as far as Morningpaw was concerned) stood by and did nothing. In this, ShadowClan was not an enemy to be feared, but an ally- at least, she hoped. ThunderClan, she approached the same way- just the warrior Batbite with truth in her heart, who had offered intelligence and wisdom and the courage to say what everyone knew, but had been too afraid to say. And from her own home of WindClan, she approached Clovertwist, who had tried to defend peace almost as fiercely as Morningpaw herself- in vain, of course, but the warrior's heart resonated with hers- and Ferretdance, the brother of her own mentor, the one who had protected her and spoken up in support alongside her. (Truthfully, her heart pained to keep this a secret from Olivestone- she trusted her mentor implicitly, revering her above even Finchstar- but she knew this was something Olivestone would disapprove of. Too dangerous, too foolhardy, too unwise-- but it was the right thing to do.)

Perhaps she should have been more wary of the other Clans, but to Morningpaw, they were not enemies to be feared, but allies in their shared struggle against those who had defied the single most important law of the forest, the single highest code- that of peace. Perhaps she should have abandoned her plans, returned home and cowered in her den like so many others. Perhaps she was against the Righteous Few, and perhaps that meant facing down StarClan themselves- but truth and peace and justice and love had taken their place.

But as the wind whistled through the air, and Morningpaw rehearsed her speech, she sat, the near-full moon shining from above-and-behind her like a halo of the stars themselves. Finchstar's death had cast a spark, and the apprentice was determined to carry that fire into the unknown.

Subject: Re: If You Want Peace: Chapter 1 Wed 15 Apr 2020 - 11:43

Clovertwist wasn't certain how in Finchstar's name Morningpaw had slipped out of camp without either he or Ferretdance noticing given they were expecting to attend an apparently secret meeting with her to discuss what had happened to Finchstar at the Gathering, but the waning nearly-full moon was high and the little she-cat was nowhere to be found. The young warrior shook his head slightly and thought, I hope she pays attention and doesn't run into a fox or something. She should've waited. He quickly realized, however, that it would've drawn more suspicion or confusion to the outing if they'd left together. He merely hoped she would be alright, especially with those starry fox-hearts lurking around.

Clovertwist didn't intend to head out alone if he could help it; there was nothing strange about he and Ferretdance going on a late night hunt together if they were so inclined, being named warriors. He found his companion and nodded solemnly before slipping out of camp, being sure to take his time. It wasn't too difficult; after all, his pale paws felt heavy as stones in the wake of Finchstar's death. What he'd witnessed from his ancestors despite all the pleading and protesting had kindled a fire in his heart. I'm sorry, Barleytuft. I hope wherever you are, you're safe, but I can't accept this. I can't obey StarClan if they demand we follow a code that they're excused from. The two WindClan toms made their ways across the moor.

When they arrived in the clearing of Fourtrees, Clovertwist was surprised to see Morningpaw's form up on the Great Rock - where Finchstar had been sent to sleep forever. Clovertwist bristled with discomfort as he padded down the slope considering calling up to ask her to come down. It made him anxious to see a mere apprentice up on the ledge where leaders and deputies addressed all the Clans, especially when StarClan was so clearly voicing their disdain for code-breakers. He looked aside at Ferretdance, trying to gauge his reaction and wondering if he felt uncomfortable, too. When he stopped in the bottom of the hollow, Clovertwist began to look at their surroundings, feeling his fur prickle as he stared at the center where the starry cats had suddenly appeared. He swallowed nervously and hoped the same wouldn't happen again.

Clovertwist turned to look up at Morningpaw, approaching the base of the Rock. He said anxiously, "Don't fall - neither of us wants to have to explain something like this to Aspenheart." Then, after a moment, he asked, "Did we really need to come back... back here, so soon?" His pale amber eyes flickered to the ground around him, where Finchstar's body had lay two nights before - and he had laid beside it.

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Clovertwist the Loner
WindClan ex-Warrior
{ #5F9EA0 }

Barleytuft of StarClan
WindClan Warrior
{ #DA8F6F }

Marmalade the Kittypet
ex-SkyClan Medicine Cat
{ #C1550A }

Dacedream of StarClan
ThunderClan Warrior
{ #808000 }

Summer the Loner
gay drifter
{ #E86375 }

(Not Pictured: Frogmarsh of ShadowClan; Lightstep of RiverClan; Mottledspark of RiverClan)

art by sumashira [me] - click image to see profiles

Subject: Re: If You Want Peace: Chapter 1 Wed 15 Apr 2020 - 12:13

At the Gathering, rationality had won out in Batbite's mind, with the Righteous Few staring them down. Now, as her paws carried her on the familiar path to Fourtrees, she was sure StarClan was watching; but she could no longer bring herself to care. They weren't here before her, and she wouldn't hold her tongue for the sake of cats who wouldn't bother to show themselves. She found herself grateful that her absence wouldn't rouse much more suspicion than usual. Late night walks had been a pastime of hers since her apprenticeship, and she had practice in hiding from others with or without a reason.

As she reached Fourtrees, she found herself recalling the first time she'd laid eyes on it. She was barely an apprentice then, chasing her sick brother as he snuck out of camp. They'd reached the clearing just in time to be startled by a group of cats from the other Clans, and to be swept away by Twolegs. The adventure had been awful, traumatic, life-threatening - but now, looking back, she'd take running from the foaming-mouthed fox a hundred times to everything since. The flood, the aftermath, her time away from the Clans, her brothers' disappearance, and now everything to do with StarClan...

It seemed like there was never any room to breathe.

So there was no time to rest. That was alright. Watching and waiting had done all it could, now the time had come for planning and taking action. The time for silence was over, and she wouldn't hold her tongue any longer.

Maybe it would end badly, the way she'd always feared. But now, knowing she wasn't alone, that other cats in other clans shared her same convictions...

That was enough to give her hope, or at least something like it, as she slipped out of the undergrowth to reveal her presence to the cat who had invited her here.

She scanned the area for any others, surveying the Great Rock as she did so. Upon its top stood an apprentice, and with a soft mrrow of laughter she realized Wasppaw's one-time comparison of SkyClan's old leader to a stubby little apprentice wasn't entirely unfounded.

"I hope I'm not too late," she spoke, tone deceptively light. "Wouldn't want to miss the fun."

______________________________________

[Only mods are allowed to see this link]
[character pages]
Leopardstar ~ Nightdancer ~ Lightningbreeze ~ Mistflower ~ Scarletflare ~ Mint
ShadowClan ~ ThunderClan ~ SkyClan ~ SkyClan ~ RiverClan ~ Guardian of Twilight
Leader ~ Warrior ~ Warrior ~ Warrior ~ Warrior ~ Rogue
Tier 5 ~ Tier 5 ~ Tier 4 ~ Tier 4 ~ Tier 2 ~ Tier 1

Subject: Re: If You Want Peace: Chapter 1 Wed 15 Apr 2020 - 15:05

Ravenmist made her way to Fourtrees, emerging in the clearing. It was odd, coming without a throng of cats around her. The circumstances reminded her of that day, as an apprentice. The day she was attacked by Pantherpaw. The day she lost her sight. She stopped at the base of the rock, locating the other cats. Three others, it seemed. Morningpaw, the one who had called her here, was atop the rock. Then a WindClan tom and a ThunderClan she-cat she didn’t know the scents of. Redwolf and Smokepaw would be close behind her, she was sure. Aside from them, the deputy didn’t know who would be present.

In the daytime, she would be worried that her Clan might need her. But at night, it had been easy to slip away from camp without worrying too much. Flintstar would handle it. And if StarClan took out their wrath on her, she’d go down fighting. It wasn’t selfishness, standing in this clearing. It was loyalty. The blind deputy would fight, and protect those she loved from the stars.

“Good evening, Morningpaw. Who is with us tonight?”

______________________________________

~ ShadowClan Deputy ~
Remind Me To Post!
If You Want Peace: Chapter 1 Crowsp10

Number of posts : 1307

The bushes rustled a little as Redwolf pushed her way into the clearing, the babble of hushed voices meeting her ears. Two moonrises ago, the Righteous Few had interrupted the Gathering, leading to an onslaught of outrage, and ultimately leading to the former WindClan leader's hopefully painless death. Of all of the cats in the other four Clans, Finchstar was one of the otherClanners that she had respected the most. While she knew that Flintstar was trying to err on the side of caution and protect ShadowClan and his remaining family, Redwolf knew that action needed to be taken. Head held high and proud, boasting her new name and rank with her actions, if not with words, she glanced at the cats that had already gathered there.

Morningpaw, the brave apprentice who had cast the first stone, stood atop the Great Rock as if she were already leader, and in a sense, she was. She was the leader of this rebellion, and for that, the red-pelted warrior respected her.

The silver-pelted tabby from WindClan, whose name she didn't know was also present, as well as the cat from ThunderClan that had spoken sense, warning others that the Righteous Few weren't able to be reasoned with. Redwolf agreed.
Those foxhearts won't listen to reason. The only way to stop them once and for all is to rip their starry pelts to shreds.

Ravenmist, her former mentor, had gotten to the illicit gathering before she had, and with a quick murmur as she brushed past the blind warrior, she purred a greeting.
"I'm glad to see you here."

As she settled down in the clearing, she fixed her gaze on the WindClan apprentice, and gave a single, firm nod.
I stand with you.

Subject: Re: If You Want Peace: Chapter 1 Thu 16 Apr 2020 - 6:37

A part of her hadn't expected anyone to show up- of course, she knew they would (or at the very least, Clovertwist and Ferretdance), but while it was one thing for a leader, deputy or even a warrior to ask to meet another, listening to the whims of a grieving apprentice wasn't something many normal cats were willing to do. Fortunately, these were not many cats, and nor were they normal- every single forestmate (for they were not all Clanmates, but they were still valued nonetheless) present was here with purpose, with reason, with conviction and strength rivalling her own.

So when the silver-furred Clovertwist looked up at her with a little confusion and a lottle concern, she simply flicked her tail towards the trees nearby, both in acknowledgement of the other cats and recognition. And with an amused "Oh, not much- just the start of a revolution," to the ThunderClan warrior (who, she noted, seemed to carry herself with a little less gravitas than the Gathering- curious), and a nod in return to Redwolf, the apprentice's viridescent eyes appreciative, Morningpaw turned to the crowd- no, the Gathering- before her.

"M-my name is-", she mewed quietly, her confidence taking a quick vacation before the sight of a half-dozen cats listening to her- and the apprentice took a deep breath, steadying herself. Dozens, maybe even hundreds, of leaders had stood upon this very rock and addressed even greater numbers, had discussed matters she could only imagine- You can do this. Someone has to.

"I am Morningpaw of WindClan. With us, we have Clovertwist and Ferretdance of WindClan; Batbite of ThunderClan; and Ravenmist, Redwolf and Smokepaw of ShadowClan." (Oh, she thanked her stars- the true ones, not the ones responsible for all this- she'd asked around for these cats' names... how awkward things would be otherwise!) And with an eloquence born from listening intently to every speech Finchstar and Raventail made for the last six moons, she continued:

"And I call you all here today under the banner of peace. This is neutral ground, and though our Clans may have had our differences, recent events require our undivided focus. We will not strike each other down, as warriors are wont to do. This forest faces a greater threat than I have ever seen in all my moons- all six of them-", the apprentice conceded, continuing after a moment; "-and only together, only with the unity and cooperation of every Clan, can we all walk out of this alive."

"I speak, of course, of those who call themselves the Righteous Few, who have struck down three of the forest's leaders already under the guise of codebreaking- but which of us has never forgot to thank StarClan for a prey's life, or eaten first as an apprentice, or stepped one paw outside our borders? We are mortal- we are flawed, and we err, but like Finchstar, like Torrentstar and Thornstar, we try. And it is our mortality, and our effort, that the Righteous Few lack- they do not fear what we fear."

The apprentice sat, looking upon the cats before her with a steely-eyed expression, her tail unusually still behind her as she spoke with the utmost seriousness.

"Death does not scare them- they are already dead. Shame does not shun them- they are already shunned. And the code does not give them order- for they live outside it, while pretending to enforce it. Perhaps they cannot be killed; perhaps they cannot be shamed; perhaps they cannot be ordered. But they too were once mortal cats, just like us, and though they may be predators, even a fox has a heart.

Alone, we are powerless; when Finchstar stood atop this rock, when he gave his life at this very spot, the other leaders did not stand with him. They sat idly by, watching as tyranny triumphed over love."

Morningpaw of WindClan tilted her head back to the stars, the moon once again shining from behind her and casting a beautiful, radiant halo around the grey-furred cat- and she stood, looking upon the cats before her, addressing them with an adamant gaze and a stalwart heart:

"Will you do the same? Or will you join in our crusade? Who will be strong and stand with me?"

Subject: Re: If You Want Peace: Chapter 1 Thu 16 Apr 2020 - 6:53

It was a good speech, Ravenmist had to give Morningpaw that. Better than any Flintstar had ever done. She prayed she could help him stay on this path, and lead their Clan through this. “I will stand by you, Morningpaw. And much of ShadowClan will be behind me.” The blind cat yowled, heart full of a confidence, a pride, that she thought was long gone. She would fight, fight to her last breath to protect the Clan, the cats she loved. And now that little family had extended beyond ShadowClan. These cats, Batbite, Clovertwist, Ferretdance, and Morningpaw, had joined the ranks of those she had sworn to protect.

______________________________________

~ ShadowClan Deputy ~
Remind Me To Post!
If You Want Peace: Chapter 1 Crowsp10

Subject: Re: If You Want Peace: Chapter 1 Thu 16 Apr 2020 - 7:20

This forest faces a greater threat than I have ever seen.

It was a sentiment that echoed in Batbite's own thoughts, with more than six moons of life behind them. The only thing that came close was the flood, where the very existence of the clans had seemed so uncertain for a time, divided and united all at once. But they'd had the guidance of their ancestors; they'd had one another to fall back on. The divide between them now was more than distance.

Right, then - she would support their tiny leader in this rebellion, of course. Morningpaw was the one who brought them together, she was the one calling the shots.

That didn't mean she wasn't going to speak, all the same.

"They think themselves above the very same pointless laws they wish to force upon us all," she muttered with distaste.

She thought about stopping there, but Morningpaw's words of cooperation struck her, reminding her of the flood once again. There was something left to add.

We band together in times of crisis.

"I was there for the Great Flood, when the clans were swept away. Cats of every clan aided one another then, just as we must now. It's not without precedent - we band together in times of crisis, time and again. Which part of the forest you call home doesn't matter when everything is at risk, and which cats you call Clanmates matters little when they turn against you. We must place our trust in one another, and we must band together if we wish to survive. We are different clans, and we are not the same - but we are warriors, bound by honor, and that is what defines us. They can strike down our leaders and our friends, but they can't take away everything we are.

I, for one, will not allow myself to be some dead cat's mossball - my choices and mistakes alike are mine alone to make, with or without a list of rules to follow. These Righteous Few, this mockery of stars, struck down a perfectly honorable warrior for nothing more than being born outside the clan she called her home. My own paws have strayed beyond this forest in the past, and while I do not know where their journey began, I do know that in the end they brought me home. That this is where I belong, whatever the stars might have to say. For the freedom to choose, I will stand with you."

Satisfied, she curled her tail around her side once more. She had said her piece, added her voice to the chorus of rebellion - she would sleep peacefully knowing her truth had been spoken. Whether the other cats would judge her for her past wanderings mattered little to her, so long as they fought by her side.

Perhaps she could come to call them friends, when this was over. It had been some time since she could do so.

______________________________________

[Only mods are allowed to see this link]
[character pages]
Leopardstar ~ Nightdancer ~ Lightningbreeze ~ Mistflower ~ Scarletflare ~ Mint
ShadowClan ~ ThunderClan ~ SkyClan ~ SkyClan ~ RiverClan ~ Guardian of Twilight
Leader ~ Warrior ~ Warrior ~ Warrior ~ Warrior ~ Rogue
Tier 5 ~ Tier 5 ~ Tier 4 ~ Tier 4 ~ Tier 2 ~ Tier 1

Subject: Re: If You Want Peace: Chapter 1 Thu 16 Apr 2020 - 8:49

rambling:

As Morningpaw's speech drew to a close, Clovertwist turned his round silver face fully to her. His eyes shone with pride, yet they were also misty with tears. He was right; this had been a speech to honor any of Finchstar's. The late leader would have been proud of what Morningpaw had begun. Clovertwist hoped his face expressed that, at least for a moment. He had been too afraid to speak up against the starry executioners, at least at first, but Morningpaw had not. Even if he thought she was reckless, she was right, and she was asking for help to stop anything like that from happening again. She had risked her life while he'd been frozen, and it had gotten Finchstar killed. He wouldn't do the same again, no matter what. No cat was too young to lead, to be an example. He'd learned that from Mink after Barleytuft's death.

The ShadowClan cat swiftly spoke her agreement, promising herself to Morningpaw's cause. Clovertwist realized only then that the dark she-cat's eyes were pale and sightless, and he was surprised. He had been surrounded by deafness, illness, loss and trauma of limb, all his life, but to see a blind cat not only learning to lead a Clan but willing to support a revolution was a glorious first. He'd remember Ravenmist. ThunderClan's representative, Batbite, spoke up shortly after, and Clovertwist's knotted tail lashed with disgruntled agreement at her very first words, for they echoed his thoughts exactly. Learning that this "Righteous Few" had since eliminated a mere warrior from ThunderClan was news that made Clovertwist's blood boil. He raised his head to give Batbite a grim nod, an apology for her loss and a welcome to the cause and an approval of her words.

Clovertwist listened with interest when Batbite spoke of the flood, for his father had been there too. He wondered what Barleytuft would have made of this - any of this. Clovertwist, himself, agreed strongly with the idea of cooperation, banding together against a threat. A group of starry ancestors who killed leaders and warriors for crimes the ancestors themselves were committing was a threat beyond measure. He nodded along with Batbite's words until at last she was quiet. Clovertwist stated, "We're on the same side. Finchstar believed in the freedom to choose, too. He believed in love. He was my mentor, not just my leader. I learned everything I could from him. These ancestors, these... 'Righteous Few'... They don't believe in freedom. They don't believe in love. They don't even believe in honor, whatever stupid nice words they say about it." He snorted with disdain, looking at the other gathered cats. He felt, somehow, less exposed with the strength of the others around him.

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Clovertwist the Loner
WindClan ex-Warrior
{ #5F9EA0 }

Barleytuft of StarClan
WindClan Warrior
{ #DA8F6F }

Marmalade the Kittypet
ex-SkyClan Medicine Cat
{ #C1550A }

Dacedream of StarClan
ThunderClan Warrior
{ #808000 }

Summer the Loner
gay drifter
{ #E86375 }

(Not Pictured: Frogmarsh of ShadowClan; Lightstep of RiverClan; Mottledspark of RiverClan)

art by sumashira [me] - click image to see profiles

Subject: Re: If You Want Peace: Chapter 1 Thu 16 Apr 2020 - 12:34

Ferretdance was so glad that he didn't face the journey to Fourtrees alone. Having Clovertwist with him gave him the bravery to follow through. He couldn't talk to Olivestone about this, and the things that he wasn't telling her seemed to be piling up day by day. It made him feel incredibly guilty, but it would have been downright unbearable if he didn't have a friend with him. He listened, impressed, as Morningpaw spoke. She seemed so much older than her six moons, so capable. He was proud of her, and of Olivestone for helping support such qualities in the apprentice.

"We're warriors, not mice. StarClan is not without sin, and the Righteous Few might be old enough to have forgotten their own, but they're not either. I can't stand by and lose anyone else just because they aren't perfect - none of us are."

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Patchwork Profiles Act II
If You Want Peace: Chapter 1 73dhchX

Patchpaw | TC Apprentice & Beetlestrike | SkC T1 Warrior
[#a4af78] [#ffc900]

Number of posts : 1307

Redwolf found herself nodding with every sentence that left the WindClan apprentice's mouth, and with every declaration of agreement from each of the cats assembled. Every cat there was kindling seeds of respect in her heart, and she knew she'd fight to protect them if the time came. The red-pelted she-cat rose to her paws and with a flick of her tail, opened her mouth to speak.
"The Righteous Few are no representation of StarClan, no matter how many times they say so. I'm not about to stand aside and let them terrorize us for what they deem sinful."

She bared her teeth and lashed her tail as she remembered Thornstar's body in camp, and how Finchstar's body crumpled on the Great Rock as Galestar took his lives from him.
"They need to be stopped, and if words can't stop them, then we'll have to back up our words with tooth and claw. They've proven that they're not afraid of using their own against us, and we must be prepared to fight back."

Subject: Re: If You Want Peace: Chapter 1 Sat 18 Apr 2020 - 21:40

As the cats before her voiced their support one by one, Morningpaw wanted to scream to the heavens- Look at us! Do you see this? Do you see what we can do when we band together?-- but she didn't. Any protest would be futile, after all- all the outrage and conviction in the forest wouldn't bring back the fallen, no matter how badly they wanted it. The apprentice hesitated for a few moments, before hopping down from the Great Rock, giving a soft mrrow of agreement to the rest of the congregation. Morningpaw paused, looking at the others with appreciation, gratitude and love- not the love of a mate, or of a mentor to their apprentice, or of two littermates, but that of the rather unique position she found herself in: she didn't know any of them well enough yet to be true friends, but these were her comrades-in-paws, those who would stand with her even against the stars themselves. And oh, she loved them all, these cats who had joined her against an overwhelming foe when each breath might be their last.

"Thank you," she mewed after a few moments, her eyes sparkling with comradeship and just the hint of a tear. "All of you. I think our ancestors- our true ancestors, not these foxhearted monsters- would be proud of you all."

Of course, there was still the issue at hand- sentimentality alone would not fight back the Righteous Few. Perhaps Redwolf was right, and words alone had already failed them; perhaps the only path to peace truly was through war. But the apprentice still hold out hope, that tiny dove within her spreading its wings just a little.

"Someone needs to do something. That someone has to be us, if no-one else will. But-- but what do we do? What can we do? You saw how they dealt with Finchstar- tooth and claw won't save us here." (I don't know if anything will, she thought, and then steeling herself, But we still have to try.)

Morningpaw the revolutionary, the firebrand, the silver-tongued, steel-hearted incendiary, was not afraid. How could she be? She had stood atop the Great Rock, taking in the wisdom of generations past, and had spoken with such conviction and such strength that even the forest itself could not doubt her. She had bloodied her claws on the muzzle of destiny, and survived; she had refused to kneel before the starry tyrants that ruled over her, and in doing so, had cast a spark, lighting the beacon of hope and truth and love.
But Morningpaw the apprentice, six moons old and far in over her head, who had seen her own leader fall like a stone at StarClan's touch? She was terrified. The Righteous Few had already killed three leaders, and apparently another warrior as well- and if they could murder the fiercest warriors in all the forest with just a touch, how could anyone hope to stand against them? If their conviction and loyalty to their cause was so great, how could anyone hope to turn them? And if Finchstar's fate was shared by all who took a similar stand... how could anyone hope to defy them?
Oh, Morningpaw-the-apprentice was terrified. She just couldn't show it.

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character profiles / art by Peridot

Morningdove	\|\|	Firepaw
WindClan T1 Warrior	\|\|	SkyClan Apprentice
15 HP / 50 SP (d)	\|\|	20 HP / 80 SP
palevioletred	\|\|	darkgoldenrod

Subject: Re: If You Want Peace: Chapter 1 Sun 19 Apr 2020 - 6:19

Ravenmist stepped forward, tail flicking in passion, eagerness, anxiety. “If they take down all of us, they have no cats left to enforce the Code upon. They must know this. After all, they didn’t strike us down at the Gathering for disobedience, when they had another task to do. I don’t know whether spirits can die, but I see no other option. Until we know of a better way, we will fight in the name of justice.”

Her ears swiveled around the clearing, ever casting her hearing out to the edges, trying to find, and dreading, strange pawsteps. She, at her core, was scared. But something made her different from Flintstar. Despite the fear she’d held, her entire life, she never stopped fighting. Terror drove her to fight harder, not give up. “I-I’ll ask Mothglow, our medicine cat, to come to the next meeting. She knows StarClan better than any of us. She might have fresh ideas.”

______________________________________

~ ShadowClan Deputy ~
Remind Me To Post!
If You Want Peace: Chapter 1 Crowsp10

Subject: Re: If You Want Peace: Chapter 1 Sun 19 Apr 2020 - 15:35

Clovertwist felt a little stronger still as his own Clanmate, Ferretdance, voiced his support of the plan. He nodded along to his friend's words, feeling especially strongly when Ferretdance noted none of them were perfect. His kinked tail twitched in subtle acknowledgement of the truth of that statement. Clovertwist looked at the ShadowClan warrior Redwolf as she stated her opinion, and Clovertwist let out a soft snort of irritated agreement; these cats weren't StarClan, or at the very least they weren't the StarClan Barleytuft had known and loved. Whoever they were, Clovertwist wouldn't bow to them. Finchstar wouldn't, and he wouldn't either, even if they were willing to destroy all of WindClan because of it. Redwolf's fury was infectious, and his own teeth bared in solidarity at her words.

The WindClan tom looked up to Morningpaw again, the brave - or reckless, depending on which situation and who one asked - apprentice who had gathered them all under the waning full moon in preparation to defy StarClan. Clovertwist could see the hard determination and pride in her sparkling eyes, and he watched as she gathered herself for what came next - whatever that might be. She thanked them, and he dipped his head at the mention of their true ancestors. Barleytuft, I hope this makes you proud. I hope you understand. Clovertwist looked back up to Morningpaw as she finally asked the dreaded question they all had wondered: what could they do? His determination ebbed slightly at the suddenly daunting dilemma before them.

Ravenmist was first to speak, and the logic she spoke was only a mild comfort. Sure, StarClan could destroy the Clan cats entirely - it was very possible for them - but it was true they'd have no one left to obey their will. Clovertwist listened thoughtfully to her words. When she finished by mentioning she would ask their medicine cat, though, Clovertwist bristled with slight alarm and glanced to Ferretdance. His thoughts immediately went to Aspenheart and what a shrieking, screaming fit the tom would have if Clovertwist came to him with something like that. "Uh - I'm sorry, Ravenmist. Hi, uh, I'm Clovertwist. With all due respect, is that a good idea?" he questioned the deputy. His eyes widened and he glanced around apologetically; he felt a little out of his league arguing with both an elder cat and deputy. "I, uh, I am sure Aspenheart doesn't represent every Clan's medicine cats, but if they're representatives of StarClan, isn't it risky to tell any of them what we're doing?" He scuffed a paw apologetically, but he was ready to defend himself if anyone got snippy.

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Clovertwist the Loner
WindClan ex-Warrior
{ #5F9EA0 }

Barleytuft of StarClan
WindClan Warrior
{ #DA8F6F }

Marmalade the Kittypet
ex-SkyClan Medicine Cat
{ #C1550A }

Dacedream of StarClan
ThunderClan Warrior
{ #808000 }

Summer the Loner
gay drifter
{ #E86375 }

(Not Pictured: Frogmarsh of ShadowClan; Lightstep of RiverClan; Mottledspark of RiverClan)

art by sumashira [me] - click image to see profiles

Subject: Re: If You Want Peace: Chapter 1 Sun 19 Apr 2020 - 16:21

Ravenmist shook her head, smiling at Clovertwist. “Your medicine cat must be very different from mine, Clovertwist. Mothglow is my younger sister, and I know that she’s against what these StarClanners are asking us to do. Believe me, she can be trusted. It’s a valid question, though. I did not intend to advise recklessness in recruiting.” Her tone was polite, friendly, though tension shone through, not necessarily due to Clovertwist, Morningpaw, or any other one cat, but the gravity of the mission their group had found themselves on. It was dawning on the deputy that in the end, they would fight StarClan themselves, or die trying.

She decided to pull her mind away from those thoughts through speaking again. “Most of my Clanmates and I are related, and I’m close to many. Flintstar is my older brother’s son, and Thornstar was his mother. As quiet as he was during Finchstar’s death, it was out of fear, not nonchalance. He is against these StarClanners as strongly as any of us, though I worry his fear would cause him to side with them.”

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~ ShadowClan Deputy ~
Remind Me To Post!
If You Want Peace: Chapter 1 Crowsp10

» If You Want Peace: Chapter 2
» a new chapter (c)
» REDWALL FAN-FIC :D By Bloo
» A New Chapter
» Destiny: By Frosty