If You Want Peace: Chapter 2

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"Not long ago, WindClan was struck with a great sickness," the apprentice called out from atop the Great Rock, looking up at the starry sky and the barely-visible moon. StarClan had yet to voice its disapproval at the meetings, if the lack of rainclouds was anything to go by; either that, or it was proof that they were not, as they claimed, omniscient. "Out of respect for those afflicted, I will not give their names, but I have no doubt that the Righteous Few are behind this; only those they look down upon have suffered. They have no right. They are not the supreme overlords of the forest, their every whim to be followed without question on pain of death- but simply cats, good and bad, who have passed on and crossed the veil into the stars. So what gives them the right to call down curses upon the living? Why should the so-called Righteous Few be obeyed without question?" she spoke, turning her gaze to the cats in the crowd. So many familiar faces, and even more she didn't recognise- warriors and apprentices from the whole forest were here to fight back. It made sense, she supposed- if each cat had invited three more... she shouldn't have been surprised at the size of the crowd- but nevertheless, she still was. Is this what Finchstar felt?, Morningpaw wondered, before taking a deep breath and continuing.

"If a code is worth following, should it not be because of its own merit, rather than the fear of celestial tooth and claw? If to speak out against tyrants is a sin, then should we not be sinners? Those who walk as saints, those who call themselves Righteous, are anything but. They have descended onto us like eagles, trying to divide us and strip us away from what makes us Clan cats- not the Code, not StarClan, but our Clans themselves. They tear parents from their kits, lovers from their mates, leaders from their Clans, they strike us down with tooth and claw and vengeful sickness- they are anything but Righteous, and I see no choice but to stand against them, no matter their might. The Warrior Code demands loyalty to one's Clan- not to the vengeful spirits from the stars above us, but to the living, breathing cats among us. And what is loyalty if not standing up against impossible odds, remaining firm even against an unstoppable wind?"

The apprentice looked down at the congregation of cats with a warm smile and a sparkle of hope in her emerald eyes. Every cat here, she knew (or hoped) stood with her- and though a few seemed uncertain, not quite meeting her gaze, she was sure that the bonds of the Clans would prove stronger than any starry claw. Nobody here was a traitor to their Clan, after all- nobody here would raise a claw against their own kin just to satisfy the whims of the dead. No, the Righteous Few had already lost, Morningpaw thought. They lost this fight the moment they lost our hearts. It had never been about the Code, but about obedience- they wanted mice, cowed and skittish, and they would received lions, proud and fierce. The next meeting, she resolved, would have to have battle training- not to drive out StarClan's chosen, but to defend against them for if, and when, they would strike again.

"I won't pretend this isn't dangerous, reckless, going against StarClan's claimed representatives- and if any of you want to turn back, then do so, and you will not be judged. You do not have to be here- for those who leave, you will be safe. But for those who stay, some will fall, and some will live. Will you stand up and take the chance?" A moment passed, and Morningpaw noted with satisfaction the resolute looks in many of the crowd. "I will, no matter the cost. Loyalty is not born from fear and hatred, but from love- and just like you all, I love the forest. I would bleed for it, and fight for it, and just like Torrentstar, Thornstar, Finchstar, Dacedream- I may die for it. But know this- we will fight not with the strength of cats, but with the hearts of lions--" Morningpaw hopped down from the Great Rock in a single bound, her paws stinging a little at the landing- but as she looked upon the cats among her, not as a listless figurehead, but as one of them, a lover, a fighter, a hero, she could feel her heart swell just a little with the knowledge that, no matter what, these cats would stand with her- in this life or the next.

Willowpaw had arrived late. Her scars had fully healed by now, but she still wasn’t so sure that she could fight that much. She had already seen some cats get sick. It seemed worse than greencough. As Morningpaw the apprentice spoke out, Willowpaw looked up at her in respect.

Streampaw sat, her blue gray pelt glowing silver under the moonlight. As Morningpaw talked about the plague, Streampaw flinched. How dare StarClan do this? They have done NOTHING wrong. she thought angrily. I have nothing against rogues or loners, or mixed blood cats of any Clan.

Ebonypaw stared at Morningpaw. Her pelt prickled uncomfortably. She wasn’t the type of cat to be bold and take risks. Ebonypaw had just started her training and barely knew anything about StarClan. But, if what Morningpaw says is true, and StarClan really sent down the plague, I will join this rebellion.

Moonpaw padded into the clearing after her friend, a black shadow following her white pelt. She took a seat next to Willowpaw, looking up to the giant rock and who was currently speaking from where the leaders usually sat. Morningpaw looked regal as she talked about the Righteous few, the StarClan cats who had betrayed them, sending a deadly illness to plague those who didn't have pure blood. What kind of reason was that? That night, Moonpaw and every other cat gathered there would stand against them. Or they would all die trying, but she didn't think about that. She listened attentively to Morningpaw's words, ears flicked forward and eyes glued to the WindClan apprentice.

Ashpaw came alone, slinking into the edge of the place where the clans held monthly gatherings. But now they were gathered here not to chat and mingle, but to fight against the cats who would kill those without pure blood without mercy, despite the fact that they could be killing the ones who were the most loyal to their clan. She knew she didn't need to worry about dying, but now she had a purpose. She would rebel against the Righteous Few until they succeeded or she died. She stared up at Morningpaw respectfully. The WindClan apprentice was brave, leading the rebellion. StarClan had committed a crime, and now they were going to pay.

Another forbidden meeting, another powerful, emotional, and compelling speech by Morningpaw, another moon of tragedy. Clovertwist sat stony-faced near the Great Rock, looking towards his Clanmate but not quite at her. She already knew his feelings; he already knew hers. WindClan was wounded, and the Righteous Few had dealt the blows. Clovertwist held no love for them... All of his love for StarClan was wavering. Clovertwist looked at Morningpaw as she jumped down from the Great Rock to join the gathered cats once more. He was surprised by how many had come, and truthfully it made him more anxious that word would spread to any who might stop them, but if he couldn't have faith in StarClan, then he had to have faith in the living. He nodded to her sentiment, thinking of Finchstar. Had he been received with warmth?

Crowspirit, this time, stood near the rock, gazing up at Morningpaw. He had never dreamed that his daughter would lead this great rebellion, but it worked. She was brave, charismatic, strong, all the qualities a leader would have. They would succeed against these StarClanners. They would avenge Finchstar. And if they were taken down, they’d take a few of the star-ridden fools with them.

Ravenmist padded into the clearing, far busier now. Her ears and nose searched for Mothglow as she slipped into the crowd. She had asked her younger sister to come, and she could only hope she would show up. Clovertwist, the WindClan tom from their last meeting, was here. Morningpaw, obviously was, and a cat who smelled like her, oddly familiar. That was it. He was her father, the cat who had first cried out when Finchstar was killed. Briefly, she wondered how close Morningpaw’s family had been to Finchstar, or if he was a member of her family.

Cedarheart padded into the area, gazing up at Morningpaw. The apprentice had inspired her speaking out at the gathering, and the young warrior was with her, all of the way! Batbite had told her about this, and she had to come. After Dacedream’s death, Oakstar’s demotion, everything was leading up to this. She was ready to fight against these ‘Righteous Few’ that had hurt the clans so much.

Goldengale arrived late, having had to wait for Grousefrost to fall to slumber before slipping out of camp and to Fourtrees. Her gaze landed on Clovertwist's pelt, and she made her way over to her brother without a word, settling next to him. The disease, the death... It was wrong. Something had to be done. She secretly doubted this was the best way to go about it, but she did have to admit that she had been impressed by Morningpaw's drive and determination. She had faith that things would work out, one way or the other. She had to place her faith in something, at least, considering that StarClan had spit her faith in them in her face.

Mothglow had managed to pull herself away from her patients for the sake of her sister's words - Ravenmist's offer, of a collective of cats prepared to stand against the ancestors that had abandoned them, was too intriguing to refuse; and so it was that she watched a WindClan apprentice take up the mantle of leader, with a speech that rivaled any she'd heard in her time. Morningpaw was only an apprentice, but her courage and commitment rivaled any leader worth their word. She would gladly follow this child to war, if war was the only way forward.

[OOC: Batbite, who was at the first meeting, is notably absent due to the plague.]

Redwolf pushed her way into Fourtrees for the third time that moon, the bushes combing through her thick pelt as she took in the sight of many more cats before her. She settled into the crowd as she watched Morningpaw echo her own thoughts, the gray tabby she-cat filling her and the rest of the crowd with determination to fight against the Righteous Few. She dug her claws into the ground as her rage for the so-called StarClan warriors built up, and she knew she'd die for her Clan before she'd listen to those mange-pelts.

---

Cherryblossom made her way into Fourtrees, following her apprentice and few other warriors of ThunderClan to the sacred oaks, where she saw Morningpaw atop the Great Rock, just like before, ready to deliver yet another speech. She settled in beside Moonpaw, and as Morningpaw began to speak, she found herself agreeing with every word that left the gray apprentice's mouth. Soon, she felt anger blooming in her heart, and she knew that she wanted to be the one to take down the cats that had murdered Dacedream.

Larkpaw gazed around the crowd. How many cats were there? A lot, that was for sure. The tabby apprentice shifted closer to Crowspirit. As Morningpaw spoke, Larkpaw's fear of 'StarClan' slowly morphed into anger. Anger at them, for spreading this sickness. Anger at them for killing her Clan's leader. Angry at them for calling themselves StarClan. She knew what StarClan was supposed to be, from her moonstone journey. This was not them.

Taking a deep breath, Robinloft pushed through the bushes surrounding fourtrees. It felt odd being there, and it felt even more so that she actually wanted to be there. From what she'd hear from the recent gathering, she thought she'd never want to be back here. Yet, here she was, but for an entire different purpose. She was here now to help bring justice. When she shifted her gaze toward the center of the clearing, she saw a tabby apprentice giving a speech. 'was she the one hosting this whole thing? She must be awful brave' She thought. She stepped closer to the heart of fourtrees and stood among the crowd of cats.

Cedarheart finally had decided on what she would say. ”I am a warrior from one of the most accepting clans, Thudnerclan. And we are no lesser to any clan because of this. All of our members are loyal and strong. One of our very best, kindest, most amazing, loyal cats was from Riverclan. But I never thought as her as such. She is Thunderclan through and through. Dacedream did not deserve her fate. Who are they to question or leaders? Who are they to strike down the best cats? They say it is for our own good, but really, it isn’t. It’s because they are bitter. But if all five clans stand together, we can take down these so-called Righteous Few. More like Wrong-teous Few.” she let out a little snort of laughter at her joke. ”Our leader has been demoted. He was a strong leader, and didn’t deserve that punishment in the slightest. Both our medicine cat and medicine cat apprentice aren’t full Thunderclan. Mossbloom was adopted and Daisybloom is Oakstar’s daughter. They are fantastic and extremely capable healers. So maybe they kill these cats, send plagues, but guess what? This only makes us angrier and adds to our ranks! So, ‘Righteous Few’, strike us down if you want. We’ll only come back stronger.” she said with defiance toward the heavens. She looked at the gathered cats. She was barely more than an apprentice, really, but she felt strongly about this. She wasn’t going to just let it go.

The nods of approval and murmurs of agreement were all Morningpaw needed to see- and they confirmed what she already knew: I'm not alone in this. Back at the Gathering, she had- for a few brief moments- thought the opposite; that she would stand up, cry out for justice, and be struck down without a second thought, a cautionary tale for those flowers that might grow too tall, those wax-winged birds that might fly too high. But no, others had joined her, a chorus of defenders of peace, all crying out in unison- and perhaps it had achieved nothing then, but now? Now everyone knew the sins of the Righteous Few, and knew that to do nothing was to admit defeat? Now, Morningpaw was simply the vanguard, and what seemed like the whole forest was behind the cause- as far as she was concerned, it was not the apprentice Morningpaw that the cats before her followed, but the cause of justice, truth, peace, and love- she was simply a messenger. (A messenger who really liked giving speeches.)

"Well said," she called out with a nod to Cedarheart- the ThunderClan warrior's speech carried just as much passion as hers, and the fire of hope within her grew just a little more. "When I look at what we have here? I see a whole army of cats from all Clans, here in defiance of tyranny. These tyrants, these Wrongteous Few, as the ThunderClan warrior puts it- they may hurt us, placing their curses within our bodies like the foxhearted cowards they are- they may even kill us without even needing to raise a claw. So fight, and we may die; run, and we will live, for at least a while.

But we are not mice- we are warriors. And if they try and separate us, we will do what warriors do best- we will fight in the name of peace. And perhaps they will come down and strip away our lives, as they did Finchstar; perhaps they will kill us with tooth and claw, as they did Dacedream. But we will fight nonetheless, because we are loyal to the forest, not to the jagged claws of threats from the stars. They may take our lives- but they will never take our freedom."

Clovertwist glanced aside to Goldengale's familiar bright tabby pelt as she arrived a short time after he had settled in to listen to Morningpaw's speech. He hadn't been able to keep the truth of his departure from Goldengale - though truthfully, he hadn't tried. He had promised his sister that they would be a team again like they had been when they were young, and it would've been false of him to keep such a cause from her after the heartfelt discussion they'd had a moon prior. Clovertwist had confessed his recent sneaking out to her and even went so far as to explain there was another meeting of the revolutionaries that night. He expected he would see her there, and he was relieved that he at least still knew her that well. He brushed his tabby pelt to hers, trying to give his sister strength.

In the meantime, a ThunderClan cat whose name Clovertwist didn't know began to speak up, her voice strong and proud as she told of her Clan and its heritage. He nodded in agreement each time the she-cat questioned the starry ancestors. When she joked about their name, Clovertwist snickered despite himself, casting an apologetic look aside at Goldengale. It was serious, and he knew it, but it was hard not to laugh at some good wordplay. The ThunderClan she-cat finished by declaring that the Righteous Few would never be able to defeat the revolution, for they would always come back stronger. Clovertwist let out a yowl of agreement. Morningpaw addressed the crowd again, sounding proud, once again citing them all as warriors: fighters, not mice. Perhaps he'd always known they'd have to try to raise their claws against the starry cats, but the idea of it was no more appealing when it was spelled out before them.

Clovertwist flexed his claws, and he let out another yowl in support of Morningpaw. He would raise his claws and fight with her. For Finchstar. For Barleytuft. For Ploverpuddle. For Zinnia and Raventail and Dappleshine and every cat who deserved so much better than this. Clovertwist looked at Goldengale, hoping she understood. There was no other choice; be subservient, trampled, and dishonorable, or be brave and true to everything they'd ever been taught. The "warrior code" the Righteous Few wanted them to follow wasn't the same one they had all learned. The Righteous Few were willing to murder. If he and the other cats here needed to die to defend what was true, well... that was what they'd have to do.

OOC: Since Nightwolf signed up is it okay to join this?

Nightwolf followed his apprentice into a clearing with other cats. Talking about Starclan. The evil group of Starclan cats. Nightwolf listened in. Should he speak up? Should he tell all these cats about his beliefs of the rightous few? Maybe I should. After all the rightous few killed 3 leaders! I wanna take a stand against the rightous few with all these cats. Maybe I should wait until more cats speak up.