Whipping Winds [WindClan Sitewide Topic]

“H-How can it be s-so cold?”

Hayglow hissed softly to herself as she sat bundled at the entrance of the WindClan camp, glaring at the air around her as if that would cause it to warm up. She had heard tales of how the seasons would take a turn toward the cold but never had she thought it would be this cold. She groaned, dreading her short fur as an icy breeze ruffled her pelt, causing her to wince as she shivered.

She hung her head, wishing that she was in the warm confines of the tall grass, cuddling up with her Clanmates but...No, she had been assigned to watch the entrance. It wasn’t the most exciting job - there weren't even any fireflies to count! Just...Nothing. Her ears slick back as she turned her gaze out onto the horizon, trying to see if there was anything worth making out…

Then, there was a nearby rustle of the grass. She jumped onto her paws, tail fluffing out as she let out a surprised hiss. Her eyes swung to the patches of tall grass, ears perked as she took a small step forward. “H-Hello? Who is there?” she questioned, opening her mouth to try to taste the air. Something was...Wrong - scents she didn’t know filled the air but none of stuck out…

There was a long silence, no reply...No more sounds. Slowly, she started to relax - perhaps she had just heard a rabbit or hare. She couldn’t deny it was a bit...Creepy, how still the night was - there wasn’t much of a surprise that the littlest sound would cause her to jump out of her pelt. She shifted to take her place again - before a new sound caught her ear. Thudding paws, from the other side of her.

Hayglow started to turn but it was already too late as heavy paws nailed her into the side, a dark pelt throwing her to the ground. Suddenly, the area around her was alive with even more shifting sounds and she opened her mouth to take a breath and call out but a heavy paw slamming into her throat sent the air out with a painful gasp. Another paw - a different cat - brought down a paw heavy on her muzzle, sending it into the dirt and making it harder to even get in any air just to breath. She struggled to move, to escape, to breathe, but heavy forms pinned her, amber and orange eyes flickering above her.

She could barely make out the outline of cats - one dark brown, the other one lighter with the same creamy white splotches around them. On their cheeks, both on their left one, was three scars - overlapping in some way. Their eyes were no longer on her - but on something approaching. The WindClan warrior’s gaze couldn’t help but follow them - finding seeing a dark form slip past them.

Unable to lift her head, Hayglow could only make out so much - dark paws as the figure strolled past her...And something being dragged - something large. Something...Golden. Familiar. It took a struggling breath that brought a scent rolling over her to realize what it was, terror gripping her heart as her whole body went cold. Goldengale. She was...She…

Teeth suddenly met the back of Hayglow’s neck as the paws were removed from her neck and muzzle but yet...She suddenly lacked the energy to fight back - to cry out a warning - as tears brimmed the corner of her eyes. She made no attempt to escape, to do...Anything as she was dragged into the WindClan camp by her attackers.

-------------------

Huh, things had barely changed… The brown she-cat came to a stop shortly into the WindClan camp, eyes falling over the tall grass which she knew hid the ‘mighty’ warriors of WindClan. Pitiful - had they really thought that a single guard would protect them? She bared her teeth, which was a little hard with the golden scruff that was in her mouth… Ah, right. She supposed it was time to return her to her family.

With a huff, she threw the body of Goldengale into the center of the WindClan camp, watching with glee as it rolled limply to a stop - coated with blood and wounds from a vicious end at her paws. Content with her work, she turned to look at her team, Alois dragging the pitiful WindClan guard into the camp - Lexine sticking close to make sure nothing was tried. Roe slipped in behind them, quietly taking a place at her side as she flickered her tail at the other two.

With a dutiful nod, Alois dropped Hayglow - before he brought down claws onto her throat. The she-cat whimpered and squirm underneath his paws, blood not yet being drawn but the threat was there while Lexine moved to pin down Hayglow to prevent her from making any escape attempts. She was going to be a good little hostage…

The brown she-cat let out a soft laugh, giving a smile to Roe as he gave her a leveled look. “This is how you get it done, Roe. This is masterful work at play, I assure you. Now...Lets see how much their ‘love’ for each other still holds up, hm?” she purred, giving her companion a playful wink as she took a step toward the tall grass and raised her head. “WindClan! It's time to wake up!”

As her call rang out, there was more movement - but not just the stirring of WindClan themselves...But countless other cats slipping into the camp, into their position to circle the unexpecting Clan. Her soldiers, her men...All loyal, powerful and even out numbering the numerous WindClan. But they all waited patiently as WindClan slowly stirred and as cats started to step from the tall grass, the strange she-cat took the opportunity to speak once again.

“I don’t mean you any harm, I am simply here to discuss the terms of your imminent surrender,” she explained, golden eyes glimmering as her gaze jumped from cat to cat. “To reject or fight back is to forfeit the life of your guard-” As she spoke, she gently raised a back paw and pressed it down on Hayglow’s throat, claws digging into the soft fur and flesh - her gaze not shifting and her smile still pleasant. “-Plus any cats that we must until you give in and surrender. Make no mistakes - you are outnumbered and outskilled. Take Goldengale here as an example of our work.”

As she finished, the tall grass shifted as the dozens of cats that had laid in wait started to press forward, muscles tensed and eyes gleaming as they all dared WindClan to make a move. It was suddenly clear that WindClan was surrounded on all sides - every den’s entrance being blocked by the intruders. “There is no need for bloodshed tonight, no need to risk the lives of your Clanmates…If you surrender, Goldengale will be the only one of yours you will need to bury.”

She suddenly paused, blinking as she shook her head. “...Ah, I do apologize,” she purred, a soft laugh escaping her - strange considering the tension in the air. She raised a paw to her chest, claws sinking slightly into her chest fur as she fixed all of WindClan bared teeth in a grin as she swished her tail. “I haven’t introduced myself. How foolish of me.

“My name is Theron, Captain of the Nightstrikers. It's a pleasure to terrorize you all again, WindClan.”

OOC: WindClan has fallen, follow this link for more details

Spoiler:

As the yowl went up, Olivestar was jerked from fitful sleep, and the leader scrambled to her paws, looking around in alarm. Shadows melted into more, and then solidified into shapes, as predators began filing into camp from everywhere imaginable, the scent of cat confusing her until her eyes adjusted to the dim light, and the fact that there we cats under the pelts came to light. All the stories that the leader had been told by her late fathers burst forth in her head as she regarded the intruders, and the hunch she'd had at the last Gathering weighed down in her belly as it turned out to be right.

From what Elmskip had told her about Theron, she recognized the intruding she-cat, and if she hadn't she would have known anyway, by the speech she gave, and her final introduction. Taking a deep breath, Olivestar drew herself up to her full height as she regarded Theron, glancing at Goldengale's still form, swallowing the grief that rose in her throat once again, as it had done many times in the past moon. Still, she approached the Nightstriker captain, stopping a fox-length away, and spoke.
"I can't say that it's nice to see you back here, Theron. I thought you'd had enough when WindClan sent you and your buddies running away last time. I am Olivestar, leader of WindClan, and you will answer to me regarding what happens within my Clan."

She glanced around at the numerous enemies, clearly outnumbering her and every single one of her Clanmates, then to Hayglow under another Nightstriker's paws, claws beginning to dig into her skin. Gritting her teeth, she looked back at Theron, and dug her claws into the ground as she regarded the captain's words. She knew that they had no chance of winning, not like this, and as loathe as she was to admit it, surrender was the only safe option. With another regretful glance to Goldengale's still form, Olivestar dipped her head, and responded,
"I am in no way pleased to admit this, but, WindClan surrenders. However, WindClan is still my Clan to lead, and I intend on holding my rank, despite your... occupation here."

Her mate's rising jostled Zinnia only slightly, but it was enough to wake her nonetheless. She followed Olivestar's lead, hoping to see what was the matter, before the reason for the figure's familiarity struck. It wasn't so much a personal familiarity, but she knew of Nightstrikers - they had killed her first leader, and she had fought them when she was not yet a warrior and merely a friend seeking to aid those in need. The senseless violence haunted her worst nights even now, images of cats in fox skin, covered in blood and the sharpest of teeth.

WindClan had been haunted enough by a smaller number than she saw now surrounded them. She didn't see any escape route, no way they could fight to gain their freedom...

And as Olivestar surrendered she turned her gaze to her mate with clear confusion written on her face. It was the logical conclusion, the safest path, but what had led her to take it this time? She had half-expected her to stand and fight despite the awful odds. "Olivestar...?"

Violetpaw heard an unfamiliar voice calling to wake her clan. What? Are kits playing outside? She yawned, stretching and standing up, shaking her thick pelt. She stood up, hearing a few quieter muffled meows from outside the den. Violetpaw's mind went straight to her first thought. Did these cats take our kits? Feeling a sudden rush of energy she stepped outside, but not before grabbing her feather and grooming it.

She looked around, Windclan was surrounded with strange and unfamiliar cats. She spotted Olivestar, facing what seemed to be the leader of the group. Theron, is what the cat called themselves, Captain of the Nighstrikers. Olivestar was quick to back down, and Violetpaw saw herself willing to do the same if she was in her leader's paws. "D-did you take our kits?" Violetpaw mumbled, it wasn't supposed to come out that way, but at least her words were still recognisable.

Clenching her feather tighter, she had a proper look around. These cats were definitely more than rogues, and definitely capable of taking helpless kits.

AS Zinnia stepped up to stand beside her, Olivestar was grateful for her mate's presence as she surrendered the Clan she loved to the intruders. Truthfully, it hurt her heart to do so, but she couldn't risk her Clan coming to harm over such a clear-cut decision. As Zinnia looked to her, the question in her gaze as clear as the light of day, the leader lowered her voice and murmured,
"There's too many of them, and we can't risk this many injuries this late in the season. We also can't risk losing more of our Clanmates. Right here and now, we have no way to win. It's best to play along. For now."

The last two words were barely whispered to Zinnia, and Olivestar then turned back to face Theron, staring the other she-cat down as she waited for the Nightstriker captain to respond.

As he filed into the sandy, gorse-shrouded pit beside his fellows, Pyrik grimaced beneath his fox pelt. It wasn't solely the blood, nor the blank expression the dead golden tabby wore as he passed her, that unnerved him; while handling the pelt currently draped over his shoulders, he'd dealt with both of those things and worse. Just...not on another cat. Especially a cat who could have been working beside them instead. But though Theron may not have been his captain, she was still a captain, with Asylum's best interests at heart (even if that heart was probably pebble-sized). Moreover, she was Theron. Even if she were a Pelt Ward, he wouldn't dare question her.

Thankfully, the gray cat who called herself WindClan's leader seemed to be thinking along the same lines. With obvious resentment but no hesitance, she surrendered. At least there wouldn't be any more bloodshed today... At that thought, Pyrik couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the guard trapped under Theron's claws. Still, he settled into his place in the circle without protest, searching the strange faces for any sign of rebellion.

---

Raventail walked, bleary-eyed, into a nightmare. Though more than a season had gone by since his last dream about the beast-cats (which, not coincidentally, had happened the night after he’d stumbled across a raccoon-wearer in the Flower Fields), each one always felt as real as the one before, at least until he jolted awake to feel Dappleshine’s soft fur pressed against his. That was the only possible explanation for what he was seeing. Bodies gushing through the gorse tunnel, holding down warriors, apprentices, any cat who could fight. Gathering behind them, a ring of cats and predator-cats, shoulder to shoulder. Hayglow, the camp guard, pinned to the earth by a smiling she-cat, and Goldengale—

Goldengale.

His legs were merciful enough to warn him before they gave way. He had just enough time to stagger back into the side of the elders’ den—or what would have been the elders’ den, if the swarm hadn’t wedged themselves in behind him. Raventail straightened as if struck by lightning, swaying, and focused on swallowing until the taste of bile was at least halfway gone. Olivestar, as far away as Silverpelt, said something about surrender. That seemed fair enough. They couldn’t fight back, not against these numbers. Besides…there were five Clans in this forest. The first time, the so-called “Nightstrikers” had left the rest of them alone; maybe WindClan was the only one they knew about. And maybe, just maybe, the others could send help.

But that didn’t matter quite yet. He had to focus on the things that did. Raventail’s gaze darted over the camp in search of two pelts among the pinned cats: one striped and silvery, the other mottled with brown, orange, and white. “Dappleshine,” he called, voice low—both in the hopes of escaping the Nightstrikers’ notice, and because he wasn’t sure he could physically raise it. “Dappleshine, where’s Fogpaw.”

The soft thud of Goldengale’s body hitting the ground sent Amberfluff springing to her paws instantly, alert and awake. The next moment, she saw shadows pouring into the den. For a second, she contemplated running out, then dismissed the idea. With her bulky build, she would be caught immediately, if what has happened to Hayglow meant anything.

However, Amberfluff did want to be able to know what was going on outside. Quickly, she shifted her body into a position so she could see outside, then pinned her fur against her body. Her ears stood up high as she listened, and she made sure to not make any noise as a claw moved to her throat. She must not stand out.

As Theron spoke, Amberfluff watched for Olivestar’s reaction. She had obviously known of this Theron cat, either by experience or by word of mouth. Judging by Zinnia’s look, these were probably very dangerous enemies, since Amberfluff knew Zinnia to be one of the most capable Warriors of WindClan.

The Clan then began to fall silent, and Amberfluff took the chance to look around. She moved carefully, making sure to only shift her head and barely move her body. There were so many cats around the Clan. Enough to outnumber them at a three-to-one, maybe a four-to-one. Possibly even a five-to-one. All those cats wore the pelts of animals. Foxes, badgers, raccoons. Amberfluff spotted a few who wore the pelts of rabbits at the very back. Maybe those are the lower-ranked members?

Lilacpaw had barely woken up when she saw what seemed to her to be a hundred dark shapes, all different predators. And some of them actually spoke??? What was going on? It was not until her vision had cleared from her prior sleep that she realized they were cats wearing the pelts of the predators Clan cats usually avoided. How is this possible? Who were these cats, and what did they want?

She could see her mother confronting the rogues, and she froze as she heard her surrender the Clan. Her throat burned, partially from tears, partially from the increasing need to scream, but she held both down, though she could not hide how much she was shaking.

Standing up, she made a bee-line for the nursery. She had faith in her mother, and trusted in her decisions. But the kits did not need to see this. Sitting down, she planted herself at the entrance, attempting to block what was going on outside as she kept a weary eye on the rogues.

Maplewhisker jolted out of her nest at the sound of cats, the fur on her neck rising at the voices of unfamiliar cats.  Before she could get out of the warriors' den, she listened as Olivestar gave the call of surrender.  Surprise seeped from Maplewhisker.  She had not known her leader to be one who gave up easily.  Bursting into the clearing, her heart almost stopped completely at what was waiting there.  So many cats, too many to count, were surrounding the clearing.  These looked like more than just rogues.  

Maplewhisker wished that she could leap into battle to fight this threat, but it would be foolish to do so without orders from Olivestar.  Keeping herself prepared, she tensed herself in case the intruders decided to attack, even after her Clan had already surrendered.

Spotlake flinched at the sound of a familiar voice and a familiar scent. No it can't be. They couldn't be back. The calico jumped up from her nest  and ran out and saw them. And she also saw Goldengale. Dead. Spotlake looked in horror as she saw her former mentor dead, and the cats that attacked them many moons ago here in their camp. She immeaditly ran up to Goldengale's body and hissed at them. At the terrible cats. "What are you doing here?" She hissed, her usual calm and soft demenior gone.


At the sound of Olivestar's voice, Spotlake imeaditly whipped her head back towards her leader. "Surrender? Oliverstar you can't be serious. These cats are dangerous. They killed Goldengale for Starclan's sake! Their nothing but trouble. You can't just surrender."

Zinnia nodded; it made sense enough that Olivestar's surrender was a temporary solution. She ought to have assumed as much, honestly - her mate was many things, plenty of them wonderful, but none of them quite so stupid as to leave themselves completely vulnerable. They could not win this fight - not here, not now - and so to even try would be a foolish death indeed. Though it went against every instinct she had, she bowed her head. "If this is what you think is best... To surrender ourselves... I promised that I would follow you on whatever path you chose for WindClan, and I will continue to do so."

---

Thalia's fox pelt, one that was admittedly rarely worn (though this had seemed like a special sort of occasion), hid her face from their targets, a fact for which she was incredibly grateful. Despite her dedication to their cause, there was a lingering nervousness she could never seem to completely shake; made worse at the moment by being without her preferred partner and under the rather intimidating eye of her Captain, though Theron was currently occupied with - what was it the she-cat that seemed to be in charge here had called it, WindClan? - yes, that sounded right, Theron was currently occupied with WindClan's leadership.

The young Nightstriker couldn't recall a life before Asylum, nor could she think of a reason to - the Asylum was great and powerful, it was her home and her family and her place; one she fought each day to feel like she deserved. WindClan's surrender, then, was a welcome relief - that perhaps these cats, too, would see the beauty of their ways in time; that they could continue without any further bloodshed.

Mishka, just like always, dutifully followed her orders. She felt no pity for Windclan, since this should've been what they always wanted. As long as they didn't fight back. The older she-cat that had died at their claws would have just been trouble, surely. Stopped her group from finding salvation, and would've been a risk when Asylum eventually took over. But if these cats were submissive (just like every cat not in power should be, she thought), everything would go smoothly.

She headed towards the nursery, as she was aware that a weak cat like her would be no use against fully trained warriors. Better to leave them to the Nightstalkers. As quietly as she could, the sand coloured rabbit pelt on top of her disguising her colouring slightly, she crept into the den. She was about to wake the queen beside her, who was suckling very young kits, but was stopped by their leaders call. They were surrendering already? Must've been that golden warrior that pushed them to it, she thought a little sadly. But at least these cats knew what was best for them. It would be much safer for everyone, Asylum or not, if they gave up peacefully.

Assuming that the sleeping she-cat beside her would like to know what was happening, she nudged her very carefully with her toe. She had learned that it was best to wake cats cautiously and gently... it would save your pelt if they were in a bad mood. "Hey!" She whispered, addressing the sleeping den as much as the she-cat in front of her, "There's some stuff happening that's probably important for you guys." Hopefully they wouldn't be mad at her - really, they should thank her. These would now be better days for Windclan, just like they had been for her when she discovered Asylum.

Eagletalon couldn't sleep. Needless to say, she was restless and wanted to get out of the den with all of the sleeping warrior's. She was just stalking a mouse to bring back to the nursery when she heard a cry for Windclan to wake. She flicked her ears back and forth thinking to herself that Olivestar would not have woken the clan that way, but in saying the words of Windclan to call them together. All thoughts of the mouse forgotten, she crept back towards the camp wondering if something was wrong. As she crept back to the enterance of the tunnel, she saw that there were strange cat's within the camp and had challenged the leader in the middle of the clearing.

With horror, she realized that they were wearing some kind of fur pelt that didn't belong to cats. She didn't know what they were, but she was smart enough to know that these newcomers were ruthless beyond reason.

She crept closer just in time to hear Olivestar surrendering Windclan to these rogues. (No) she though as she bunched her muscles underneath her. (They will not take Windclan). With that thought, she sprang at the nearest rogue cat and attacked him/her wih claws out ready to kill for Windclan.

Theron straightened up with a grin as WindClan started to stir and step from the tall grass - enjoying the fear and horror that spread across each of their faces as they recognized the golden body that she had so kindly return to them. Her smile, however, faded when a she-cat made a remark about their past...Failure. Her eyes narrowed, claws digging ever so deeper into Hayglow's throat but she kept her calm as the she-cat introduced herself as Olivestar. "Don't speak as if you know me," she growled, raising her head with a sneer. "I don't recognize you after all - you know nothing about what your Clan did to my family," she added...Before she paused. "But...Olivestar, you say? Odd...Finchstar had told us that StarClan had granted him the ability to return as many times as needed. Good to know that it was a lie - after all, I don't see him here, do I?" she mused, glancing over the terrified gazes - a few angry ones - trying to see if there were any other familiar pelts. Not that it mattered, she had gotten her justice. Pakhet's death was avenged with the death of Goldengale...Now, she could just focus on her duty. Then, Olivestar spoke again...And surrendered.

"Perfect!" she purred, eyes snapping back onto the leader as she retracted her claws ever so slightly from Hayglow's throat - although she didn't allow the terrified she-cat up yet. "That was part of the plan anyways - you WindClan cats can keep your ranks, your Clans. We will simply keep you...Safe, so to speak. There are a few other things of course but..." she drifted off as more voices spoke up - one asking if she had taken their kits, Olivestar explaining her reasoning for surrendering. Even more cats questioning the leader's choice... It was all fine - she was happy to wait until Olivestar had eased the thoughts of her Clans to make this...Easier, for all of them. Until, one she-cat made a leap at one of Theron's forces - Roe, who had stepped away from Theron's side to make sure none of the cats were trying anything. "Olivestar!" she called out, bearing her teeth as Roe stumbled away, before quickly retaliating and knocking Eagletalon to the ground where he pinned her. "Keep your cats under control. This can all go peacefully from here but if another claw is raised against any of my cats, your guard here will lose her throat," she threatened with a hiss...Before she hung her head with a sigh. "About how I explain these terms of which you now live - I promise they might seem to your...Liking. Mostly," she noted, with a grin.

She straightened up, clearing her throat as she glanced around at the gathered cats. "First things first - life will carry on for you little Clan cats. You can keep your leaders, your deputies - this was part of the deal even before you requested it, Olivestar. Everything just will be done under our watchful eyes. We’ll station guards - Scouts and Nightstrikers - to make sure you do everything by our cred. We’ll even help hunt and protect you from the nasty things that lurk in shadows. But, there will be...Some restrictions. One - no leaving camp on patrols without one or two of our cats. Need to keep your little faces safe, in all. Two...No going to that Moonstone of yours for any reason. You can keep worshiping your StarClan but going to see them? Oh no, there is no need for that. Dreadful place anyways - cats have died there, after all," her eyes turning dark at that - recalling the death that had transpired when they had been tricked by Finchstar those many moons ago. "And then...No Gatherings. There won’t be much of a reason to check up on the other Clans - know that they are under our rule as well. ShadowClan has already been dealt with and the other Clans are being brought under our heel as we speak - all with the same offer. You let us rule, you can carry on with your lives. We can put our past behind us - this is hardly the first time we’ve done something like this. "

Lilacpaw had hardly noticed the Pelt Ward sneaking past her guard of the nursery. She had thought all of these cats were wearing the pelts of predators, so she paid no mind to the rabbit making it's way past her, if anything it would be fun for the kits. But her fur bristled in alarm when she heard the unfamiliar voice behind her speak, addressing the residents of the nursery.

What was she supposed to do? The cat that had introduced herself as Theron said the Clan was not to attack her group. So she called out instead. "Mother! Er, Olivestar, I mean! They're in the nursery! They're going to take more kits!" She had not even thought of the cats invading them now having been the ones to take the kits, but what Violetpaw said made sense. Perhaps they had been the cause of the missing kits, and now they planned to steal more!