RiverClan Leader Games

Ivystar was supremely upset with the Asylum's continued occupation, but she understood the circumstances- and she was far too aware that if she didn't accept these games, they'd show her that she didn't have a choice. It wasn't the concept of the games that she disliked- after all, her father had hosted something similar moons ago- it was that this concept was being forced upon her Clanmates and herself. In a time where the last thing anyone wanted to do was smile, they would all be expected to gallivant around and pretend they were happy... To pretend that they were all okay. And these prizes... They were all something that Asylum found comfort in. Ivystar was positive that many of her Clanmates would dislike what they were presented with in the event that they won these ridiculous challenges against their oppressors. Why not offer the Clans something they could use... Something they'd enjoy, rather than something that the Asylum was used to and loved.

Nevermind all of that, though... Here she was, gazing up at the Willow Branch, where she'd be joined by Lyralei so they could direct those that they chose to get the job done. To Ivystar's left stood Loonwhisper- her teammate through this challenge. He'd done a rather impressive job of listening to her throughout his apprenticeship, and she hoped that he would do the same now. Her gaze drifted across to the maze that was set up for him. An assortment of odds and ends, strange objects that Asylum set up for them to navigate through. Perhaps this could at least sharpen their skills. With an abrupt turn, she faced Loonwhisper and nodded firmly, no indication of a smile on her face. "Let's do this, Loonwhisper." She brushed her tail against his back gently before leaping up onto the branch, where she could see the maze from up high. She attempted to draw a clear path through with her eyes, figuring out just where she'd need to direct Loonwhisper in order for them to get to the end first.

Lyralei approached where she had spotted Ivystar, eyes bright with excitement and a warm grin spread across her features. Slightly behind and to her right was Duran, her chosen participant for the game she was about to play against Ivystar. She did hope that the RiverClan leader and her chosen partner enjoyed themselves. As she looked past the leader, her smile widened slightly, eyes softening as she recognized the tom. "Ivystar, Loonwhisper. It's good to see you both again. I hope that you've been doing well, even with the season of snow upon us?" The she-cat purred, looking up to where Ivystar had perched herself before turning her gaze back to Loonwhisper. "I suppose we're up against the two of you, then? Let me introduce you to my partner, if you don't already know him. This is Duran, and he will be navigating the maze with me this day." She mewed, stepping aside and offering the tom an encouraging smile.

There was a little twitch in Loonwhisper's ears when Ivystar summoned him as a teammate in her game against Lyralei. It accompanied an uncharacteristic gleam in his usually cool, unreadable eyes. He would have his leader believe that he was just feeling quite competitive, or that the games were some kind of solace to him. In truth, he had been completely enthralled by the Asylum's presentation of the prizes... particularly the war paint. He imagined a marbling of red spirals adorning his cotton-colored stomach fur, and the jagged, dark-purple lines that might darken his already black pelt. Loonwhisper even dreamed of a green hue coloring his tail-tip in wispy flames.

Of course, the game would be a treat as well.

Lyralei was seemingly more talkative than Ivystar, and introduced them kindly to her teammate. The warrior's head nodded sideways, examining Duran with dagger-like intensity that did not match the gentle, inquisitive image that plastered his face. "Hello. You are shaped like a stormcloud."

He returned the gentle touch from his mentor with one of his own and proceeded to the beginning of the maze, mouthing the echoes of a "hoo-oo" to nobody in particular. He imagined he were like a bat, chattering into the abyss, like it would tell him where to go intuitively. Loonwhisper anxiously looked back up at Ivystar, hoping she knew more than he did about this strange labyrinth.

Duran had been very surprised when Lyralei had approached him and asked that he be her partner for the leader game - surprised, yet honored.  He looked up to the Scout Captain a great deal, she had even acted as a mentor of sorts when he had first joined the Asylum.  They had never grown very close, at least not closer than he and Cleft, but the two held a friendly relationship.  However, as the two approached Ivystar and her chosen participant he felt his stomach seem to tie in knots.  To his knowledge, Lyralei still did not know that he used to be RiverClan, and he feared what the Asylum would do if they did find out.  Would he be transferred out of RiverClan, maybe even out of the mission overall?  He couldn't take the thought of being forced to watch from the sidelines, especially if this did break out in violence...

However, he shoved those thoughts away as his commander introduced him to his adoptive mother, bowing his head politely even though it felt like his ears were burning.  Stars, this must look so stupid...  "Yes, we met on the night Asylum arrived, I'm looking forward to competing against you both!"  Giving out a friendly but awkward smile, he turned to look at the black-and-white tom who Ivystar had chosen, recognizing him as the tom who Lyralei has held hostage that night.  Loonwhisper.  Before he could speak however the other tom spoke first, his eyes surprisingly intense for his kind of silly words.  A...stormcloud?  Looking down at his uncovered gray pelt for a moment before studying Loonwhisper, Duran chuckled and purred; "Hello, and you are shaped like a bird!"  The gentle waves of silky fur gave the tom a seemingly feathery appearance, which matched by the delicate placements of white on his face and tail resembled a magpie's plumage.  I should probably stop staring.  Flicking his long fluffy tail Duran looked out towards the maze ahead and meowed to his opponent; "Win or lose, I'm excited to go up against you.  This should be fun!"