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Post by ♫.Starredmyst on Feb 1, 2008 16:03:03 GMT -5
The valley was beautiful.
Lush and verdant, overflowing with greenery, it was a dream of paradise; stars glittered brightly not overhead but among the flowers and stones. A cheerful river burbled through its center, and misty mountains framed the background. It truly was a dream in some ways, as all cats know, but it was plenty enough for any StarClan cat.
A starlit tom sat in the center of the valley, staring irritably into a shallow pool filled by the river. It was a small pocket of existence, the valley; out-of-the-way and little-used by most of StarClan's cats, but endearing to the cat who was in it at present, and perfect for his purposes. Moodiness was a habit of Redstar's and such a pretty place was something he could appreciate.
The former leader of IvoryClan sat stone-still for a long moment, staring into the pool; his dark golden eyes were narrowed and his tail -- a deep blood-ginger like the rest of him -- swept back and forth angrily. Abruptly he stood and whipped away from whatever he'd been seeing, claws unsheathed; furiously he bounded over to a tree and vented his anger on it, clawing the bark to shreds before calming slightly and spinning back to cast the pool a loathing glare.
"I'll kill him."
"Kill who, Redstar?"
The tom started and glanced behind him. One of his fellows had silently made her appearance, a dark grey she-cat once in the prime of her life, with fluffy fur and piercing blue eyes. Shimmersoul had not known Redstar well in life, but the tom who was once mate of the former and son of the latter had drawn them together after their death. Patchstar's love had often come to Redstar for advice or companionship in recent days.
The ginger tom snorted and lashed his tail again, padding back over to the pool and looking as though he'd very much like to spit in it. "It's Tornspirit again," he said, voice as close to a growl as a cat's can get. "He's ruining our plans. I told him, he can't keep harassing his son if we're going to do anything..."
Shimmersoul's eyes narrowed at the mention of the "plan", but she padded fluidly over to the pool, staring down into its depths and evidently seeing whatever had upset Redstar so. "Everyone's got their grievances," the she-cat said diplomatically, then looked up, studying the older tom. "Swiftfeet sent me looking for you. She said you were sulking again, and she's worried. Please, can you forget about IvoryClan for just a little bit and speak with her?"
"Forget!" There was an edge of bitter laughter in the word. "No, Shimmersoul, I can't forget! You go speak to Swiftfeet for me. Tell her I'm fine. This needs to be done before something happens to Patchstar, and Tornspirit isn't helping! Go on, go away. I'm not sulking. Get."
The grey she-cat opened her mouth to say something, then shook her head in disgust. "Fine. I'll tell her." She walked a few steps away and abruptly vanished, gone to whatever part of StarClan Redstar's mate currently inhabited. She said no goodbye.
He, in turn, pretended not to notice the sad look she cast the pool and the life she so missed.
The instant she was gone the red tom stalked to the exact center of the clearing, gold eyes snapping furiously. "Tornspirit!" he called aloud, loudly. "I want to speak with you."
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Post by Đarκsong on Feb 17, 2008 13:24:37 GMT -5
A dark and ravaged-looking black tom stepped into view. His bright green eyes glared at Redstar; the tom was obviously angry about being bothered. Even in StarClan, I can't escape these mouse-brained fools.... He thought as he stood before the former IvoryClan leader. He did not bow his head or show any form of respect.
Another cat followed behind the tom. She was his mate; a young tortoise shell she-cat. Her appearance was much softer than his. She stood at his side, her soft speckled pelt against his rough black one.
"This had better be important!" Tornspirit said angrily, as though he was interrupted from doing something important.
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Post by ♫.Starredmyst on Feb 17, 2008 18:58:05 GMT -5
"I want to know what you were doing with Darksong this morning!" Redstar shot back, just as heatedly. The tom had always been rather fond of arguments, and as they didn't happen much in StarClan he was glad for the exercise. "Harassing him in his dreams...we need his support, Tornspirit, not his enmity! How are we to convince him he needs to overthrow Patchstar if all he's seen of us is you tormenting him?"
The ginger tom began to pace distractedly. "I've been doing what I can with Patchstar; trying to nudge him a little, make him a little more likely to topple, but we really need Shimmersoul's help if we want him to snap. Seeing as we're not going to get it," he added darkly, "I'd say we really needed Darksong's support."
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Post by Đarκsong on Feb 17, 2008 21:14:41 GMT -5
"I don't know why you think that horrid excuse for a warrior is going to help any." Tornspirit growled. "He's just like....." me, he almost said.
Pantherheart padded up beside him, poking her paw into his side in annoyance. "How about you let me deal with Darksong." She suggested to Redstar. She was certain this would be better than having Tornspirit go and scare him.
Tornspirit was surprised to see her speak up. He still wasn't confident about Darksong, "Seriously, Redstar, how can you be so sure Darksong is right for the part?" The black tom seemed to have ignored his mate's words completely.
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Post by ♫.Starredmyst on Feb 17, 2008 21:31:46 GMT -5
Redstar was silent for a long moment. He shrugged easily, not seeming to hear Pantherheart's words either. "Well, I'd like to know who else there is," he answered rather waspishly. "There aren't a great many cats who'd like to overthrow the old system, not at the risk of their life, and of those who are, well..." He flicked his tail. "I can't think of a one that has the same affinity for StarClan as your tom. His dreams are clearer than any other cat's as far as I'm aware, and if they tell him what he wants to hear, there's a chance he'll take them for true."
Unlike a lot of cats nowadays, he thought but didn't add.
There was movement down at the end of the valley. Shimmersoul had returned, and she looked quite exasperated. "Redstar," she called out in irritation, "Swiftfeet won't listen to me. She's convinced you're sulking and it's bad for your health -- no, don't ask me where she got that from, I'm quoting. I really think you'd better..."
The blue-grey cat trailed off, seeing Redstar's companions. Her eyes narrowed, and she stopped a few tail-lengths away. "Oh," she said darkly. "I didn't know you were having another one of those -- meetings. I'll let Swiftfeet know."
There was a certain cruel amusement in her gaze as she disappeared once more, leaving Redstar to his embarrassment before anyone could interject a comment about her lack of help in these "meetings".
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Post by რoonwhisker on Feb 18, 2008 12:49:19 GMT -5
Two cats sat back, listening to the other cats argue. One, was a cream colored maine coon cat. The other was a black and white shorthair. These two cats were young. When they had come to StarClan, they had been new warriors. One tom, one she-cat. The she-cat rested her head on the tom's shoulder. "I don't like it when they fight Almondpelt," she whispered. He nodded, "Just ignore them dear," he replied simply.
It was obvious to any cat that these two were deep in love. They had come together to StarClan, one right after the other. Murder was a terrible thing, and they knew that for a fact. For they had been murdered by Carmeltail. The elder still walked on earth, with Almondpelt's kits. It saddened him to see them growing up without a father. They didn't even know who their father was. Rippedheart had his eyes. Rainclaw had his hunting skills. He smiled warmly, thinking of his son and daughter.
The she-cat was Pearlpelt. The tom was Almondpelt. They had been murdered over one thing. Love. Almondpelt had been Carmeltail's mate, and Rainclaw and Rippedheart's father. But he secretly had an affair with Pearlpelt behind Carmeltail's back. She found them together one day. She'd killed them in a blink of an eye. Carmeltail had told the clan they had been killed by a badger. So many lies.
As the topic or Darksong emerged, Almondpelt spoke. "But can he handle love?" he paused, then spoke once more. "A kit could see that he loves Rainclaw, and she loves him back. Will that get in the way of his destiny?"
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Post by Đarκsong on Feb 18, 2008 13:19:24 GMT -5
Pantherheart hissed at the two toms in annoyance. "Fine, just ignore me. Don't expect me to listen to anything you say!" Tornspirit was listening to her, but he didn't even acknowledge what she said. It was a wonder that she was still standing beside him.
She turned to look at Almondpelt when he spoke, and said; "If he can handle love, I think Rainclaw will be a great asset for him to have. How will he accomplish anything without support?"
Tornspirit then added, "Mothflight will be of no help. He's so stubborn that he thinks everything Patchstar does is right." He agreed with her opinion of Darksong and Rainclaw except...... "But if Darksong screws things up with Rainclaw, it could ruin everything."
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Post by ♫.Starredmyst on Feb 18, 2008 13:35:05 GMT -5
Redstar was silent a moment as he listened to the other cats' opinions. He chewed his lip, weighing their options.
"Regardless," he put in slowly after a moment's consideration, "I think Darksong is our best bet for success. If we move quickly, the plan will be moving too fast to fail even if Darksong himself does; and -- if we move quickly but Darksong's affair falls apart -- well...a mad leader is not going to be enough to stop events, and leaders do go mad."
The cold look in his eyes made clear that he was not afraid to drive Patchstar insane for real and true, with or without Shimmersoul's help -- not if that was what it took.
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Post by Đarκsong on Feb 18, 2008 18:26:37 GMT -5
Tornspirit shook his head at Redstar, still unconvinced, "I want proof that he is right for the job." He said stubbornly.
Pantherheart was a lot more confident in their son, but still made a suggestion to satisfy Tornspirit, "Why do we give him a test then, if you're so unsure." She pondered for a moment then added, "You brother has been causing problems in the clan, why not get Darksong to go after him?" Pantherheart absolutely hated Secret. He was an arrogant and sneaky cat who only caused trouble. She had grown angry recently watching what he had been doing over the past few moons.
"I like it. See if he will kill his own blood for the good of the clan" Tornspirit smirked, not at all upset about her suggestion of killing his brother. They had never really gotten along, but Tornspirit didn't hate him.
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Post by ♫.Starredmyst on Feb 18, 2008 18:42:32 GMT -5
Redstar nodded easily. "It sounds fair to me." All else failing, he thought, I can always nudge Patchstar's suspicions in the right direction so Darksong has no choice but to kill him. Like with those little kittens today...
"You cats are disgusting."
Redstar couldn't see where Shimmersoul was hiding, but apparently she hadn't left after all. Her voice was thick with scorn. "Forcing a cat to kill his uncle in the name of a test. I despise all of you."
"Not gone, then?" Redstar asked loudly, and there was a rustle as -- presumably -- the she-cat disappeared once more. It was clear that Shimmersoul was torn between expressing her disgust and keeping out of the plot entirely, but if she wasn't going to help, he wasn't going to be nice to her.
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Post by რoonwhisker on Feb 19, 2008 9:11:45 GMT -5
"Forcing a cat to kill his uncle in the name of a test. I despise all of you."
Pearlpelt lifted her head from where she sat, "I agree with you Shimmersoul, it's not right to kill Secret off now. Just as it's not right to kill Carmeltail," she said.
Almondpelt shivered at the mention of the orange tabby cat. Pearlpelt continued to speak, "We need not seek revenge," she meowed calmly, flicking her fail towards Tornspirit. Almondpelt the decided to speak, "But we must make sure that he'd the right cat for the job. This could involve killing. You saw how he was with those two loner kits, I think Patchstar had the right idea." He meowed, trying to prove his point.
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Post by Đarκsong on Feb 19, 2008 10:01:08 GMT -5
"Secret is completely different than those two kits. They have not meant to cause trouble, and Secret always has!" Pantherheart said, not mentioning that she favored the two kits. They were from her same birth 'clan', how could she not?
Tornspirit agreed, "He even told me that he wanted revenge on Ivoryclan for our mother's death. We cannot just let him get away with that." He himself had not been that angry at the patrol that killed his mother. They were doing what they thought was best. Tornspirit was sad, yes, but not angry. That emotion came later....
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Post by ♫.Starredmyst on Feb 19, 2008 11:26:06 GMT -5
Redstar nodded at the other cats' opinions. "Are we in agreement, then?" he asked vaguely. "Secret's a nuisance and a danger to the Clan; Darksong needs a test. We'll see if he's got the guts to kill his uncle."
"I'm not in agreement," Shimmersoul muttered from her hiding spot, but as usual Redstar paid her no mind.
His eyes narrowed as he looked directly at Tornspirit, who hadn't given a direct answer to his original question. "And I'm hoping you'll stop antagonizing Darksong, as well?"
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Post by Đarκsong on Feb 19, 2008 13:17:31 GMT -5
Pantherheart nodded at what Redstar said, glad that she was listened to. She turned her gaze to Tornspirit, hoping he would agree to stop terrorizing Darksong. She hated Tornspirit's attitude towards their son.
"I will do as I please, Redstar, not as you want me to." Tornspirit said defiantly.
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Post by ♫.Starredmyst on Feb 19, 2008 13:26:15 GMT -5
Redstar's ears flicked back in surprise and his eyes narrowed. Tornspirit's response left him speechless for a moment.
"Fine, then," he spat at last, angrily. "Let everything fall apart because you ruined StarClan for him! I'm telling you, we'll never succeed if Darksong doesn't have faith in us!"
A tinkle of laughter sounded from Shimmersoul's hiding place. "Go on, Tornspirit," she urged. "Don't let him tell you what to do!"
With an infuriated snarl, Redstar spun and leapt for the bushes where his daughter-in-law was hiding. There was a yelp of surprise and Shimmersoul vanished, but her last words hung in the air.
"I'm telling Swiftfeet about this. She's going to be mad."
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