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sunlight He ran. He ran harder than he'd ever ran in his life, harder even than when he'd tried to outrun the dogs, harder still than when he'd chased Rosethorn through SummerClan before. That time, he'd been following her ghost, weeping and frantic, praying to ancestors that could no longer stomach the sight of him that she would still be alive when he got to her. This time, Phantomfox's lungs were seared by the heat of his breath, every panted breath a scorching blister in his throat, as he crashed through the territory. In the shadows, appearing fleetingly, bearing no words for him and her eyes heavy with disappointment, Foxpaw drove him further and further away from his old camp and closer to his target, closer still to the monster he knew he was. Thistles snagged on his fur, reaching thorns slit his skin, and by time he appeared in front of his old flame, he looked devilish.
Blood spilled ebony like oil into his chocolate, silver-slicked pelt, the moon's most beloved hunter prowling out from the dark. "You can't run from me, Rose, and you can't fight me off either. I'm designed to kill. I'm the world's most dangerous predator. You know it, I know it. Everything you know, every move you've learned, every skill you've mastered, that's all me; I know every last move you'll make and I can outrun, outfight, outlive you," he taunted. He'd loved her once, but she'd stolen what was his and gods be damned if he wasn't about to bring his son home. A look into his eyes and it was clear: Just as the rest of Aspenstar had melted away, so too had Phantomfox's humanity, the last shreds of himself shed as they descended together into a madness only the two of them understood. In that moment it was clear that he was nothing more than an extension of his leader, her touch his treasure and her word his law. What he and Rose had once shared, what memories she had of that tom who'd cradled her beneath a velvet night as she lay surrounded by strangers, all of that had seared away, molten hot madness all that was left in its place. "So what are you going to do, Rose? Are you going to force my son to watch his mother die?"
SummerClan
foxbaewolfThump. Thump. Thump. Her vision was blurring now, the anxiety creeping out from her chest and threatening to strangle the breath left in her lungs, and all she could see were colors flying around the mouth of the den. Brown she recognized as Vulturemalice's leaving, and she squeezed her eyes shut, praying over and over in her mind that he would be safe, he wouldn't be hurt, he wouldn't die, he couldn't, she needed him; pure white, like snowfall, another clanmate flinging himself across camp and then an immediate flash of red, and that she knew was blood, so vivid and fresh she wanted to puke, having never seen blood that looked so sickeningly real; and then dapples, a patchwork that confused her until a voice began speaking in her ear, guiding her back into real time, the voice materializing into Doefreckle looking at her with desperate eyes. She snarled, "I'm not going anywhere. I'm not leaving. I can - I can't leave him, not like this. I'll doe before I do," she insisted, and her voice shook, and her eyes welled, and she wanted to cry but knew it was weakness and cats were dying and her father still could. She was the only one left to protect him, to protect his legacy and their family.
Her paws shifted. The dirt swelled around them, Sunpetal planted firmly even as Vulturemalice joined their clanmate, looking between the two toms she cared so deeply about. "This is my home. These are my clanmates. This is my family. I won't leave, not when they need me. I can fight; Fisherpounce taught me how!"
(Someone can attempt to attack Ratstar and fight/defeat Sunpetal. Aspen is allowed to take another life from Rat, which would leave him with 5!)
sunlight @anyone Mudthistle, a member of the Loyal Guard and one of SummerClan's longest standing warriors, surged through the warriors' den, but before exiting she nosed Cinderpaw back to her paws. "Are you okay? You should find your mom and hide somewhere, stay out of sight," she warned, sweeping her gaze across the camp until it settled on Orchiddrop. She nudged Cinderpaw forward, allowing the smaller cat to move in her shadow as she used her body to block the apprentice from sight, though it wasn't long before an enemy warrior lunged their way.
CleaverWake up. Get moving before I drag you out by the scruff. Already having been scrambling to his paws, the threat caused Icesplash to raise his head in alarm, sizing up the NightClan warrior before him. Floodfate was fit and able-bodied; he was no match for him with his one lame leg, but he still positioned himself between the intruder and the elders. "What kind of warrior threatens the elders? Do you NightClan ticks have any sense of humanity?" Heart thundering in his chest, his blood turned to ice, knowing that if they didn't show restraint when it came to the elders, what stopped them from going after his mother and young sibling, Emberkit?
(Mudthistle and Icesplash can be killed)
Jadie "Momma, what's going on?" Pressed against her brother, Antkit's wide blue eyes trembled up at Poppymask, hoping her mother could help her make sense of the confusion outside.
Before Vulturemalice had a chance to skidaddle, Aspenstar's attention had been fully on him. "Oh, darling, I am well aware that Crow thinks he is coming back soon. He thinks a lot of things, and I hate to talk poorly of someone who isn't here right now, but he's often wrong." She let out an amused purr, before shaking her head. "I do believe you have misunderstood me, Vulturemalice. Our help is not optional. I'm not sure what about this situation suggested to you that it wasn't. Maybe all SummerClan cats are a little silly. I guess I should make myself explicit, in case any other cats think I'm joking. SummerClan is ours now. Accept it or follow in the footsteps of our friend here." She glanced back down to the body, just long enough that Vulturemalice was swept away before she next had the chance to speak to him.
Huh, what a shame.
She turned to the warrior who stood nearest to her, offering a nod. "Secure them," she meowed with an annoyed flick of her tail, before she let her gaze sweep across the rest of the clan. The absolute terror they all wore on their faces, it absolutely thrilled the leader. Her entire life, she'd been searching for a feeling. She didn't know that this was the feeling that she'd always wanted: she felt powerful, watching the others twitch in fear. She had thought she had felt powerful commanding her army, but there was no power quite the same as the power brought on by watching horror flash in the gaze of the cats she interacted with. It was in this moment that she realized this, this moment, was the moment that she'd always looked for.
Her gaze passed Sunfreckle, and the leader's expression softened for just a moment. The guilt was clear in the warrior's face, and if Aspenstar still had the ability to feel guilt, perhaps she would have been guilty about it. She looked so devastated that this was her fault. Poor thing, it wasn't really. A stunt like this had always been in Aspen's wheelhouse, she was always going to do something like this, Sunfreckle just made things easier on her. "Remember, darlings, that one," she meowed, pointing at the warrior with her tail, "is not to be harmed. She's been of great help to us this evening."
It was then that she heard another voice, a familiar one. She let out a purr of delight, turning towards Raystrike. "Well, I'll be damned," the leader meowed with a twisted grin, "if it isn't Soot! My absolute favorite prisoner!" Sure, the former prisoner had been Aspenstar's only prisoner besides her brother, so it wasn't hard to be her favorite. "I do enjoy the fact that all of SummerClan seems to know my personal affairs. It seems SummerClan's darling can't keep her mouth shut. What a shame." Her head shook slightly, her tail flicking. "Are you looking forward to your second prison sentence? Of course, I won't force you to stay here. No, that would be rude, even if you are Crow's sister. "But, if you do stay, we'll keep you safe. You're SunClan, and we wouldn't want to upset Littlestar, would we?" Amusement passed her gaze again. This was shaping to be even more interesting than she had thought it was going to be.
Eveningpaw was immediately comforted by her mother's touch, although she still looked fully wired. "What are we going to do? We have to do what they say. We can't risk you getting hurt," she meowed, her normal disposition completely shattered by the fear that radiated from her. She'd fight if anyone came close to Orchiddrop, but what good would that really do? She wasn't a warrior... For the first time in her life, Eveningpaw doubted that decision. She could protect her if she was a warrior...
Foxpaw leaned against Sunpaw, putting most of his albeit very small weight against her. His chests heaved in a way they had never before. Up until this moment, everyone had been very conscious of the tom's inabilities. They'd never pushed him further than he could handle. In fact, his father had been rather annoying about it in training; it seemed that even as he cheated on his mother, Phantomfox still had treaded carefully around his son. This, this was not treading carefully. He couldn't get oxygen in his chest fast enough. No matter how hard he breathed, it was never enough. Even with the other apprentice shouldering his weight, he was getting weaker and weaker. Was this what it felt like to die?
It was then that he heard his father's voice. Or, at least, it sounded like the voice that his father had. Instead of it's normal softness, the softness he had carried anytime he had interacted with his son, Phantomfox's voice was deranged, angry, bloodthirsty. As his mother picked up the pace, he tried to as well, but he found himself stumbling, the fear of the tone of his father's voice too strong. Even with the added support, there was nothing he could do when he felt his body pitch forward. It collapsed hard against the ground, the fear only enhancing the dizziness of running. "Mama," he croaked, desperation in his barely-there voice. He tried to get back up, but each time, he stumbled. His father's voice was getting closer. "Run, mama. I'll be okay," he tried again, tears now running clear down his face. No, Rosethorn didn't have to stop with him. She could keep going. "Run, mama..." he commanded again, weaker this time, echoed by a fit of coughing that felt as if it was never going to end.
He knew, though, that his mother wouldn't leave him, no matter how hard he begged. Foxpaw, Rosethorn and Sunpaw, it seemed, were now sitting ducks.
Summerclan Juniperdust Juniperdust turned to Sunfreckle, catching the guilt in her words I messed up so bad. Guilt wasn't an emotion that Juniperdust ever felt, but she'd learned long ago how to replicate it in case she'd needed to appear contrite. She was about to ask another whispered question under her breath when Aspenstar spoke- She's been of great help to us this evening.
"Sunfreckle, what did you do?" Juniperdust muttered under her breath, curiosity flickering in her gaze. goldcrest
Cinderpaw Someone was pushing Cinderpaw up from where she'd collapsed into a snivelling pile of tears. She looked up to see Mudthistle, and a grateful gleam appeared in her eyes. Her mom- she had to find her mom. She stood, walking beside Mudthistle through the chaos- some cats were fighting, some were standing in confused clusters, there was blood on the ground and a body she didn't want to look at. She was about to say something when someone lunged at Mudthistle, and Cinderpaw screamed. @ ANYONE IN NIGHTCLAN WHO WANTS TO KILL MUDTHISTLE (for trying to hide Cinderpaw)
Orchiddrop "We're not doing anything," Orchiddrop told her daughter in a low tone. "I can't fight, and I won't let you. Do whatever they tell you, and I don't think they'll separate u-" The sound of her other daughter's scream cut her off, and she turned to the sound, pulling Eveningpaw in closer as her chest clenched with fear.
Rosethorn This was not good, this was not good, this was very, very bad. Her ears swiveled, her heartrate spiking at the proximity of Phantomfox's voice behind them. Part of her mind couldn't accept that the same tom who'd fathered her children, who'd wrapped himself around her to keep her warm on cold nights, was now threatening to kill her. Now was not the time to logic through it, though. It was time to act, or it would be too late.
It seemed it already was, though. Foxpaw collapsed, his fragile body unable to push any further, and Rosethorn cursed under her breath, tail lashing behind her. Her amber eyes caught sight of a bush at the edge of the clearing, and she took her son by the scruff and dragged him over, unable to be gentle in her hastiness. She maneuvered him under the bush, out of sight, after wiping the tears off his cheeks and licking his forehead. "It'll be alright," she told him, though she no longer knew if that was the truth. "Stay quiet."
Rosethorn turned to the other apprentice in her care, the corners of her eyes wrinkling in concern. "Sunpaw, go," she commanded hoarsely, in a voice that left no room for argument. She pushed Sunpaw out of the line of sight as well. "This isn't your fight. I won't have you injured. I'll take care of Foxpaw- just go. Now."
At the cracking sounds of bracken and bush behind her, Rosethorn turned back to the clearing, making her way to the center of it so she would be the first thing anyone saw- not her son, not the hopefully fleeing Sunpaw. She steeled herself, forcing a deep breath despite the slamming of her heart against her ribs. Maybe she had been one before, but Rosethorn was no longer a coward. If it would do any good, she would die for her son here and now- but she was hoping it wouldn't have to come to that.
When he entered the clearing, he had slowed from his running pace. Her defiant amber eyes met his deranged silver ones, her teeth clenched so tightly she feared she'd crack some. "Good evening, Phantomfox," she said, tail lashing behind her. "I can't say I'm happy to see you again."
dm me if you want to listen to me ramble about the interstellar soundtrack
2,314 posts
Post by achromatic on Sept 26, 2021 11:05:48 GMT -5
SummerClan
Sunpaw had immediately nudged Foxpaw. "Come on, let's go, you can do it," she spoke, as she glanced up to Rosethorn, who was now urging her to leave. Leave? "But you have to come with me," she insisted. How could she leave? She had planned to get them out before hiding, perhaps trying to figure out where her friends were. As much as Sunpetal annoyed her, she was a friend, and so was Vulturemalice. So were the other apprentices. "I'm not going anywhere," she insisted, "come on Foxpaw, you can still go."
It seemed like she was too late, because moments later, she heard Rosethorn's voice, and the terrified young apprentice looked up, wondering what was to be of their fate.
Post by stardance on Sept 26, 2021 11:08:27 GMT -5
SummerClan "You know, we're gonna have a bit of an issue here." Raystrike sighed dramatically, and continued to ignore the fighting and chaos going on around her. As much as she wanted to help them out, she was no fighter with her lungs still damaged, and she could not raise a paw unless she had permission from Littlestar. Being NightClan was on something similar to good terms with SunClan, it wasn't something she wanted to risk. "That isn't quite going to work. I can't live in SunClan anymore, because your clan neglected to treat me the first time you invaded a clan I was in. Heh, how time flies, amiright? Maybe I can get a bonus for that!" She patted Aspenstar on her shoulder. "Anyway, I kind of have to stay here, and Littlestar does expect me to communicate with her and do my job. I don't want to upset her, and I'm sure you don't want to aggravate SunClan while your forces are split." @ian
Post by goldcrest on Sept 26, 2021 12:01:36 GMT -5
SUMMERCLAN
sunfreckle
Sunfeckle, what did you do?
It wasn't accusatory. Juniperdust, surprisingly, didn't sound angry, but she couldn't help the way the shame rose from the pit of her stomach to her chest. The back of her throat burned in the familiar way that told her she wanted to cry, but couldn't. Her gaze turned towards Aspenstar, lingering for a moment, before she lowered it to her paws. What was she really supposed to say? That she'd been loud-mouthed, flustered and stupid. She had been nice, had a way of getting Sunfreckle to talk, to spill.
"I didn't—she was—I'm—" The words didn't come, so she resigned herself to silence. sunlight
shadedsun
He'd almost had a peaceful night. It was nice, finally able to lay down and fall asleep normally, thoughts quieted, drifting to whatever he'd done that day instead of what he'd done moons ago or what he was going to do moons ahead. Him and Doe had been getting better as well. He didn't wake up immediately, missing Aspenstar's words, only rising at the sound of fighting. Drowsy, he shook out his head.
My stupid ex-Clan is invading. And for a moment, nothing clicked. Doe was from. . . Summerclan? No, wait, that wasn't right. "Oh." He didn't argue—honestly, wasn't planning on it. He probably would have, a while ago, jumped in. Now he was rusty, didn't want to risk anything. He'd come back to life, no way was he being killed here. He didn't have an extra eight lives to hide behind anymore.
"Seriously? What's with Clans I stay in being invaded." He could remember that time in Springclan so clearly, when Cicero had taken over. A long ago memory, but it was still fresh in his mind. He did what he did then: kept his head down. Shadedsun didn't leave the den, instead, finding a spot near the back and settling. Cowardly, of course it was, but there wasn't much else he could do. What little he could see wouldn't help him much in a fight.
"I'm more worried about you—careful!" he called after him. fox
sunlight "Good evening, Rosethorn." For a split second, for the barest and most fleeting of moments, as he raised his head to drink in the aroma of horror, astonishment and sweet, succulent fury, - yes, he thought gleefully, hate me, fear me, hurt me -, the animalistic crinkle of his features eased back until they mirrored the face of the Phantomfox Rosethorn had loved. He had that solemn type of quiet air that people often associated with being dangerous. But then, as he feigned shock at her displeasure, that twisted bit of wild enjoyment, evidence that he was revoltingly intoxicated by this power play, seeped back in, the monster taking hold again. "Not happy to see me? Why, sweetheart, whatever do you mean by that? Come on, Rose," his voice was tauntingly sweet, like sugar-coated peppers, enticing her to take a bite she would soon regret, "let's go home. We can all be happy, a family, all together again, just me and you and Foxpaw." He moved closer, his steps circling around her, but every circle brought him nearer to Rosethorn until he could graze his fur against hers, draw his tail beneath her chin and feel her heartbeat pound in her neck, and lodge his shoulder, sparing no brutality, into her ribs, knocking her from her paws and against the ground at his paws. He scoped the bushes for signs of movement then placed a paw against Rosethorn's face, pushing her harder against the soil. "Come on out, son, daddy's here. It's all going to be okay now."
@ian achromatic He scanned the brush, thinking he might of caught a glimpse of his son's crimson fur - but no, the only Fox staring back at him was his sister's ghost, her presence causing his claws to curl beneath him, Rosethorn's blood pooling around them. He then glanced, callously, at the trembling Sunpaw and passed her a twisted grin, scarred muzzle looking skeletal in the moonlight, like he was something dragged straight out of hell. "You should run now."
Post by achromatic on Sept 26, 2021 16:15:15 GMT -5
SUMMERCLAN
Sunpaw was nothing if not bold most of the time. Talkative to a fault, the kind of cat who was willing to try everything, including recklessly throwing herself into the water when she could barely swim back in the day, she had never been one to keep quiet, but right now, with this threat in front of her, she found herself at a loss for words. Whoever this cat was, he looked terrifying, his muzzle scarred and twisted into a feral grin.
I'm not scared, she told herself, despite her shaking and her wide-eyed gaze, as she shut her eyes for a moment, gathering her wits, before twisting her brow into a look of anger. That was how she did it. Her anger always overrode everything else, even when she was a kit. She had stopped allowing her temper to get the better of her when she became an apprentice lest her mentor held her back for it, but there was always a part of her that relied on it for the adrenaline rush.
"No!" she snapped, her eyes blazing despite her shaking stature, "you should be leaving! Do you really think we're all going to give up without a fight?" woof
NIGHTCLAN The newly minted loyal guard was finally on his first mission, but in reality, Moonblight was barely old enough to be a warrior, having been made one just a couple of days ago. His first mission was to secure the perimeter, and trotting along his training partner, he still had that happy-go-lucky expression on his face, as if completely unaware of the severity of this situation. "Do you think we'll get to run around in the SummerClan fields?" he asked his partner excitedly, "I always heard they were kind of pretty. Remember when we tried to sneak out here once?" sunlight
Nightclan Sagebristle moved alongside Moonblight, equally oblivious to the commotion going on in camp. "I hope so- though I don't frolic," she said, eyes sweeping the darkness for signs of movement. It was her first assignment as well, and she was determined to do well, to prove to Aspenstar that she could handle the responsiblity that had been thrust upon her. However there was something about Moonblight that always lightened her up a bit, made her relax more than she did around others. "Too bad we never made it. I wish we were near the action right now."
Summerclan
Juniperdust "It's alright," Juniperdust said thoughtfully, touching her tailtip to Sunfreckle's shoulder. "We'll figure it out later." Clearing her throat, she stepped forward, ignoring the various fights breaking out in order to address Aspenstar directly.
"We'll comply, Aspenstar," she called loudly and evenly, glancing sideways at the contained chaos. "At least, most of us will. What do you need from us?" Better to figure out the terms of the exchange before formally taking a side. At least right now she could frame it as trying to save lives rather than acquiescing to the enemy.
Rosethorn Whatever this animal was in front of her, it didn't look like her former mate. Not even when it tried to pretend to be normal again. She stiffened as he brushed against her, gave a choking gasp of pain as he knocked her to the ground and gashed her cheek upon a rock. Suddenly he was calling out, calling for Foxpaw, grinning at Sunpaw, looming over her like the astronomical prick that he was.
With a concentrated effort, Rosethorn wrenched herself free from his grasp, moving herself between Phantomfox and Sunpaw as he watched her. "Get back, Sunpaw," she spat, though the anger wasn't directed at the apprentice. "You're no match for him." She could feel the blood upon her cheek, sticky and hot, and she could see the red spot it made upon the ground where her face had been. "You're a bad liar, Phantomfox," she hissed, squaring her shoulders, resisting the urge to look at her son's hiding spot. "And I'd rather die than go back and play house with you again. Foxpaw's gone. He's across the border by now with one of the Summerclan warriors. If you thought I'd ever let you see him again, you're even stupider than I thought. You're a horrible father and a horrible mate, and if I have any say in the matter, you'll spend the rest of your life without speaking to your son."
(OK I didn't read everyone's replies there was just too much but I did try to skim!)
SUMMERCLAN
Since her kits had just been weened, Poppymask was able to dedicate almost all of her time to Ratstar while her older kits looked after the younger ones. The fluffy queen was constantly curled around her mate, his head resting on her pillow-like belly fluff, and hers resting on his. Their bodies formed a heart shape that way and she hoped that if Vulturemalive couldn't heal him with herbs, then maybe her love could.
She rarely left his side but, as fate would have it, that day she had agreed to tend to her youngest litter while Sunpetal looked after Ratstar. For the past couple days they had more or less been without their mother or father and she knew they needed her attention, even if it was just to sleep against her side, which is what they were presently doing. It was very peaceful and their hushed, kitten-purrs had almost lulled her to sleep, too... but then she heard an unfamiliar caterwaul from the center of camp and was instantly on her feet.
"What's wrong, Mama?" Raccoonkit mewed loudly, which she promptly shushed. The poor kid was hard of healing, so he always spoke louder than he needed to and had no idea how to whisper. While the others were woken up by Aspenstar's declaration, he had only woken up when Poppymask had jolted to her feet.
"Stay in the nursery my loves, I'll be right back," She mewed making sure that Raccoonkit could see her speaking before the fluffy she-cat padded out of the heavily flowered nursery and into pure chaos. It took her a few seconds but she soon recognized that the Clan who had ruined her rest was NightClan and not just a normal patrol but a full-on battalion. No one was fighting yet but even a dim-witted cat like Poppymask knew what this meant: War.
And she HATED war.
"Aspenstar, I presume," Poppymask growled, every single tuft of fur on her cream-colored pelt sticking up at max length, her half-tail sticking straight in the air and just as fluffy. She kind of looked ridiculous, but that was just Poppymask's way, "Honestly, I don't properly care who you are, you're getting the same lecture I'd give any idiot who walked into my home and started making demands. We don't want you helpand we aren't going to fight you," Her bondi blue eyes were a couple shades darker than normal, haunted and exhausted, "Ratstar is going to wake up any day and Devotedcrow will be back tomorrow. We've got it under control. Now go home before you make me do something I regret, I'm a pacifist but you've caught me at a really, really, really bad time."
sunlight "You and I both know," he said quietly, dangerously, "he wouldn't make it across the border no matter how hard he tried. STOP LYING TO ME AND TELL ME," his legs kicked him forward, the beast barreling towards Rosethorn now, "WHERE IS MY SON?"
What Foxpaw would bear witness to, bundled in the bush, was his father, Phantomfox, the weaver of his favorite fables and light-bringer into his world of darkness, hurtling towards his mother, beautiful Rosethorn who never lifted her paw in anger before. His claws slammed down on her paws, holding them, as his fangs pinched the scruff of her neck between them as he then effortlessly dangled her in the air. "You're going to tell me, Rose," he hissed into her fur, eyes wild, "or I will spend every day, hunting him down, until I find him. Foxpaw coming home with me is inevitable, Rose. and you know it." At the end of his spiel, his jaws crunched down on Rosethorn's scruff before he dropped her back down, though his paws were positioned on either side of her and his face was bent down close to her again, daring her to move, to defy.
Post by achromatic on Sept 26, 2021 17:07:02 GMT -5
NIGHTCLAN
Moonblight laughed. "Okay miss tough guy," he teased, as he trotted along. The territory was really nice actually; he'd enjoy coming here on vacations once NightClan picked up the NightClan Cat's burden after all. After all, from what he had heard, SummerClan needed help after the chaos, and they were here to prevent terror and chaos, to bring peace and warmth to the cats who lived here. It was a civilising mission of some sort, and while he didn't understand any of those words at all, he was happy to be of use anyhow.
"Do you think anyone's going to attack us out here?" he asked curiously, "I mean we've practiced our fighting a lot but I've never had to fight in a real battle, you know?" sunlight
SUMMERCLAN
Sunpaw knew that this cat would surely kill Rosethorn if nothing happened. She let out a keening sound, as she wracked her brain for any solution to this. Surely, Foxpaw would come out at and they'd all get in trouble...wait, what if...? Surely, she'd be the one who'd get hurt but...if she could lead them to the border, it'd give Rosethorn and Foxpaw enough time to get away, right? Then she could just find her way to safety in another clan. She might be small and inexperienced but she could run, and surely this cat wouldn't kill an apprentice in another territory, right?
"I know where he is!" she piped up, glancing nervously at Rosethorn, "I saw the warriors that took him earlier...I'll bring you there if you don't hurt her anymore." She was shaking, surely convinced that the other cat could read through her lies despite how confidently she had delivered that message. Her wide-eyes looked up to Phantomfox's for a brief moment, before darting away, as if embarrassed to have given up instead of lying straight to his face. "Just don't hurt her anymore, I'll bring you there, I promise." woof @ian
SummerClan Foxpaw couldn't let Sunpaw die, and as much as he didn't want to admit it, letting her lie to her father's face was akin to a death sentence. If watching his mother be beaten had tested his resolve, his ability to listen to his mother's instructions, this would be what broke it. Of course, this wasn't to say that it was easy to watch his mother be pummeled by his father; no, it broke him to his very soul. Any memories of his father's gentleness were erased, replaced by this moment, watching his mother's blood pool to the ground. Yet, he knew his mother wouldn't want him to intervene. She would want him to run, get as far away from here as he could. He had wanted to listen to her, to stay hidden, but he couldn't, not when someone else's life was at stake. Rosethorn would be able to face Phantomfox, he knew she could, but Sunpaw? No, his life had already been marred by destruction and death; he couldn't let another innocent be taken, no matter how heroic that innocent was.
"Stop, you don't have to," he meowed, weakness and fear clear in his voice as he padded out from where he had been shoved away. "You don't have to get involved with this." There was a slight plead in his voice as he touched his tail to Sunpaw's shoulder. Why did he feel protective of her? Was it just because she offered him his shoulder?
Foxpaw didn't dare look at his mother as he entered the clearing. He could feel her eyes on his pelt, begging him to go back, begging him to run. But, his father had been correct: he was too weak to run. What he wasn't too weak for, though, was to stand in front of his father. And so he did, although his paws trembled slightly. Still, he tried to keep his shoulders back as far as possible. The tears still welled in his eyes, but he would be strong. He had to be.
For the briefest of moments, Foxpaw remembered the story of Lightkit. In a different circumstance, maybe this would have caused his lips to twitch at the good memory, but this time, this time the memory brought him a little courage. Lightkit could face her demons. She could slay the dragon and save her clan. So could he.
"I believe you're looking for me." he ordered, his silvery gaze (?) equal parts defiant and terrified. "This is about you and me, isn't it? Not them. Let them go." His voice squeaked, but he stared forward, fighting the tears desperately from slipping down the corners of his face. achromaticwoofsunlight - NIGHTCLAN
Aspenstar sighed. "Oh, I guess I did forget about that, darling. Forgive my negligence," she meowed, running her tail across the other's shoulders. "As for SunClan duties, that does complicate things." She tilted her head, as if considering her options. "You'll be permitted to speak to her, but only with company. This is nothing against you, dear Soot. We just want to make sure you're protected, that's all. We wouldn't want you getting lost and ending up in SwiftClan to alert Crow, would we?" stardance
It was then that she heard Juniperdust's voice. "Oh, dear, would you look at that? Sorry, Soot dear, I believe we'll have to get back to logistics later. It appears there's finally a cat in this damn clan that has any sense." There was glee in her voice as she turned towards the other. "Ooh, and she's pretty. Well, isn't it just my lucky day," she murmured, her gaze locking on the SummerClan warrior.
"I appreciate your willingness to do what is obviously the right thing," she meowed with a nod, her gaze shining. "It's just easier that way, mmm? No more senseless bloodshed, we both get what we want." It was funny that Aspenstar suggested that the SummerClan cats could possibly want anything about the interaction this evening. She was just about to give her list of orders when... sunlight
Aspenstar, I presume.
Oh, for god's sake. Couldn't she just enjoy one moment of submission before moving on. Although it was an honor, it truly was, to have so many eyes on her, she was getting rather impatient with the constant volly of her attention. Come on, NightClan. Work faster. she thought in irritation, before turning.
"You must be Poppymask! Ratstar's wife, right? He's told me wonderful things about you," she meowed an easy introduction, although she was quickly spoken over by the other feline. Rude , she thought with a shake of her head, before she patiently waited for the she-cat to conclude.
"You're a pacifist?" She couldn't help but laugh. "Well, isn't that charming. Unfortunately, dearest, it appears that I am not." The smile she gave was still tinged with Shamrocksaviour's blood. She looked animalistic, the fury sweeping in her eyes. "That was an awfully lovely speech you gave, but you know, you SummerClan cats are all so silly. How many times could I possibly make it clear that our help is not optional? Why don't you be a good girl and fall in line just like your fellow patriot over there," she motioned to Juniperdust. "It's the only way that SummerClan stands a chance at survival, really. It would only take a flick of my tail to change NightClan's intentions. Instead of carefully completing missions in the most effective way possible, they'll be released into complete anarchy. Now, don't get me wrong, I think that that would be wildly entertaining, I really do, but ultimately, you're not of much use to me if you're all a pile of corpses, now, are you? Think carefully, Poppymask. I'm sure you can do it." Jadie
Vulturemalice stayed in his den, hearing the slaughter outside and the conversations that continued. Aspenstar's voice would always be branded in his mind as one of a tyrants. Looking back again between his sister and the tom he loved, Vultuermalice gave a small shake of his head. Futures flashed before his eyes as he made his decison; Sunpetal in the garden, laughing and teasing him as they grew old and grey, Doefreckle, maybe someday returning to him, smelling that sweet marsh smell and looking at the stars once more. Vulturemalice took a deep breath, drinking in the scents of the future he might not have and welcoming them into his soul. Those were the things that made him strong, made him more than the sullen, grumpy tom with an interest in bones. "I'm sorry, but my duty is to my Clan," he whispered before touching his nose to Sunpetals forehead and giving Doe a swift but sweet lick across his cheek. As he headed back out of his den, he turned his head and blinked fondly at Sunpetal, and then turned his olive gaze back to Doefreckle. "If anything happens, you know there was a spot open for you," was all he said before blinking the silver out of his eyes and bundling out of his den and back into the chaos. [ wooffox ]
He gave Juniperdust a nod, sending a questioning glance towards Sunfreckle, before pushing his way to the head of the group. "There is no home or conquest for you here," he said to Aspenstar in a suddenly strong voice, holding his chin high and tail steady. "This is SummerClan, land of the light and living, what would NightClan want anything to do with it do being with? What other than causing chaos and torturing my Clanmates are you here for? You're own power hungry ambition? StarClan will never allow this." Though his heart raced, the sole, young medicine cat of SummerClan stood tall against the rival leader, his long legs easily allowing him to tower over her smaller form. There were cats he loved here, a Clan he cared about, and he was not going to let them be taken over by a pack of godless rouges like these. The dark part of him wondered if one day, he would be able to collect the bones of this she-cat and beat them to dust, spread them far across the territories until no one remembered her name or what she did to his clan. [ @ian ]
[ you're welcome to scar him btw, i think he needs something like that tbh ]
When Vulturemalice slipped into the den and crouched beside him and Sunpetal, defending himself before Doefreckle had a chance to say anything at all, he just listened, his heart thrumming breathlessly in his chest from the adrenaline. "I know," he interjected as soon as the medicine cat fell silent, his voice quick but soft. "It was brave. You have more honour and courage in a single claw than I do in my whole body - I was just afraid what she might do to you." He gave the tom a brief, shaky smile, his breathing coming fast and short and his eyes glittering with fear.
But then the medicine cat was standing, apologising, giving him a lick that felt like a farewell. "They have two medicine cats already," Doe argued, fear making his voice sharp. He hardly heard Vulturemalice's gentle words; he was just staring at him in something close to anger - anger that he would throw himself away. "She doesn't need you. If you do one thing wrong, you're dead. Vulture," he hissed desperately, taking a step closer to the den entrance. "Vulturemalice!" But he was already gone. baewolf
Cursing and blinking away frightened tears, Doefreckle whipped back around to Sunpetal. "This is my home too, Sunpetal," he snapped, voice now shaking outright. He crouched down again beside her, forcing his voice calmer as he continued, staring into her eyes desperately. "Please. Please, go. You think you could stand up to her Loyal Guard and win? You're fierce, Sun, but you would lose. Your father wouldn't want that. He would want his daughter to live, not to throw her life away for- for principle, for honour. We are losing this battle. Please - I can come with you, or I can stay here and watch over Ratstar." His voice dropped to a desperate, trembling whisper. "Just please run. If you leave now, you can make it across the meadows and into SpringClan. Jetstar will shelter you." His eyes bore into hers, wide and swimming with fear.
If he had to go with her, he'd down enough poppy seeds to numb his paw - he still had all the same training as any of the NightClan cats, had still come out on top of all the other apprentices; if he couldn't feel his paw, couldn’t feel the terrible damage he might do to it in that state until the poppies wore off the next day, he could still be a formidable fighter, at least enough to protect Sunpetal until she could get across the border and into safety. And if she wouldn't leave, then he'd protect her here too, whatever that meant for him. woof
achromaticI know where he is. Sunpaw had been a blip on his radar, having anticipated her to already give way to her instincts and flee the scene, but when she cried out again, dangling the information in front of him as if he were a baby bird reaching out for a worm, he looked at her again with a newfound appreciation. This one, this one was smart. It never occurred she might be lying.
He didn't step away from Rosethorn, merely considered Sunpaw's proposal, gauging how compelled she seemed to be to save her clanmate. Gods, he was like that once, so long ago he could barely remember it. Bright-eyed and bushy tailed, eager to earn his merits, desperate for a chance to be the hero. That was before he entered, begrudgingly and fighting it with every fiber of his being, spitting and snarling, the reality of the world. He was about to move, a paw lifting to cross towards Sunpaw, when a new voice snared his attention, and then his feet found reinforced resolve, Sunpaw eclipsed by Foxpaw's glow.
@ian His son stepped forward. Phantomfox observed the exchange between the two with some latent curiosity. Whether Foxpaw's gesture was out of some chivalrous desire to protect a friend, a potential lover, or simply the duty he felt towards a clanmate wasn't clear to his father, but it honestly mattered very little to the tom; Phantomfox would remember it. His gaze swept back towards Sunpaw, only at this point commiting her face to memory, but then his full attention was back on his son.
There were many striking similarities in the two as their colors were washed out under the moon, Foxpaw gifted with his father's long legs and monochrome eyes, but where the Guard Captain was all muscle, his son was weak lungs and a feeble voice. He squeaked pathetically, but even now Phantomfox regarded him appreciatively, like he was an angel carved out of the moon and the most beautiful thing he'd ever laid eyes on. No one could deny it: Phantomfox loved his son. "You're right, son, I am looking for you." The savage current ebbed freely from out his voice, though there was nothing capable of replacing it, nothing sounding quite so sincere as the mania he'd given himself to, so as he spoke to his son, his words daring sweet platitudes, Foxpaw wouldn't find any familiarity in it. There would be nothing there to remind him of the father who'd watched the sun rise with him, all the while daring to dream up a world where his son, his heart, wouldn't have to gasp for his right to breathe. "I would never stop looking for you. I came here to set things right and bring you home, son."
Son.. Since his apprenticeship, Phantomfox never used his son's name.
"Come here, come see me. Stand with me and your mother." As if just remembering Rosethorn was even there, he shifted a paw to press it against her spine, though his eyes never left Foxpaw as the tom obeyed, albeit with hesitant, trembling steps. Up close, Phantomfox looked even more gruesome than he would would afar; the moonlight reflected back off his scars, shimmering across the entirety of his body, and his fur was twisted and matted by the dark pools of blood seeping into it, though the worst thing by far was the unfeeling set of his jaws, the casual way his paw propped on his lover, like it came so naturally to him to do so. Like it'd been something he'd done before, or thought about, or dreamt of. It had become instinct, and he loved it. "We're a family, son." A broken, disfigured shell of a thing unrecognizable as a family, but one all the same. "And I'll make sure everyone knows that from now on." Was that sincerity at last?
sunlight @ian Phantomfox was recognized by his scars; it was his identifier, keepsakes of his pain and triumphs alike. Nearly every inch of his body had at least one - except for his chest, which was bare, the fur there long and unmarked, pure as the day he'd been born. He raised his free paw to it and, without flinching, carved three distinct claw marks into it - one might say it was one for each of them - and then, not waiting for a reaction or bothering to mind Rosethorn's outcry, marked her the same way - three claw marks over her heart. They would scab over, heal, but never fade, an eternal piece of Phantomfox branded into her. "Your turn, son," he commanded, reaching his bloodied paw out to Foxpaw, waiting for his son to accept it and, by extension, him, forever.
Sunpetal
baewolf If she'd gathered her wits, slowed her heartbeat and let herself breathe, she would have had the chance to stop Vulturemalice, maybe pull him down and force him to surrender by force alone. Instead, she could only watch, helpless and resigned, as he pressed his nose to her forehead - and in the moment, she saw the same future, the two of them frolicking, a scowl on Vulture's face despite the laugh lines crinkling his cheeks, through the meadows, kicking up petals in their wake - and then slipped back into the bloodbath, his sister's eyes pleading him to come back.
fox It was Doefreckle's - dumb, stupid, infuriating Doefreckle - voice that ripped her from her reverie. Sunpetal stumbled at the sharpness of his tone, looking as if he'd stricken her and almost fearing he had. Her pelt was disheveled and frayed from her lack of sleep over the last few days, her blue eyes bloodshot and wild, and her claws were dulled by her pacing and how frantically she had chewed them, and she knew, despite her refusal to accept that truth, that she didn't stand a chance against NightClan warriors in this or any other state. She cursed her uselessness, the tears welling up up and threatening to spill down her cheeks, when Doe continued speaking, hurriedly, to her. She could barely keep up. "I-i don't know! I don't know if I could," she sobbed, "but I-i could try! I could try and maybe, maybe i-it would give Papi enough t-time to wake up, to fix this."
She stared down at her father's frame, seeing none of his comforting strength or vitality in the ragged breaths he was taking. Her heart twisted in her chest, fearing what would become of him if she left, if this was the last time she ever saw him. He would want you to live. She knew that. She hated that she knew that. She hated Doefreckle for saying it, and for being right, and for knowing he was right. She hated Aspenstar for putting them in this position, and she hated Vulturemalice for leaving, and she hated Doefreckle for telling her to leave, but most of all, Sunpetal hated herself for considering it. For knowing she should.
"I-i can't go alone," she finally whispered, so quiet she barely heard it herself.
REMINDER : TASKS FOR NIGHTCLAN PATROL : You may pick which task sounds most interesting for your cats c: - Secure a perimeter: CLAIMED - Move all of the elders into the nursery. Secure the nursery. - Secure and subdue all members of Ratstar and Devotedcrows' families (including but not limited to: sunpetal, raystrike, orchiddrop, eveningpaw, cinderpaw, poppymask, etc.). Move them all to the elders den, which will now serve as prison. - Secure Vulture and replace with Pinesimmer - Locate Foxpaw and Rosethorn, secure them in the leader's den. CLAIMED - Fight if necessary, we must show NightClan's strength - Ensure the safety of Aspenstar and Stormreign at all costs
The relief that flooded through Doefreckle when Sunpetal began to agree was like nothing he'd ever felt before. He found himself nodding along, almost smiling, almost delirious with it, hoping to encourage her along to the decision to leave. Maybe i-it would give Papi enough t-time to wake up, to fix this. "Yes," he lied, struggling to keep his voice soft to not startle her back into hunkering down while he was trembling so hard. Ratstar wasn't going to wake up tonight; he wasn't going to fix this. But if that belief was what it would take for Sunpetal to leave him, then he'd give it to her. At her whisper, Doe moved slightly closer to her, pressed against her side. He knew she didn't like physical contact she herself didn't initiate, but he couldn't leave her cowering there alone, looking so gut-wrenchingly small, so young, with guilty terror tightening her voice and tears brimming in her eyes. "You won't," he promised her, his own voice strangled and little more than a whisper. "But we have to go now. Now, Sun."
As he spoke the last words, a little more forcefully, barely giving her time to say goodbye to her father for what might well be the last time, Doe half rose and nudged her up with his muzzle, ushering her towards the back of the den where they would be able to slip out through the honeysuckle. Briefly, hoping she could stumble on without him, he stopped before Vulturemalice's herb stores, blindly scanning the dark shelves so quickly and with such stress bubbling behind his eyes that he hardly saw anything he looked at. Letting out a frustrated breath, he licked his lips and took a few small steps backwards, trying to clear his head. Finally, he scented more than sighted the stash of poppy seeds and pawed a few of them out, quickly lapping up more than would have been sensible in any other situation. Turning and clearing his throat anxiously, Doe hurried after Sunpetal, brushing out after her through the shadows and night-black leaves and into the blinding silver light of the half moon. He looked up at the sky fearfully, dread lodging in his chest. He could see the whole of the SummerClan meadows like it was day, everything illuminated a bright, glowing white by the strength of the moon. This was disastrous. Their silhouettes would be clear as anything on the moors; NightClan would hunt them down in a heartbeat. But they couldn't turn back now. "Go, Sun," he urged, pushing her on with his muzzle and darting another foreboding look at the silver moon before he followed. He had the gnawing certainty that this would be his last night, but he pushed it down. woof
Post by Honeystorm on Sept 28, 2021 2:06:04 GMT -5
Pinesimmer, of course, didn't know how to keep himself out of trouble. With Phantomfox currently gone, that really left him a bit TOO free to do what he wanted right now. Which happened to be tripping his sister, in front of the whole of SummerClan. He did enjoy ruining her moments, after all. Which, in this case, was him kicking out her legs while she was talking to Poppymask, hopefully causing her to faceplant right before Ratstar's mate. @ian
He would have loved to stay and watch her reaction, but rather than sitting around waiting for her to decide she wanted him dead, for the, oh, thirtieth time today, probably, he quickly made a beeline for the SummerClan medicine den. Just in time to notice a certain pair of cats trying to slip out the back. "Where do you think you're going?" The NightClan medicine cat questioned, following after them. foxwoof
Doe froze behind Sunpetal when he heard the voice and the sound of a cat slipping out of the camp wall behind them. Fear hollowed out his stomach and made him dizzy. Finally, staying in front of Ratstar’s daughter and sweeping her behind him with his tail, he turned - and saw who he recognised as NightClan’s medicine cat. He could have almost sobbed with relief, and in fact a shuddering breath did escape him. The tom had a reputation, he knew that, for insubordination and a certain nastiness - but he was still a medicine cat, sworn to save lives, and any enemy of Aspenstar, even if it were her brother, could be a potential ally to them. “Pinesimmer,” he greeted in a voice that was all at once breathless and trembling with suppressed fear and filled with all the false cheer he could muster, trying to make himself as harmless and agreeable as possible. “You don’t have to let them know we’re here. If you do, she could die.” He gestured slightly behind him, taking his eyes off the medicine cat for only the most fleeting of moments. “She’s no threat to you. Please.” He tried fear, hoping Pinesimmer might get a kick out of seeing someone grovel to him; now he tried a smile. Honeystormwoof
Post by Honeystorm on Sept 28, 2021 12:37:53 GMT -5
It wasn't often... or ever really, that Pinesimmer got to decide someone's fate. Especially being the potential reason someone lived or died. The brown tom found himself enjoying the look of suppressed fear on Doefreckle's. In contrast, his smile was anything but kind to the former leader. Honestly, it was less a smile, more a sneer if anything. "Oh? And what do I get out of it for risking my life to let you free?" The medicine cat questioned bluntly, glancing behind him back towards where his sister was inevitably plotting his death after this latest stunt, something that made his face light up with genuine glee, and he gave a little giggle about it that would either terrify Doe, or make the tom think Pine was on his side, as he didn't know the context of why Pinesimmer was so amused. "I let her go and I die. Aspen is about as sane as a starved fox."
