The Darkness Descends (ShadowClanners all please!)

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

The two tabbies walked side by side, their eyes both fixed on the path ahead. The one on the right was a lean but powerfully built she-cat, with fierce emerald eyes that demanded the respect of all around her. The other was a broad-shouldered tom with amber eyes and a long tail that was bent at the middle. The she-cat raised her head and sniffed the air, then turned to the Burnt Sycamore, looking for the prey she had scented. The tom paused, turning slightly and eyeing the she-cat as she padded towards the tree. She crouched swiftly and leaped towards the tree's base, her claws fixing into the flesh of a mouse she had scented. Suddenly she felt claws digging into her shoulder. Stormcloud, the ShadowClan Deputy, yowled in fury and spun around to face her attacker. Brokentail, the tabby tom, was standing behind her with her fur and blood in his claws.

"Brokentail, what are you doing!?" She yowled, furious. Brokentail smirked slightly, ambition shimmering brightly in his fiery gaze.

"What does it look like, Stormcloud? Killing you." The tom growled, crouching and leaping at the she-cat. She yowled as his claws fixed themselves in her throat. I can't die! I have so much. ShadowClan, Talonstar... my kits... She thought, struggling against Brokentail's grip. The tom lashed out, slashing Stormcloud's nose. The she-cat fixed her teeth into his shoulder, drawing blood. Suddenly he leaped up and crashed down onto her back. Stormcloud's eyes widened as she felt his teeth fix into her neck. No... NO! She felt the teeth clenching her spine, then everything went black. Blood and darkness surrounded her, and she struggled to find the light among the shadows. She unsheathed her claws, trying to find her way out of the place she was trapped in. She blinked open her eyes and found she was sitting beside the Burnt Sycamore, looking at Brokentail dragging her body towards the ThunderClan border. She got up hastily, but she couldn't move.

"You'll find that quite difficult, Stormcloud." A soft, silvery voice spoke out behind her. Stormcloud started, turning and fixing the spectre before her with wild emerald eyes.

"What's happening?" She asked.

"You've passed into StarClan." The she-cat before her meowed. Stormcloud's eyes filled with pain.

"No..." She murmured, turning back to Brokentail.

"No."

.~*~.

Brokentail slowly dragged Stormcloud's slain body towards the Thunderpath. He sighed softly as he set it on the dark path, waiting for a Monster to come. He watched as the Twoleg ran over the tabby form of his Clan's Deputy, his eyes narrowing. When the path was clear he picked up the remains of the she-cat and dragged them back the way he came. He stopped right outside the camp and began to ruffle himself up a little more. Then he progressed into the camp, dragging the mangled body of Stormcloud with him. He set her down gently in the center of the clearing, turning and watching as his Clanmates emerged.

"What in the world...? Stormcloud!" The brown-streaked creme she-cat cried, leaping forward with her blue eyes stretched wide in horror. Behind her a dark grey tom emerged, with a young apprentice padding after him. Midnightpaw's eyes widened and Stonesearch bowed his head slightly. Brokentail shook his head slightly, staring sadly down at the slain form of the Deputy.

[Tigercloud]

Roaringwaters heard the call of the fellow about Stormcloud. His thoughts just stopped as that went through his head. He leaped from the ground and bounded back into the camp, but not entering from the entrance. He saw Stormcloud and ran over. His amber eyes darkened and looked at Brokentail. "What happened?!" He growled. The broad tom stepped closer to the warrior. The fur on his neck raised as his eyes glared. This isn't right. Stormcloud has enough sense to realize a monster... Roaringwaters thought, Not that anyone will believe me even if I found something out...

OOC: Suspicious Roaringwaters <.< Very angry too o.o

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Brokentail turned and looked at Roaringwaters, calm and undaunted by the tom's raised hackles and glaring eyes. He put on a sad expression and shook his head slightly.

"A few ThunderClanners crossed the Thunderpath and attacked us. We had them beat, but Stormcloud ran to chase them across the Thunderpath and a Monster came and killed her. I had to carry her all the way back here." He said, a note of sorrow in his voice. Earthsong and Stonesearch stared sadly down at their Deputy, their shoulders drooped slightly. She did look like she was ran over by a Monster, so they had no reason to doubt Brokentail's story.

[Tigercloud]

Roaringwaters still didn't believe him. He didn't exactly know what to believe. He had saw the look Stormcloud gave Brokentail and it unnerved him. "I don't believe you." He hissed at Brokentail. He glared at him. "I'm going to go get Talonstar." He retorted, turned hoping his tail hit Brokentail because he couldn't do anything else to a fellow clan member.

The large tom stalked off towards the leader's den. "Talonstar? You here?" He called into the leader's den. He still hated everything he just heard. How am I suppose to believe him after seeing that look on Stormcloud's face?... But I have no proof his story isn't true... He sighed as his thoughts went on. He waited to see if Talonstar was in his den.

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

OOC: Aha, the only one who will avenge Stormcloud's death. Bwahaha.

BIC: Brokentail stared coolly at Roaringwaters, even as he flicked his tail in his face. You're next. He thought deviously, his amber eyes glinting. He turned slightly to look at his Clanmates, who were staring at him, then casting glances at the retreating form of Roaringwaters.

"Just what'd I'd expect of a rouge-born cat." He said, shaking his head sadly. "Dillusional." Earthsong's eyes darkened as she looked after Roaringwaters, but Stonesearch rounded on Brokentail with his lips curled to reveal his bloodstained teeth.

"Say that again and I just might give you what he didn't!" The tom spat. Earthsong turned to him but said nothing. She knew the pain of not being Clanborn, so she wouldn't try to diswade him. Midnightpaw turned and fixed Brokentail with his keen grey-blue eyes. They narrowed slightly. Brokentail turned and fixed him with his fierce amber gaze, smiling disarmingly.

"I don't believe you, either... somehow." Midnightpaw said softly, turning to look for Roaringwaters. Yet another to get rid of. Brokentail thought grudgingly.

[Tigercloud]

Roaringwaters heard the insult and his eyes widened, pupils narrowing. He wanting to go and attack, but only let his muscles tense. His tail flicked back and forth irritated. He closed his eyes forcing himself to calm down. He just listened to what Stonesearch said and Midnightpaw. His eyes opened and he looked over his shoulder, glaring at Brokentail and neautral when he looked apon the rest.

"I'll have to watch my back..." The tom whispered to himself so no one could hear, but himself. Slowly, he turned his amber eyes away and sat outside his leader's den.

OOC: Don't worry.... If he tried Roaringwaters he's gonna have a heck of a fight X3 lol

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

OOC: Yeah, I should think so.

BIC: Midnightpaw turned and saw Roaringwaters casting a suspcious glance over his shoulder. When he had said that he didn't believe Brokentail, Midnightpaw had caught a certain vibe coming from both the Warriors. Both Brokentail and Roaringwaters knew something that Midnightpaw didn't, and he'd learn what it was. There was something in the death of Stormcloud that didn't feel right, no matter how it looked before him. Midnightpaw got to his paws and padded over to Roaringwaters, sitting down beside him. He said nothing for a few moments, then looked up at the Warrior.

"Why don't you trust Brokentail? Well, besides the obvious..." Midnightpaw said, casting a glance over his shoulder to see Brokentail smirking at him.

[Tigercloud]

Roaringwaters frowned when Midnightpaw asked why not. He shook his head, unsure weather or not to tell the apprentice. He looked at Midnightpaw and smile weakly. "I'll have to tell you some other time. Not with the flee-bag around." He made flee-bag loud enough to where Brokentail could hear, casting a glare at him as well. His gaze went neutral as he looked at Midnightpaw. "But... If my suspicion is right, we both should be watching ourselves." He mrowed quietly, "Stay close to friends and don't go out of camp alone if possible."

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Midnightpaw's eyes widened and he stared down at his paws. A sudden thought struck him.

"Could... could Brokentail have... murdered Stormcloud?" He whispered, horrified.

[Tigercloud]

"I think so, my fellow... Keep it quiet... We'll go look around tomorrow... That is if your not busy with training." The tortishell tom whispered quietly back. He nudged the apprentice with his snout. "Let's keep it our secret, but I'll bring up the fact with Talonstar, even though he probably won't believe me." He murmured. A sad look lay in the warrior's amber eyes. Slowly, Roaringwaters looked away not liking the fact that a fellow clan member would kill they're deputy. He sighed softly, waiting, thinking, and trying to relax a bit.

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Midnightpaw stared up at Roaringwaters with wide eyes. When he suggested they look around the stunned look immediately left the apprentice's eyes and he composed himself so that his face was expressionless.

"Ok, tomorrow then." He murmured, turning to look at Talonstar's den. I only hope we turn out to be wrong...

[Tigercloud]

OOC: Hey Lion, want me to post a new thread for these two? 'Cause I'm really bored and need somewhere to rp. T.T

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

OOC: *shrugs* Sure. Sounds fun.

[kelsey .]

Talonstar her a caterwauling at the beggining of his den. A flash of long white fur caught his eyes as Articwind stumbled into his den.

"Talonstar!" she panted.

He immediatly knew something was wrong. "Articwind! What is it?"

"Stormcloud is... dead!" she gasped.

Stun, shock and anger clouded his eyes. "But... But....." he trailed off.

Articwind flicked her tail. "Come," she said softly.

Talonstar followed her till they reached a blood-stained body. "Oh, no." he sighed softly. "Stormcloud!"

A terrible shriek sounded from the barrier. "I saw you!" yowled Acaciapaw. "Talonstar! Brokentail killed Stormcloud! I saw him!"

Talonstar shook his head."Acaciapaw," he said to his daughter. "That's nonsense. Acticwind told me everything in my den." He sighed.


((Will post new thread about Talonstar being so grief-stricken he leaves. Will make new leader and deputy has been selected but Shadowstar has not made him yet.))