-Clan Meeting!- {R]emember [O]ur L[O]ng [T}alk?

[Brambleclaw]

He had never expected what she had told him. Never in his wildest dreams. Ever. No, never ever ever. Never ever ever times infinity. Ever, ever! Yes, he was not happy one ounce. Not a single hair, not a single cell, was happy. Only part jealousy, part anger, part confusion, part surprise. She had always loved him! Why had she abandoned him? He had been gone a Sunrise, and not a tail-twitch more. He had even met his mother, his father, his legal half-brother, and knew all his family ties. He even knew most of every cat's family lines, or had at least been told. But she had still almost instantly chosen another apprentice. And this had been heartbreaking,

So he had taken a long walk, pondering the heavy burden of decision. Only once had he met any other sign if life, a fiery red tomcat running swiftly. He did not see te cat fully, but something about him was so familiar... He felt an empty, hollow unhappiness inside him. Shaking himself, he tried to think of something happier. His thoughts darted swiftly back to his new nemesis. Bluepaw was a name one did not think of as a horrible, murderous traitor cat. But, in his opinion, Bluepaw was the worst cat in the whole darn forest. And he would have none of the new ShadowClan apprentice.

Now, not only Bluepaw sent him into a convulsion of unhappiness and jealousy. Snowily was also the major cause of this trauma. She had accepted Bluepaw eagerly as her new apprentice. And then she had retired. Why? Was she only trying to torment him? So now he had a younger cat taking his position! It was an outrage! Not to mention the embarrassment he had felt, and how much Snowlily had let him down. So much for their trust and friendship. The once happy-go-lucky tomcat was eager for revenge, and how sweet it would taste. It took death and rebirth for him to notice what a mess his life had become.

Then there was Canyonpaw, his murderous brother. Canyonpaw had been his downfall, and had killed mercilessly. And for no reason, too. Why? Because. That was the only reason he could think of. He tried to remember anything more to make him feel down. Oh, right. Now that he had risen from the dead, all of ShadowClan would be on him like frogs on a lily-pad, the first lily-pad of spring. Shaking his head, he realized subconsciously that he had gone well past ShadowClan and had no worry of them.

But there was a new worry among the unhappy tomcat. He was trying hard to pity himself, and now he had forgotten everything else to feel pitiable about. He seemed to be going to the ends of the earth to find more to put him down, and now he was frustrated with lack of ideas. So, in his deep concentration, he never quite noticed the tall white ball of fur until he had run straight smack into it.
"Oh, hello young man. I was wondering when you'd stop." The voice was pure and sweet, like the tastiest honeycomb. Smiling, he chanced a look at the she-cat. She smiled pleasantly down upon him.

"My name is Fallingstar, and I am leader of this humble Clan. What do you seek?" The she-cat was tall, standing erect and proud. She had small black spots all about her, and her eyes were a most vivid blue. His heart skipped a beat.

"I am seeking revenge on a lot of other cats right now."

"Then you have come to the right Clan." The pretty leader smiled devilishly. "What be your name?"

The tom replied simply and quietly. "Rootpaw." He meowed.

[Brambleclaw]

"Clan!" Fallingstar called out to the cats around her. They had believed a lot, recently. So maybe they could also believe this was right.
"We have a new cat among us. He is willing to join and would give his life for revenge. Now, he will also become our Deputy. I have received a prophecy saying so. In a dream, I saw a long and gnarled tree. The roots twisted high into the stars, and I was instantly enthralled. They morphed and twisted into the shape of a cat, and suddenly I saw him. It was this tomcat." Fallingstar flicked her tail and Rootpaw slipped forward.
"He is proper age for his warrior ceremony as well. My Clan shall be a Clan and have ceremonies as well. Anyone who feels ready may be made a Warrior tonight!" She waited for total silence, though it had always been there. To add to the drama, she raised her head and sealed shut her blue eyes. Then she lifted her tail as if reading something through scent, slowly.
"Rootpaw, accept our ways of revenge. Of our souls over the foolish stars. Please come forward." He was already waiting at the base of the rock, but Fallingstar waited anyway.
"Accept us, our ways, and believe in only the overtaking of these foolish kittypet Clans?"

"I accept." He said, smiling an evil smile of pure, golden hatred, raw and powerful. Fallingstar returned the grin.

"Then you Clan welcomes you as a warrior, Rootclaw. Will you be our Deputy more?"

"Yes." The mix-up of the ceremony made Fallingstar feel more powerful. She, not StarClan, was the one making all the rules now. It was a game she loved to play. She made sure no cat uttered the name at all, for she would say 'Disrespect of the new name is by calling it aimlessly. It is just a name, act like it is.'

"Then, Rootclaw, you are our new Deputy." She made sure she heard silence, and the beauty of it was calming. "Thank you." She waited to see if others wanted a new, fake ceremony.

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Whisper did not know if this "ceremony" was required. If it was, she would take it as only a means of continuing her service for the Clan she had chosen to work for. If it wasn't, she would continue on with no care as to what happened next. She held no emotion in her heart. Whisper had locked them away long ago when her claws had run red with the blood of her kin. Their claws were thrust through the Kittypet collar she wore around her neck. It had been a present from a cat in the Twolegplace who had taught her everything she knew. No cat in SilenceClan asked about the claws, and no cat needed to. They knew what it meant.

"This Warrior ceremony seems completely unnecessary." Fade's grim voice broke through Whisper's dark thoughts. She turned and stared at him with emotionless eyes.

"It would seem that Fallingstar is giving into the useless need to follow Clan traditions,"

[Brambleclaw]

"I would be." Fallingstar said with a grim smile. "I just wish we could all be one big, cuddly-wuddly little kittypet Clan!" She laughed evilly, her grin widening.

"I bet she's serious." Whispered a she-cat sitting near the front row. Her green eyes gleamed with amusement.

"What was that?" Fallingstar asked with a penetrating stare.

"I-I said that, you were a good leader."

"Lies. I don't tolerate them." With that, the leader launched herself quickly at the she-cat, pinning her to the ground. She stroked deep into the she-cat stomach with her claws, knowing this would be a painful, lengthened death.
"I know you all believe that Shadowstar was killed by a TrueClanner. Want to know what really happened?" She asked with another evil smile; Fallingstar was most certainly going insane.

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Whisper was completely unphased by this show of power. Her thoughts were cold, calculating. If she fought against Fallingstar, there was a chance that she could die. But it was a slim one. The odds were more in her favor, as a trained assassin. The she-cat stepped forward, her emotionless blue eyes staring at her "leader".

"Is a name necessary for our status in the Clan?" She asked, her eyes half closed. Cold, caculating... her eyes were measuring up the stats. It was easy to see in that moment the unconsiously diabolical build of the she-cat's mind. Perhaps Fallingstar would notice. Perhaps she would not. Either way, there was an evil genius in the midst of the SilenceClan warriors.

[Brambleclaw]

"No." Fallingstar replied cooly. She noticed and almost at once realized what Whisper was doing.
"But he wanted me to, isn't that right, boy?" Rootclaw could only nod numbly, he was shocked by the ferocity of the leader. It was all for show, but he did not realize that. Scare the pants off the new cat and she'd be content. That was her goal. He gulped hard, hoping that he could stay here for a second longer. Suddenly, Rootclaw was his old self, scared and no longer full of hate. But it didn't last long.
"I killed Shadowstar, as you probably all already knew. I wanted power. I saw one little bug in the way, and so I squished it. And now I'm leader. So, Whisper, what would you hope to accomplish?"

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Whisper stared evenly at Fallingstar, no hint of emotion in her eyes. Everyone in the Clan could never say they had seen her wear any sort of expression - except the odd snarl and blazing hatred. She had always had a problem with her temper. When she lost control, everything went red and the world flew by in a whirl. Luckily for her she did not lose control often. Whisper looked up at Fallingstar and she blinked.

"I do not hope. I am and I will one day not be. It is the way of life. For now I serve this Clan, and I serve you. I have no fear for you, no loyalty, but I see you as the leader and until that changes, I will follow you as a subject." Whisper meowed, her voice dull and lifeless. Who knew what it could have been like, filled with happiness and light-hearted joy? But now it was boring, emotionless. No cat dared to ask how she had killed her spirit in such a way as to kill others without thought. The claws that were thrust through the collar around her neck gave off an eerie glow in the sunlight, and it matched the strange, dead light that filled the she-cat's eyes. She turned to Rootclaw and blinked. She could sense the hatred burning within him. That feeling would take him far in this Clan, but it would also be his end. 'Never let emotions control you', her master had said. 'For they will ultimately bring you down'.

[Brambleclaw]

Fallingstar smiled, nodded.
"And I hope you all serve me. No one's hurt, right, by Shadow's death?" She tried to hide the unhappiness she felt. She had hated killing him. After all, she had loved him. She had taken the life of the cat she had loved and cared for, but it could only make her stronger. She looked to the nursery subconsciously, and watched a white head and a black head vanish from peering outside. She wished that the kits could know who their parents were, but they hadn't figured that one out yet. She almost felt happy again, but quickly buried it far beneath everything else she felt.
"And I hope Rootclaw shall serve me most of all." She spoke emotionlessly.

[kelsey .]

Chasinglight snarled. "Some are hurt!" She hissed. she had been his mate, and she was suspicious of Fallingstar's sudden rank. And, plus, Chasinglight was carrying Shadowstar's kits, a burden she would have to live with alone, for she hated kits after she had given birth to Pacingwaters.

((Um, B-Claw, Shadowstar and Chasinglight had been mates.. and we agreed on kits and everything))

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Fade suddenly stood up, his amber eyes, almost red, flaring like twin suns. He curled his lip and the fur along his spine prickled. A fire was kindled in his heart; a fire that reflected all of the honor and strength he had been born with and had been forced to abandon.

"How dare you!" He spat. "Shadowstar was our leader! How dare you treat his passing with such indifference! Even his murderer should respect his worthy life, and I think lowly of any cat in this Clan who would dare give all their loyalty to this heap of foxdung who would strip away the lives of a noble cat who had such bright ideas for the future of this Clan! I will not bare my throat to any leader who speaks with such dishonor. I will not follow the ways of Fallingstar. I served Seasand and Mistshadow, and then Shadowstar, and I have had enough of this life. Murder and revenge will be the end of every cat here. And good ridance to this poor excuse for a Clan." He faced Fallingstar fearlessly, his eyes still smoldering. He would take anything from her, and he would give it right back. If she dared to tell the cats around him, who had ceased to deserve the title of Clanmates, to attack him, he'd fight till his last breath. But the murderous ways of this life had finally drove him mad. Fade was going to leave this place and its cruel ambitions behind. He hated it here and he hated Fallingstar. He had never had much affection towards Shadowstar, and never much admiration, either, but he respected his previous leader and the manner of his death enraged him. The tom was prepared to live on his own once again. It was against his nature and how he was raised, but he was prepared. Fade would no longer live among murderers.

OOC: Oooh plot-twist in the Fade plot! Yesss!

[kelsey .]

Chasinglight spat in front of the 'leader'. "Your not worthy of such a rank. Shadowstar was better than you. And don't you EVER think he was your mate!" Foxdung. She nearly spat. "I'm with Fade. What are we know, than a group of low lives with nothing better to do but attack others?" Her eyes were raged. "We lost our purpose when you came back telling us you found his body." She leaned closer to the leader. "I know your secret," she said in a low voice.

(B-Claw, I'm not mad at you I got caught up in the moment though)

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Whisper watched the two cats with an even gaze. Her ear twitched slightly. Something in their words sparred up an old memory, but the she-cat pushed it away. Now was no time for weakening. She looked up at Fallingstar and blinked. This cat was the leader of this Clan, for now. She had no opinion on her. As long as she was called leader, Whisper would follow. Unless the stats changed, she was staying where she was.

[kelsey .]

Sweepingwind wasn't jostled by the others outspokeness. He merely laughed at them, the silly 'warriors'. Especially Chasinglight, who was pregnant. The babes could be killed if the Clan attacked. Him, he wouldn't go against Fallingstar. He loved her, as pitiful and goody it all sounded. He had a crush... Even she didn't really notice him. "Your wasting your breath!" he called from the corner where he had been watching the ceremony. "If we attack you, you'll be dead almost instantly." Standing up, he stretched and stalked up to the front of the clearing. "Fallingstar is a great leader." He said, staring into Fallingstar's eyes. "You two are outspoken and wrong. If you wish not to be here anymore, you should leave." He tried not to sound authoritized, fearing Fallingstar's anger on him.

Chasinglight muttered something inaudible.

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

Fade turned to Sweepingwind and wrinkled his nose in distaste.

"Very well," he growled, "I'm going." He turned and brushed past Whisper. She turned and watched him, but he wasn't going to stop. The black tom slipped out of the camp, hoping he could find his little alcove before dark. He would stay there for the night and then look for a territory of his own somewhere north, beyond ThunderClan or RiverClan territory.

[Brambleclaw]

[]

"Goodbye Fade." Fallingstar nodded simply - she had expected cats to leave. "As for Chasinglight. Rootclaw, please prove your worthiness." She nodded to the new Deputy. Rootclaw gulped.
"Wha-wha-what?"
"You know what I mean."
"But I-"
"NOW!" The impatient leader screeched. Rootclaw gulped again, and unhappily slipped up to Chasinglight.

[[Anything I can do to Chasinglight? Like kill several of her kits by crushing them or something?]]

[kelsey .]

(Errr... not crushing. How about a nasty scar across the side?)

Chasinglight mused at Rootclaw's uncomfortableness. He wasn't used to being a murderer, not yet. She saw the inner good inside him, she saw the little medicine cat who had been doing swell in his life and passing with flying colors. He wanted revenge. Not to kill others. But as he came toward her, she braced herself for scars, because Fallingstar would rip her up anyway.Her claws slid out, and she leaped at Rootclaw, aiming for a blow at the head.

[Brambleclaw]

Rootclaw slid over to one side almost as smoothly as if he had been made of water. He stretched his paw forth, claws extended, feeling it brush and run deep into her side. He gasped and choked at the stench of blood on his claws. Backing away, he looked unhappily at Fallingstar. She just nodded slowly.
"Very well, you may go. Had enough?" She asked Rootclaw. He just shook his head numbly.

[kelsey .]

Chasinglight cried with the pain searing in her side. She hadn't expected Rootclaw to do that. It just goes to show that Fallingstar was too caught up in silly Clan traditions. Stumbling away, she fled to the nursery.

[.:-Aikoa-:.]

The two cats sat side-by-side, as usual. There was such a difference between them; if they hadn't looked so alike no cat would have guessed they were related. The she-cat sat erect, her feathery, dark tail curled over her white forepaws. Her hazel eyes stared calmly at the scene beforehand. She did not care for Clan traditions or any of that rot, but she supposed Fallingstar was worthy of recignition. After all, not just any cat would even attempt to kill their leader. The tomcat was a completely different matter. His amber eyes were open, curious. He had a large smile plastered across his handsome face. He let out a mrrow of laughter as their new "deputy" shuddered.

"Looks like Rootclaw can't take a bit o' blood on his claws!" He taunted. The she-cat glared at her brother.

"Peace, Renegade. You're too boistrous in the morning." She hissed. She blinked and turned to face Fallingstar.

"Leader," she meowed, arching the whiskers above her eye slightly, "You offer us Clan names and the honor of being an organized group of cats. But there is something that bothers me. You require nothing in return. There should be a test of some sort. The cats of the Clans must complete long training to earn the name of a warrior. Why should we be any different? If there are cats in this Clan that are too weak," her eyes narrowed as she looked at Rootclaw, "To do what is necessary they do not deserve to be here. You must be selective, leader, if we are to be a strong Clan. Of course, you can choose to disregard my words if you wish. They are offered in all respect and wish for a strong Clan." She meowed. Chaos lifted her fierce hazel gaze to Fallingstar's face.

[Brambleclaw]

Fallingstar did not like to be corrected, but Rootclaw was proving not to be an asset after all. With an inward sigh, she acknowledged the cat who had spoken up.
"You bring up a valid point. If anyone would like to challenge Rootclaw for the position, you may." She nodded simply. Maybe not what the she-cat had wanted, but it was fair enough. If Rootclaw could kill a cat to be Deputy, then he would be worthy. If not, then she would have someone clean up the blood.

-

Rootclaw, eyes wide, turned and bolted in the Nursery.
"I'll finish her!" He called, quickly vanishing into the den.
"Chasinglight, I'm sorry. I-I would've been freshkill had I not done it. We both would've. Fallingstar wouldn't have let us live, you know as well as I do. But I have a plan." He began to whisper the plan into Chasinglight's ear.

[[Will PM you the plan!]]