|xLIFEx| needs living

[Raven-chan]

Jaggerstorm had padded quietly through TealClan territory, not speaking a word to Loststar, mostly because his new leader hadn't been pressing him with questions: Jaggerstorm wasn't sure if he liked this or not. It was probably more polite, but was it because Loststar didn't think Jaggerstorm's story was worth telling, or because he knew that the telling of it would break Jaggerstorm's heart? Either way, Jaggerstorm felt dreaded relief at not having to tell the tale of how he had come to be here.

Brambles covered the entrance between two large boulders into TealClan, and Jaggerstorm wouldn't've noticed it had Loststar not slipped between them, and so the newest warrior of TealClan followed suit, entering the camp. To his surprise, the camp was not teeming with cats as he had expected. There were no apprentices pestering their mentors, no kits frolicking, (although there was a bulging Queen basking in the sun, her tail twitching every other moment,) and no Warriors that he could see upon first glance. Maybe...they're all busy. Yeah, that's it.

Jaggerstorm looked expectantly around him, memorizing the layout of the camp, studying the different dens and what their uses might be. He wondered how Loststar would tell the Clan; would there be a meeting, or would he just let Jaggerstorm fend for himself among his new Clanmates?

Memories of a time long ago flitted through his mind and heart, his stomach clenching at the thought of Brazenclaw standing beside him, fierce and strong, insisting that these Clanners accept them, not hesitating to speak to them and befriend them. Of Thornstar upon that rock instead of Loststar, of Raveneye's rich laughter and Lunarfrost's bemused grin towards her mate's antics. Quickly shoving these thoughts aside, Jaggerstorm concentrated on the here and now, on these new Clanners, on his new home, not the home of his past...and his heart.

[Wazo]

It was silent the way back, but this was nothing new for Loststar. As much as he had to share with this rogue about his past that he suspected they might have in common, the air seemed so hushed, he could not bear to break the silence with the booming vibrations of his voice.

So he didn't. The ebony coat of the leader of TealClan was a dim contrast to their newest member's. This would be a strange picture, the leader returning to camp without Eclipsedmoon and Crowflight, but returning with an older, yet able warrior. Eclipsedmoon and Crowflight were probably spitting fire right now and a sad smirk flittered across Loststar's lips, knowing he would never be in their paws.

Loststar wasn't surprised to see the camp nearly empty, most people he had sent out hunting or on patrols, you could never be too careful, especially with the druids that were still so foreign to the clans. Still, he wouldn't just leave Jaggerstorm to fend on his own, that would be like feeding him to the wolves, especially in their tight knit clan. Brows furrowed in thought and he decided a meeting would be the best place to address it.

The dark leader made his way to the center of the camp and yowled in his husy voice, "Let all TealClan cats old enough to catch their own prey gather here for a clan meeting." (i dunno if thats the right words...)

His mis-matched eyes flickered to Jaggerstorm and he smiled at him, wanting to assure him that everything would be ok.

The sunlight flashed down upon a ginger coat of reddish hues as a she-cat returned back to camp, her paws leaving dusty tracks behind her. She was looking forward to a nap in the warrior's den and perhaps a piece of prey when her chocolate eyes came upon the sight of an older tabby loner. Sunsteak had never seen him at a clan gathering, nor did he have the exotic features of a druid. Her ginger tail swished curiously, and her eyes widened slightly at the call of her leader.

Sunstreak didn't have a problem with him being a loner or even a rogue. After all, if she was judged by her backgrounds, she wouldn't have been accepted to the clan at all. And without their grace, she wouldn't have survived that first leaf bare. She shivered at the thought of it. How hostile she had been to the clan that eventually became the only family she had never known.

Perhaps it was her own feeling of lonliness that guided her to speak with the loner. Ears erect and head held high, she weaved her way to the clearing, close to Loststar and Jaggerstorm. "I'm Sunstreak," she introduced herself confidently, sitting down in expectation for Loststar's words. "Welcome to TealClan."

After all, she would want some words of welcome too.

[Stormeh]

EVER THE FRIENDLY, PROTECTIVE WARRIOR that he was, Eveningrain's ears perked as he heard cats' voices and caught the scent of a stranger. His fur began to rise for only a moment before he realized that Loststar's scent mingled with the new one. He licked his chest fur back down before trotting out of the nursery, which was where he had been spending most of his time as of late due to Inkpool and her soon-to-be-born kits--their soon-to-be-born kits. She wasn't in the nursery at the moment, but he supposed that he had fallen asleep and been asleep for a while. Being on the moonhigh patrol normally wore him out.

The tom blinked as he entered the sunlight. The nursery was so dark compared to the rest of the camp. He had made trips out of the nursery to fetch food and hunt occasionally, but he didn't expect for the sun to beat down with such persistence.

His green eyes flickered over towards the stranger in time to hear Loststar call a Clan meeting. He simply padded up to the tom for a short time and meowed, "Welcome to TealClan." He gave a little nod and then turned towards Inkpool with a smile. His love's belly was growing bigger and bigger with every passing day. Eveningrain knew that she would bear many kits--a good sign for TealClan.

"Hello, love," he purred to her as he sat by her side and curled his tail around his body. "Quite the day, no?" He smiled and looked around the clearing. "Strange. Do you know where Eclipsedmoon and Crowflight are? I figured the deputy would be here if Loststar were welcoming a new cat into the Clan--which I hear he is..." His voice trailed off. Maybe they had gone on a different patrol with some other cats? But as he scanned the clearing, the two were the only ones to not be found. No other cat was missing. His heart skipped a beat or two before he made it go back to a regular rhythm and he looked ahead at Loststar, letting their absence go as a patrol.

[Raven-chan]

The kindness and warmth presented to him on so many levels shocked Jaggerstorm to the core of his being. It was rare, (or maybe common?) that Clanners were so open and welcome with a stranger coming into their midst, at least, it was for him. If Jaggerstorm had learned anything from his life, he had learned not to trust easily. These cats seemed to have total faith in the fact that their leader was with him, and that Loststar had given his (temporary) trust. Jaggerstorm was determined to earn the Clan's permanent, entire trust.

It was weird, seeing all of these unfamiliar faces around him. It was almost as if he had expected to walk into this camp, and be transported back in time. He expected to be stepping on sand instead of earth, to look up the bluff and see Thornstar's strong, confident profile, and hear Raveneye's laughter, and listen to Lunarfrost's soft rebuking of her mate's interruptions, and feel Brazenclaw's pelt brush up against his-

Instead, Loststar stood in the center of the camp and called out in a loud voice, (though Jaggerstorm personally thought that Thornstar was louder,) and Clanners slowly came. A young ginger pelted she-cat approached Jaggerstorm rather boldly, her chocolate brown eyes open and frank. She greeted him warmly, and Jaggerstorm was unable to keep himself from smiling, his leaf-green eyes twinkling slightly in friendliness. He meowed softly, not wanting to interrupt Loststar,

"Thank you. It's very nice to meet you, Sunstreak, and to be here. My name is Jaggerstorm." The finality he felt was unsettling, the weight lifted off of his shoulders was acutely noticed. It was as if, by joining this Clan, he had opened up another chapter in the book of his life. With a sudden feeling of loss and loneliness, the tom felt as if he were the only main character left, and that the supporting roles around him were slowly coming into the spotlight, leaving him to fade away into the epilogue...why was he so sad? He had just been welcomed, just met a very nice cat who was being warm and welcoming. What was this gaping, aching hole within his chest?

Why was it that the cats milling around him only brought to mind what he longed for the most, missed the most, wished that he could change with all of his heart.

LitheClan.

xxxxxxxx

Sleep was warm, nice, and soft. Her swollen sides rose softly up and down, tail-tip twitching once in awhile to keep the blood circulating. A familiar, respected voice called across her dreams. An unfamiliar, loner-ish scent reached into her slumber. A warm, soft, loved and beautiful pelt brushed against her, a more familiar and loved voice reached her eyes. "Hello, love..."

Inkpool slit her eyes halfway open to see Eveningrain above her, his voice pleasantly warm and soothing. He asked something, about Eclipsedmoon and Crowflight...they weren't here? Loststar was, but they weren't? Worry niggled at Inkpool's consciousness, and she brought herself up to a sitting position against Eveningrain, blinking her eyes open, letting the sunlight filter through their sleepy gaze.

"Maybe they're finishing a patrol that they started with Loststar. Yeah, that's it." She tried to comfort herself as much as Eveningrain by saying this, but her heart wasn't sure that everything was okay. Something didn't feel right. Looking up at Eveningrain, she smiled, meowing softly,

"I never said good morning, did I? Well, good morning, sweet." She purred softly, rasping her tongue across his shoulder before resting her head there, sighing at the kits rapid, jerky movement within her. They would be here soon: she could feel it. The cat in the center of he camp with Loststar was someone she didn't know.

What had Eveningrain said? A new cat in camp? This tom was closer to their age than anyone else's, and Inkpool felt comforted that she and Eveningrain weren't the only 'older' cats in the Clan anymore. She wondered where he came from, who he was. He wouldn't hurt them, right? Not Wolfstep, Whiteshadow, Eclipsedmoon, or her new kits? She would never let that happen. She would never let anyone hurt her kits, or Eveningrain. Ever.

((Ummm...kinda tired, sorta weird/crummy ending, sorry y'all! I love you so much!!))

[Wazo]

ooc: i think diamond needs to respond here, or else i will just move on

[Stormeh]

EVENINGRAIN JUST TRIED TO SHRUG the thoughts off of his daughter and Crowflight being ambushed...or harmed by anything else... So many creatures entered his mind. There were foxes, badgers, Druids, dogs... Nearly anything could have gotten to them!

However, he didn't want to scare Inkpool. He was well aware that the kits should be coming any day now, and they were sure to hurt her if her heart began to beat too quickly. He smiled at her as he felt her tongue and then head on his shoulder. For her to be so close made him feel much warmer, much more loved, than he would otherwise. She was his and he was hers. There was not any changing that.

They were the epitome of love.

Eveningrain let his gaze follow Inkpool's. "He doesn't seem to pose a threat," he murmured. "If anything, he seems to be quite friendly. If he chooses to stay here, he should be a fine addition to TealClan." Even if he wasn't the deputy, he still felt that, as a senior warrior, he had the room to say what he pleased...though that very rarely ever differed from what the Clan wanted or needed. He had been through and seen it all; there wasn't much that could surprise the tom now.

He glanced at Inkpool's swollen belly, mind taken off of the tom. "You look like they may come any day," he purred proudly. "I can't wait. Have you any idea about when you're to kit?"

[Ick... T.T That pretty much sucked...just like all the rest of my posts for today will... *grumbles...*]

[Wazo]

Loststar took a few more moments to study Jaggerstorm with an inquisitive gaze, his mis-matched eyes resting on the senior tom's solemn expression. Loststar's brows creased with worry, perhaps he wasn't doing his job right, and he especially wanted Jaggerstorm to feel welcome, as Loststar had when he had first arrived at TealClan.

Loststar glanced around, hoping that perhaps the patrols had returned, Crowflight and Eclipsedmoon as well as another he had sent out with Ashdust and Emberpaw. Although, he reflected, they hadn't been sent out for very long and he has just left Crowflight and Eclipsedmoon. If he was to put speculation to rest, he had to introduce Jaggerstorm now.

He took a deep breath and yowled to get his clan's attention, his tail swishing briskly behind him. He waited, his eyes shifting back to Jaggerstorm, and back to his clan until all eyes were on him.

"I'm sure most of you are aware of the new face here in camp today. Jaggerstorm comes to us as a loner, already trained in clan ways, and has asked me to be allowed to join as a warrior of TealClan. I have decided to make him a trial warrior until his loyalty to TealClan is shown, after which he will be made into a full warrior of TealClan. Show him the same respectful welcome that I recieved joining TealClan so many moons ago," he called out, his voice ringing with authority. He looked down at Jaggerstorm. "As leader, I welcome you to TealClan," he said with a rare smile.

The ginger warrior smiled once again at Jaggerstorm and turned her head away at the sound of Loststar's voice, listening intently. Her ears perked slightly at the fact that he had been a loner; it was usually easy to forget that he wasn't TealClan born, especially with the amount of dedication and loyalty he showed his clan.

Now with Jaggerstorm, Sunstreak didn't feel so much as the odd cat left out. With many of the warriors as Eveningrain and Inkpool's offspring, as well as the three black-pelted sisters, Sunstreak wasn't sure where she fit in with this close knit clan. Even with Wolfstep as her closest friend, his feelings and actions were often hot and cold for her, as for someone as open and frank as her, she found it difficult to judge people's inner thoughts. She longed for that automatic connection that came with a mate or a family, that she had so sorely lacked growing up.

Her rich brown eyes flickering over the camp, wondering where Wolfstep could be anyway, unable to make out a fluffy gray form among the members of the clan. She missed him when he wasn't around, even if sometimes he was distant and shy. She ran a ginger paw through her cinnamon fur and nodded in welcome to Jaggerstorm after Loststar was done, having already introduced herself before.

[D a R K - R a H]

W O L F S T E P;;
^{________________________________________________________}

For the first and probably only time in his life, Wolfstep wished he were a CherryClanner. They were built for that kind of movement, with their long legs and thin shoulders. Wolfstep, on the other hand, had large paws and broad shoulders, born to tread water. He moved slower than a RavineClanner would through their thick forest. His large paws stumbled and got stuck on things. Sure, they'd be useful if he were ever running in winter, on top of snow. But with the leaves wet under his paws, all he did was slide about a ton.

There was a feeling of panic in his heart that he was not unfamiliar with. He had felt it on several occasions before. The first had been when he was a small kit and a landslide had been coming down on top of him. That had ended in the death of the CherryClan warrior who'd saved his life. The second time had been only a few moons previously. Wolfstep, then Wolfpaw, had walked right into a fox. Once more, someone had died saving him. That time it had been Poppytail, his own clanmate. There was no doubting the pain and guilt Wolfstep carried with him almost constantly. The only cat who could make it go away was Sunstreak...

At the thought of the she-cat, his panic redoubled. What if she was out in the forest? He pushed himself faster, which turned out to be a bad idea... A rock beneath his left paw shifted, and Wolfstep fell flat on his face. He groaned. There was a pain thudding on the side of his neck. Refusing to so much as pause to determine the damage, he pulled himself up and continued-- this time at a slower pace.

At last, the clan's camp came into sight and the scents of his clan begun to fill his nose. To his relief, the scent of Loststar was among the others. He sped up one last time, knowing those last few steps like the back of his paw. He sidestepped a rock that he knew was always wobbly and threw himself through the camp's entrance. A yowl sprang from his mouth before he could even think. He skidded to a halt, his words stuck in his throat as he wondered why the entire clan was gathered. He caught sight of a pelt he didn't recognize, but didn't linger on it. His gaze swept through the group of cats, relieved to see Sunstreak among them. Then a bolt of shock ran through him. He knew his sister as well, if not better than he knew himself. He could recognize her scent in his sleep, know it was her by the sound of her steps, and tell her mood by a single flick of her tail. He knew she was absent. The only other cat he didn't see was the deputy, Ashdust, and Emberpaw. The lack of those three didn't bug him so much as the lack of Eclipsedmoon did. Wolfstep and his siblings had been raised very close, even if they no longer showed it very much.

"Badger!" he finally managed, his voice quiet at first. "I scented badger! Up near the border with RavineClan..." He didn't have to have anyone tell him that that was where Eclipsedmoon was. He knew it, deep down in the corners of his heart, he already knew she was in danger. He shuddered just thinking about it. The shudder brought him fully back to the present, and he realized there was a small warm patch growing over the side of his lower neck. He took a small step forward and felt a tinge of stiffness already in his upper shoulder when he took a step. A sudden wave of anger swept through him. He refused to stay in camp just because of a little gash...

Every individual
has a place to fill in the world,
and is important in some respect
whether he chooses to be so or not.
~ Nathaniel Hawthorne

[Raven-chan]

Whiteshadow had padded back into camp just behind Loststar and Jaggerstorm, his black body sliding across the edge of camp like the flitting of a moonlit shadow across the ground. He had been listening, studying, watching, when Wolfstep's cry and body threw themselves into the camp, and instantly his whole body was on high alert.

Whiteshadow knew his littermates better than he knew himself, sometimes. He knew when Wolfstep was lonely, confused, guilty. He could feel Eclipsedmoon's torn heart over Crowflight, her love for her brothers and parents, so much more. He knew that she loved Crowflight before she did. And right now, he knew that something was wrong with Wolfstep.

His brother's cry rang out through the clearing, and Whiteshadow instantly knew that Eclipsedmoon had been attacked by the badger. He raced towards Wolfstep, looking his brother square in the eye and nodding, knowing that even though he was injured, he would come along. There was no way they could leave their sister out there, on her own, injured and bleeding.

Even if she did have Crowflight with her, it wasn't the same. Whiteshadow and Wolfstep had been with Eclipsedmoon her whole life, and Crowflight had just found his way into her heart. Or maybe it was more like they had been stumbling along, both of them searching, and had found each other...their relationship sure had been fireworks and flames.

None of this mattered. All that mattered was that Whiteshadow find his sister as fast as possible, his sleek body racing through the undergrowth, emerald eyes looking around and mouth open to taste his sister's sweet smell...curses, if only he could run faster! Why couldn't he run faster? He had seen CherryClanners dart across the ground like birds zipping across the sky, and here he was, moving in what seemed like slow-motion. If only there was water between him and his sister...he would have been there quicker than you can say 'mouse-dung.' His legs were packed with muscles, as well as his shoulders, but in a sort of sleek way. He was built for the water, as all TealClanners were.

They had to be, in order to survive.

Right now, he was praying to StarClan that his sister survive...

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Inkpool purred softly, relishing the feel of Eveningrain against her, warm and solid, their souls blending together like the sun and the sky melted into each other. With an amused chuckle, the Queen glanced at her overburdened self, and had been about to respond when the smell of Wolfstep, afraid and bleeding, caused her to gasp, eyes wide with fear, claws digging into the ground out of panic.

"Eclipsedmoon," she mewed breathlessly, her heart pounding in her chest, the unborn kits within her responding violently to the rise in blood pressure. Every particle of her being longed to run out as her son did, darting towards her only surviving daughter and protecting her, sheltering her, holding her close to her body and reassuring her that everything would be okay.

But even as she stood to try and see how she could help, maybe to go check on Wolfstep, a sharp pain in her belly stopped her, causing her to catch her breath and stumble. Not now! she begged her unborn kits silently, breathing slowly and steadily to see if she could calm the restless and vicious brats that were seemingly attacking her from the inside out. Please, not now!

They weren't listening. As the pain faded away, Inkpool eased herself back down on to her haunches, every breath she had being used in prayers to StarClan. Please, keep my baby safe. Keep her safe...keep them safe... Another pain, sharp and tight across her belly, caused Inkpool to groan lightly and dig her claws into the ground before forcing herself to stand and waddle slowly and awkwardly towards the Nursery. She couldn't help Eclipsedmoon better than Wolfstep, Whiteshadow, Crowflight and Eveningrain could. It was better that she lie down right now...because absolutely everything hurt, from the ache in her back and paws to the sharp, tight, pain that her belly was facing, all Inkpool wanted was to lie down in her nest...

[Wazo]

Loststar raised his large head, had heard the thudding of paws as Wolfstep burst into camp, bleeding, and frantic, saying that he smelled a badger near RavineClan. His mis-matched eyes registered shock as he racked his brain figuring out how long it had been since he had seen Crowflight and Eclipsedmoon, a few hours maybe? Long enough for it to be worrisome that they were gone and certainly long enough for a badger to get to them...Loststar winced at the thought.

This was one of those times he didn't want to be the leader, he wanted to be told what to do, one of those times where he would have been glad to be curled up in his nest without the pounding accustation of his heart.

But now was the time for swift action. He opened his mouth to say something until Whiteshadow ran out of camp and Inkpool started showing signs of kitting soon. Loststar breathed deep, making a quick choice.

"Sunstreak and myself will follow Whiteshadow out of camp, along with..." he paused, glancing around the crowd as he settled on Wolfstep, knowing that this was his battle as well. "Wolfstep," he finished, turning his glance to Eveningrain. "Eveningrain, you are in charge while I'm gone, stay with Inkpool and get Holloweye to see about those kits," he added, knowing that Eveningrain would want to go after his daughter, but Inkpool was too important for Eveningrain to leave behind.

He turned after Whiteshadow and started running, churning up dust with huge paws while his heavy heart pounded my fault, my fault...

Sunstreak was as shocked as anyone to see the state Wolfstep arrived in, blood seeping from a cut on his neck. She was about to get up to check on him when she froze at the word badger. Frantically she too looked around camp, realizing that it was Crowflight and Eclipsedmoon that were missing, who were also on the RavineClan border patrol...

The ginger warrioress nodded at Loststar's words, but her chocolate brown eyes flashed angrily at the fact that Wolfstep was to go. What in StarClan was Loststar thinking by sending him...she shuddered to imagine them confronting the badger and Wolfstep already weak...

She turned to Wolfstep before she was about to follow in her leader's pawsteps. "You don't have to do this," she said, concern heavy in her eyes. "We can take care of this...I don't want to see you get hurt," she finished, not really knowing whether he would listen to her or not.

[Stormeh]

EVENINGRAIN SMILED A WARM WELCOME to Jaggerstorm. It would be wonderful to have a new warrior in the camp, especially one who could be trusted like he hoped Jaggerstorm could be. With his and Inkpool's kits on the way, it would only make sense that many warriors would be needed as mentors. Surely Jaggerstorm would pass his trial by then.

However, his moment of happiness for the new warrior was short-lived. He smelled Wolfstep before he saw his son. Eveningrain was already on his paws when Wolfstep entered the camp. He barely caught Wolfstep gasp, "Badger! I scented badger! Up near the border with RavineClan..." before his muscles were taut. He was ready to sprint out of the camp, but he stopped short when he heard Inkpool's soft groan in the way that only her caring mate could. She was about to kit.

No!

She couldn't kit now! He had to help Eclipsedmoon! He had to! ...But Inkpool... He made a move towards her, unsure about what to do, before turning back to the entrance to the camp, and then back to his beloved.

Finally, the older tom turned his green gaze to Wolfstep as Whiteshadow bounded out of the camp. His eyes were pleading as he meowed, "Wolfstep! I know you're hurt, but...please! Go help Whiteshadow find Eclipsedmoon." He cast a glance towards Inkpool, who was now very near the nursery, and then looked back to Wolfstep, hoping he understood. "Please find her!"

He had been worrying about his daughter like mad, but so had Inkpool; besides, Whiteshadow and Wolfstep were extremely capable warriors. The would be able to find her. If they didn't, no cat could. He just hoped that they found her...in time....

The tabby tried to push the worst thoughts to the back of his mind before trotting to the nursery to crouch near his beloved. "Inkpool," he whispered as he pressed his nose to her fur for only a short moment. "They'll be back soon...I'm sure they will... Wolfstep and Whiteshadow will find her. They'll bring our Eclipsedmoon home safely, don't you worry..."

He didn't want anything going wrong. Nothing.

Eveningrain leaned out of the nursery for a moment to yowl, "Holloweye!" before retreating back into its depths to stay with his Inkpool and their arriving kits.

Don't let me lose them. StarClan, please don't let me lose either of them!

EDIT: ICK. I TOTALLY missed Wazo's post for some reason... T.T I'm sorry. Please just...ignore this, I guess...except for relevant parts... *bangs head on keyboard* I can't believe I did that...

[D a R K - R a H]

W O L F S T E P;;
^{________________________________________________________}

He didn't think he'd ever felt so grateful towards Loststar. Sure, the dark tom had pulled their clan back together and helped them settle into their new home. But that seemed to pale in comparison to his fast actions while Eclispedmoon was in danger. It only briefly occurred to him that Crowflight's life was somewhat important, too. But then another thought filled Wolfstep's mind. His siblings had known from their early days of apprenticeship that he cared very strongly for Sunstreak. Just as easily, Wolfstep had probably noticed his sister's feelings for the deputy before she did. He knew losing Crowflight would upset her deeply. That alone made the deputy's life worth fighting off any number of badgers.

Despite his quick action and thoughtfulness to include Wolfstep in the patrol, the fluffy tabby felt a spark of resentment towards Loststar. Why did he have to include Sunstreak? Just the thought of her anywhere near danger made his stomach shake with worry and fear. But all of that was lost as Wolfstep glanced towards her, noting a spark of anger in her own eyes. Surely she wasn't upset to be out defending her clanmates, right? It didn't matter; her face seemed set with determination. The tom felt a rush of emotion towards her. She was a fine warrior, and he knew she could hold her own against any enemy.

Surprise blinked over his face as she turned to face him, something glinting in her dark brown eyes. In a simple heartbeat, Wolfstep's gaze traced the shape of the stripes down her cheeks. Her eyes were filled a cheerful intelligence, carefully regarding him in return. He almost opened his mouth and let his emotions flow from him, but he held back, knowing the longer he stood there, the longer Eclipsedmoon was in danger. There was something in her face that made him feel she felt very nearly the same as him. All the same, Wolfstep couldn't help but be surprised by her words. "We can take care of this...I don't want to see you get hurt," she spoke, her voice as soft as the look in her eyes. Wolfstep felt like his very chest might burst right then and there. Adrenaline held his river of emotions back, though. He smiled a gentle, grim smile. "I could say the very same to you," he said quietly enough that only she could hear. Moving before he tried to hesitate, Wolfstep leaned forward to brush his cheek against her's. He allowed his gaze to meet her for only a second longer before agitation drove him to turn away.

Once more his paws flew out before him and he leaped after his brother and leader. Sunstreak's presence gave him the strength to push swiftly ahead. The gash on his neck felt like it was on fire, but it only added to the rush of adrenaline that kept him speeding quickly along. There was no stumbling this time. His paws found their marks perfectly, not once slipping or sliding. He moved with the grace that was usually beyond him. He spared a single glance sky-ward, praying that both Hazefur and Poppytail might fight with him that day. Whether or not they heard his prayer, Wolfstep felt a sudden rush of energy and pushed himself faster. He thought he saw a flash of gray fur out of the corner of his eye, but it must have been the light off the trees because there was no one there.

Every individual
has a place to fill in the world,
and is important in some respect
whether he chooses to be so or not.
~ Nathaniel Hawthorne

[Diamond]

'Hey Blackluck, Hexspell and I are going out hunting. We'll see you later, okay? Bye!

Those were the words that Blackluck's sisters left her with. Now here she was in camp, sitting outside of the Warriors Den, bored.

She was about to except the fact that she regretted agreeing to stay here, when she saw something or rather, someone come into camp. A tom and a outsider, by the looks of it. Blackluck's short black fur fluffed up in slight alarm, and her bright yellow eyes shined like a ghostly flame. But the tom was traveling with their leader, Loststar. So he must be somewhat trustworthy...right?

Blackluck was very glad when Loststar stood in the middle of the camp and called for a meeting. Now maybe she'd get to learn the tom's name. She swiftly padded into the middle of camp and into the middle of the crowd. As Blackluck listened, she learned the tom's name. Jaggerstorm. How...interesting. Then she froze, realizing that she hadn't said a single thing to the tom, while most of the rest of the clan had said 'hello' and more to him.

Feeling bad, she turned to glance at him, only to see Wolfstep dash into camp. Bleeding. Blackluck's heart skipped a beat. What had happened to her fellow warrior? Badger? Did he say...BADGER?!
Few things were said, but before she knew it, cats in every direction were taking action. Loststar, Wolfstep, Sunstreak and Whiteshadow were leaving camp to try and find Eclipsedmoon, Crowflight...and maybe the badger it's self. So what was she supposed to do?

The dear she-cat soon got her answer when she heard someone call out the name 'Holloweye'. The medicine cat? Was someone hurt already? She looked around only to see Eveningrain, calling out for the medicine cat. "What? Why would he be...oh no! Inkpool must be having her kits!" Blackluck said to herself, her voice getting a bit panicked at the end. If Holloweye wasn't in the medicine den...Blackluck frowned. "But...I don't know much about..." Blackluck trailed off, seeing Eveningrain disappear into the Nursery again. The poor tom must have been so worried. "Well, too bad." She mumbled to herself. Blackluck quickly padded into the Medicine Den, grabbing as much Poppy Seed as she could.

Once Blackluck got into the Nursery, she froze upon seeing Inkpool and Eveningrain. What was she supposed to say to them? She wasn't even a Medicine cat apprentice. "Hi. Yeah, I know, I know, I'm not the medicine cat." The she-cat said, quickly snapping out of it and padding towards Inkpool. She set the Poppy Seed down and smiled at Inkpool. "It'll all be over soon. Your going to do great."

[Raven-chan]

Rhythm and grace embodied Whiteshadow as he bolted across TealClan's lush territory, his heart pounding wildly in his chest, mouth open to catch the faintest glimmer of Eclipsedmoon's sweet, sweet scent. He had never loved any two she-cats as much as his mother and Eclipsedmoon, and now she was in danger.

There it was! Lurching to the right, Whiteshadow darted down the steep shore, clearing fallen logs easily and trying to keep his balance as he raced down the slope. There she was! He could see her faintly in the distance, the smell of blood and war and badger strong to his sensitive nose. He skidded and stumbled a little as he raced down, tearing open one of his paws on a sharp branch, but he didn't mind. He didn't even notice.

"Eclipsedmoon!" He cried, his voice ringing with fear and passion. His sister, his only remaining sister....He stopped by her side, breathless, checking her over, relieved beyond belief that she was still breathing. He began to gently lick her wounds, his voice rumbling in a soothing purr, though ragged for his lack of breath. Looking up, he waited for Wolfstep, desperate to get Eclipsedmoon back to camp safely, where Holloweye could look her over. Glancing at Crowflight to assure himself that the deputy was indeed still alive, Whiteshadow continued to fret over his darling sister, his claws kneading anxiously into the ground.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Inkpool's unfocused eyes just barely saw Blackluck enter the den before they closed tightly in pain one more time. The pain was all-consuming, sharper, clearer than before. Maybe because of the agonized panic she was under, facing the possibility of her daughter's death? Or was it the fact that she had aged over the moons, and her body wasn't as spry and young as it used to be?

She didn't have the energy to think about it. She didn't have the energy for anything right now, just enduring the pain. Eveningrain's strong, musky scent filled her senses, reviving her soul, giving her the strength to look up into his face, fear and pain evident in her suddenly clear silver-green eyes. Her kits...her kits...would they survive? They had to survive! There was no question! They would survive!

Pain stole all reason and common sense away, and Inkpool sank in to the consuming darkness....

ooc: Sorry guys, short. ):

[Wazo]

It wasn't hard for Loststar to pick up the scent of Eclipsedmoon and Crowflight, especially with Whiteshadow leading the way. It was amazing that such a huge tom could cover that long of a distance so quickly, but fear lent strength to his limbs while guilt pierced his heart like brambles, ensnaring it and holding with an icy grip.

Time seemed to slow down, every breath he took was a minute, an hour, a ticking countdown for the lives of his clanmates. Those he swore to protect, recieved nine lives to protect. Those nine lives weighed down heavy on his mind, each one a useless waste if he was not able to prevent this now.

Finally he came upon the sight, although his nose had warned him seconds earlier, the scents he knew as well as his birthclan's, of Whiteshadow over his sister and Crowflight beside them. Blood matted their tabby fur, but, and if his mind was not decieving him, Eclipsedmoon was talking and Crowflight too. They were alive, at least for now, and that eased the pain of his heart.

Quickly he examined the wounds, scatches, bite marks, blood certainly, but nothing fatal unless it wasn't taken care of quickly. His mismatched eyes turned to Whiteshadow, "Holloweye is back with Inkpool, she's about to kit. We need to take them back to camp and quickly too," the huge tom spoke quickly, taking one last look at Eclipsedmoon.

Sunstreak was stunned, rooted to the ground by his simple touch. Her ginger fur felt like fire, prickling with the sensation of his cheek against hers only seconds ago. She opened her mouth but her voice betrayed her, ensnared by shock and boundless joy. Even if she could speak, how could she ever choose the right words all clammering at the same time to be spoken. That she loved him, had loved him all along, gentle sweet Wolfstep who had seen past a scowling fiery apprentice and loved her for it against all odds. The rogue warrioress, finally accepted into the clan by one of it's own with the strongest bond under StarClan.

But then he was gone, his gray tabby fur streaking into the distance and she watched his fleeting form. It took her a few moments to be snapped back into the present, the badger, Eclipsedmoon and Crowflight. And then she bolted.

She had never been one much for speed, prefering her natural strength against enemies and on the hunt. Her reddish pelt blended and blurred against lush green leaves and bushes and her paws pounded against the dirt. Thoughts of Wolfstep and that badger flashed through her mind like silent curses, sharp claws slashing through tabby fur and she shudded, urging her body to go faster.

It wasn't long before her prayers were answered, a bloody scene, but a silent one, the fight a thing of the past. She prayed to StarClan that they hadn't been too late, for the clan, for Wolfstep, but as she heared low mumurs of all of the cats, she felt overjoyed, her shoulders still heaving from her run across the territory.