Nine Lives, Use Them Wisely..

      Ghoststar wasn't seeing anything. The air was cool and cold, its chill beginning to sink through her fur. "Where are you?" She muttered, hoping starclan might here. They had spent enough time in Roseclan territory, the smell was making her fur bristle. What if they had gone on forbidden territory for nothing? Suddenly, there was motion that caught Ghoststar's attention. A dark red pelt was manifesting in the corner of her vision. The white she cat dared turn her head: her breath caught in her throat as a she-cat was right beside her, looking at her with faded green eyes. The moment was fast, for the figure turned and briskly headed farther into the woods, its image faltering slightly. "Scorchtooth!!" Ghoststar hissed as quietly as she could, but still loud enough to catch his attention. There was no time to wait for him, she dashed through the trees after the starlit cat.
        Scorchtooth flattened his ears, crouching slightly as her urgent mew caught in the air: the ever so silent air. Of course any cat would have heard that! The black tom looked over to her about to make a sarcastic retort, but the white she-cat's pelt was already flashing through the trees. Scorchtooth thought he saw something in front of her, but he couldn't make it out. With his heart skipping a beat, he dashed after her.
        Where is she leading me? Ghoststar wished she could get close enough to ask, but the Starclan entity kept a good distance between herself and it. The trees flashed by and the scent of Roseclan drifted in the crisp night air. The moon light, still slightly full, was the only reason Ghoststar was able to follow the figure as it glittered and flashed. She could hear Scorchtooth behind her and wondered briefly if he saw the cat too. The trees thinned and the slope increased. The white she-cat felt her heart stop when she lost sight of the cat over the hill. "No!" They weren't going to find where to meet starclan. Not if this cat wouldn't slow down!
         Scorchtooth had caught up to his leader, panting as his yellow eyes stared up the hill. "Quiet! Do you realize how deep we are in Roseclan territory??" He swung his head back to look through the trees. "Why don't you just call to their camp and say 'hey, come and rip our pelts off for trespassing'?" The black tom's pelt was lashing as they ran.
         Ghoststar had become oblivious to the fact of where they were. They reached the top of the hill and as the pale she-cat looked down it she was shocked of what she saw. A gleaming rock stood in a clearing at the base of the hill. The mysterious red cat was gone. The boulder was large and the only thing, beside a thin scattering of ferns, that was in the area. Ghoststar looked at Scorchtooth, her ears pricked.
          "We still don't know if Starclan will share in your dreams here."
          "They will." She replied, sure of it. The black tom scoffed as they headed down the hill. Ghoststar wasn't sure what to do. Scorchtooth instructed her quietly.
           "Just lay down next to the rock and touch your nose to it. If you dream of starclan, great. If not, this little escapade was a complete waste." Ghoststar wasn't encouraged by his tone. She hated feeling like a mouse-brained kit, which always seemed to be his goal. The white she-cat shot him a glare with her gray eyes and lied down. She gently touched her nose to the rock, bracing for cold, but was instead shocked by a warmth. It seemed to radiate from within the great stone and immediately soothed her to sleep.

           ***

           Starlight...grass...cats?  Ghoststar tried to identify the things around her as she woke. Was anything different? Was she dreaming? Scorchtooth was no where to be seen and the huge boulder that had been in front of her before was gone now. She was in an empty field with a heavy scent of cat around her. "Hello?" She called out with a tentativeness. As she spoke figures seemed to take shape around her out of thin air. She hadn't realized they had been standing there the whole time.

           "Greetings, Ghost." A cat stepped out of the group of patterned fur. It was the red cat she had seen all those times. It bothered her slightly they referred to her by her old name. Ghoststar wanted to point out that her name had changed, but suddenly she had lost her voice. "I am Foxstar, former leader of a clan that used to dwell here. Nightclan."

            Ghoststar looked around at the crowd. A clan had lived here before Roseclan? Before Twilightclan? She was amazed.

            "You want your nine lives. You want to be true leader of Twilightclan. We will grant you all that, but you must understand one thing: more lives is different than more power." Foxstar meowed this with an intense warning. Ghoststar gritted her teeth. The white she-cat couldn't understand why she would say that. "You can always put more stones into a lake, but that does not change how the lake holds water."

             Ghoststar was even more confused. Why did Starclan have to speak in such an inauspicious tone? She quickly forgot their words as Foxstar continued on.

             "With this life, I give you humility. Never overestimate yourself: remember all cats have the same ability and possibilities." The russet red she-cat leaned forward, causing Ghoststar to have an immediate instinct to pull away but her body seemed frozen in the cold, still air. As soon as their noses touched, Ghoststar was filled with a feeling of insignificance. The world suddenly seemed so big. There were huge, thick oaks that seemed to touch the sky. Mountains that rose up out of the land defiantly against all gravity. Animals that were huge and powerful even as cubs, pups, and calves. She closed her eyes tightly, wishing away the images. Foxstar stepped away, but the feeling lingered.

            Other cats stepped forward, some young, some battle scared. She received her eight other lives with similar over powering feelings.

             The life of courage: there was first an overwhelming fear, but then a burst of bravery that dwarfed the freight.

              The life of empathy: Ghoststar was in a glen full of tender, beautiful daisy's. She had to take great care to walk amongst them, not wanting to crush any.

             The life of pride: Ghoststar looked at Twilightclan and admired the group they had become. She would never doubt them.

             The life of unity: cats were being swept by a current and the only way to get out was to create a chain and cling to one another.

              The life of vitality: Ghoststar felt a surge of electric energy course through her. Her whole body twitched against the force holding her still.

              The life of wisdom: Ghoststar felt enlightened as she looked back at her life and understood things she hadn't before. She felt more ready for decisions to come.

              The life of patience: Ghoststar felt at peace with all the things around her.

              The life of ingenuity: the world all seemed more beautiful in itself. The colors, the sounds; she wouldn't look at any situation the same.

              By the end of all her lives, Ghoststar felt exhausted and yet invigorated. She could finally move and speak. "Thank you! Starclan..I'm so glad I get to be honored by you." She purred loudly the cats around her. They nodded simultaneously. Foxstar stepped back out forward.
              "With the power of Starclan you will be known as Ghoststar. Lead your clan to the best of your ability and up hold the warrior code." Ghoststar cocked her head at the last part.

              "Warrior code?"

               "Scorchtooth will teach you. We will send him a sign." Ghoststar didn't have a moment to inquire anything else. She was jolted awake suddenly with a feeling she was falling, and the scene faded. The white she-cat raised her head to see the glowing boulder and the quiet clearing.

               "Scorchtooth?" She called softly, wondering if he was still there. 

         

A Coming Storm, Teaser



    "Haven't I told you before, Ash-"
    "Yes...It was just my opinion that-"
    "No one asked for your opinion!" The yowl echoed through the boulders. Cats were still as they watched the fiery amber tom loom over Ash. Of course it was he who would challenge the leader; Ash always did.
     Ash of Vivid Blaze was a charcoal gray cat with darker black, faded spots and stripes. He had bright yellow eyes that sometimes reflected amber. He was of mid age, but of an old religion. A place in his tribe that no longer existed was were he lived. Ash had the kind of personality that wouldnt stand down, wouldn't be silenced. He had his beliefs and would hold dear to them, for that was all he had now.
     The Tribe of Starlit Boulders was a peace giving, spiritual tribe before Kan came. They knew how to fight, only to defend their young from praying foxes and badgers, and worse, Sharpclaws. They knew how to hunt to feed each other and the weaker members. But more than those two skills they were thought the power of peace and insight was most important. Their ancestors guided their path and each cat would devote their time to doing what's right by them, helping others. A band of rouges had taken over since then, lead by Kan, and now things were entirely different.
     Fighting was everything. To conquer was strength. Cats muttered that Kan had gone crazed with power, but none would defy him. The Tribe was quickly replaced mostly by rouges and those of the old members that survived adapted to the knew ways in fear of Kan's wrath. All except Ash.

      "I did not know I need be asked what I thought." Ash flashed back at Kan, his yellow eyes staring steadily at the dictator. He flexed his claws, knowing his kin were watching him in fear: fear for his life. He had to be the example, if no others would. It was the ancestors way.
       Kan laughed heartily, his mood often changing in a heart beat. "Alright, Ash of blah blah whatever. You can tell me what we should do. And you can tell me what you think of me, but that's all you can do. Words." He took a paw step closer, his stinking breath swirling around Ash's muzzle. "Get in my way with actions ever again, and I'll squash you like a bug. You're ways are dead. So are your ancestors. I rule things here now." From here, Ash could clearly see the scars on the amber tom, all battle wounds that never seemed to stop adding up. With one flick of his tail, the gathered cats broke apart and went back to their duties. Ash let his shoulders slump, sitting down heavily on the boulder. Honey of Sweetest Morning rushed to his side, brushing her muzzle along his shoulder. She was younger than he was by a few moons and much less outspoken.
    "What are you thinking, Ash! Can you not let things go?" Her light blue eyes sparkled with concern. Ash only glanced at her, curling his tail tightly around his big paws. How could he answer that? She had asked so many times and would obviously not understand. She growled slightly in frustration. "Answer me! You are worrying everyone, Ash, you need to let the past stay there. In the past."
       "Do you not get it! He is going to take over another group of cats, just as he did to us! He will destroy their ways...He will kill their kin. These cats are rouges, unlike us!" Ash, in his bout of passion, was on his paws pacing back and forth. Honey had dropped her gaze. She knew he was right but didn't say anything.
        "Its not for us to protect those cats. Not our job to save their kin." She muttered, almost sweetly, trying to calm him down.
         Ash looked at her. She was one of the mothers who had lost their kits. "Who says?" The gray spotted tom leaped down from the boulder, heading down the slope at a rapid pace. Honey looked up suddenly, following him with equal grace.
         "What are you doing? Where are you going, Ash!?" She knew he was one for doing rash things.
         "I am doing what is right. I will save the twilight. I will rise the stars. These rouges will not again take what is not theirs." He would warn them. Those strange cats just over the ridge. Ash was more determined than anything. He didn't try to stop Honey from following him. He knew she would do the right thing too.
    


(You all can continue to comment on the earlier post, this is just a teaser for what is to come mwhahaha)

Ghoststar's Gone?

     What timing!? 
      Darkmoon couldn't help but think. Ghoststar had just left the other evening after the Gathering with Scorchtooth for some journey the white she-cat wouldn't explain. Why did I get stuck being Deputy to such a spontaneous leader! Of course, she was excited to know that she would be left in charge while Ghoststar was gone, she was confident; at first. Now she had begun to think about all that could happen while she was in charge: badgers could attack, foxes could invade, Roseclan could try to steal territory or prey, or a cat could get sick and Silverpaw, only an Apprentice, wouldn't know what to do.
      The one thing Darkmoon hadn't considered was the one thing that happened. Two cats had shown up in the territory. One a strong ginger tom with white markings and the other a smaller gray dappled she-cat. Darkmoon had found them on moon high border patrol. The black she-cat had at first reacted with hostility, then with begrudging politeness when they asked to join. The thing was, Ghoststar wasn't here to give the meeting. Darkmoon paced inside the leaders den, trying to think of a names for the cats. She also had to remember what to say and who to give the foreign she-cat as a mentor. What if I mess up? What if I fail to show I can one day be a good leader?
         Darkmoon stopped. She was over thinking things. Shaking out her glossy black pelt, she let go of her worries and mustered up her courage. I was chosen as Deputy. I'll show them why. The black she-cat slipped out of the den, seeing the clan crowded around the new comers. Cats of varying coats asked where they came from, why they left their old homes, and what they knew about clans. Darkmoon gathered up her hunches and leaped onto Twilight Rock in one bound. She glowed silver in the moon light. "Twilightclan!"
         The cats turned their eyes, gleaming a green hue as the dim light reflected from them, toward their temporary leader. The red tom and dark female crept toward the front of the group. "We are here to welcome our two new members. They have sworn their loyalty to Twilightlcan and I now make them full members." She beckoned with her tail for the ginger tom to come forward first.
          "You will be known as-"
          "Wait!" Darkmoon narrowed her green eyes as he spoke up. The clan was silent. Spade had done the same thing on his first day, wanting to keep his rouge name.
          "I already have a warrior name. Its Redclaw." The tom stated with politeness.
           Darkmoon flicked an ear. "Very well, Redclaw, you are now a member of Twilightclan as a Warrior." She briefly wondered why he left his other clan, but didn't say anything. The young she-cat stepped forward, keeping her head high. "You shall be known as Streampaw, your mentor will be Brownfur." She found the dusky brown she-cat an exceptional fighter and a good hunter too. A good choice. She thought proudly.
            The clan cheered the new cats' names, always excited for new members. Darkmoon noticed she had been getting odd glances from the clan as to why she as the one giving the announcement. She wasn't surprised when a cat called out, "Where's Ghoststar? And Scorchtooth?"
           "Ghoststar and Scorchtooth have gone on a..." She tensed her jaw, wondering how to answer this. She didn't know why they left and knew it would look bad if Twilightclan's leader didn't have a good reason for suddenly disappearing with their Medicine Cat. "journey to scout out new territory. Scorchtooth went with to check out the herbs." She hoped that was a legit enough reply. The cats didn't show it if they questioned her. The black she-cat leaped down from Twilight Rock and, with less formality, called out the night's assignments.
            "Boulderclaw will go hunting with Owlpaw and Redclaw." She mewed. "Brownfur and Thistleclaw you can go training with Streampaw and Snowpaw." The border patrol already done she left everyone else to do as they pleased.


(Sooooo I know I haven't been on in awhile. We all have been kinda slacking but I know school is in and that means academics and after school activities. The rule that you should be popping in at least three times a week still stands, because its a pet peeve of mine to have inactive members. Kelly, I had to change Featherpaw's name to Streampaw because there's already a Featherpaw. Sorry! But I think Streamfeather works just as good as Featherstream, right? If not you can pick something else. Also, Spyre I had to change Spade's pic it wasn't working. If you don't like the one I picked I can change it for you. So everybody lets keep this community together and role play! =D)