On A Dare... [Open]

[{Otter}]

Oh, ho, so she thought she could outrun Vixenfang? The scrawny warrior smirked and pushed her full speed into her run, stretching her legs out, claws outstretched to grip the ground and propel her forward. Her small body streaked across the ground, leaping over fallen logs and dodging around trees, until she was neck-and-neck with Viperfang.

They finally broke free of the forest and darted out into the open moors. The wind was cold here, blowing icily against her ginger fur, and Vixenfang slowed to an easy trot as her amber gaze swept the vast, snowy land. It was beautiful, in her mind. Snow fell steadily, carpeting the ground and frosting the grass, so that every pawstep drew a soft "crunch". Not ideal for hunting, but a lovely sound, nonetheless. "Slow down before you hurt yourself," she yowled to Viperfang, finally coming to a stop and sitting down in the thin layer of snow. She curled her tail around her forepaws and fluffed up her fur against the chill. Yes, this would take getting used to, but she could do it.

In truth, she was very interested to see how Viperfang reacted. Would the she-cat dislike the cold? Would she balk at the openness? For some reason, Vixenfang didn't think so. Viperfang was built for the moors, just as she was. Why wouldn't she love being out here?

"How do you like it?" she mewed loudly, so that her voice would not be ripped away by the icy wind. "The wind, the openness?" It mattered. It mattered more than Viperfang could ever know. What the young warrior said next would probably decide it for Vixenfang. Probably. She couldn't stand to not let a ThunderClan cat know of her plan. And to have young Viperfang by her side...it would make everything much, much easier.

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[atrb=border,0,true][bg=black] Viperfang noted the way the older warrior's claws were extended as she tore across the territory. Almost as if she was hunting prey. The she-cat tilted her ears in curiosity and looked down at her own paws. She unsheathed her claws slightly and started digging them into the earth, curious to see the effect. She knew ThunderClan's territory like the back of her paw anyway. This would prove it. Immediately, she felt the difference in her speed. It was as if she had gotten a second wind. Now she knew she'd be able to have her run across the moor and then some. She'd have plenty of energy. Viperfang purred in delight and extended her claws completely, tearing into the ground as if it were the skin of a piece of fresh-kill. She had to hand it to the older cat. Even after being done with training her, she still had some things to teach her. "Slow down before you hurt yourself." Viperfang yowled in surprise and stopped very suddenly. She would have slid forward if her claws hadn't been gripping the ground. After shaking her head free of disorientation, she tan she-cat looked out onto the foreign territory. Her yellow eyes sparkled in the shine of the snow-covered moor. Like Vixenfang, she fluffed up her coat against the wind, but was happy to feel it ripple through her fur without the trees to shield it from her. "How do you like it? The wind, the openness?" "It's wonderful!" Viperfang replied against the blast of the wind. In all reality, she couldn't begin to describe the beauty it held in her eyes. She sat down and turned her eyes to the sky. It was starting to get dark now. The whole of StarClan was beginning to show themselves in Silverpelt. In her heart, Viperfang hoped that Vixenfang was planning on a tour. She dearly wished to see the land in proper darkness, when only Starclan reflected off the snow and frost. "This land would be majestic in any season," the warrior said aloud, mostly to herself since the wind probably would've taken her voice away before any other cat could hear her. Her eyes darkened as she looked out over the moor. She thought she could see what must have once been a camp out in the distance. "It's a shame blood will soon be spilt here..." Word Count: 388 Audience: Vixenfang Comments: None

[{Otter}]

Amber eyes watched the young warrior, head tilted to the side and ears pricked forward. She watched Viperfang take in the area, and though Vixenfang was no true reader of expression, the look on the tan she-cat's face was unmistakable to any; she was enchanted. She was enchanted after just a few moments of being on the moor. It had taken Vixenfang a few trips up here before she imagined how much she would love to live here, but Viperfang already felt it. Was that a good sign, or bad? Was Viperfang getting ahead of herself, or did she really know what she wanted?

"I come up here a lot," she mewed in reply to Viperfang's statement about the seasons. "In greenleaf the land is covered in long, green grass. In leaffall, the grass turns golden. I have never seen it in newleaf." Her gaze swept the land longingly. She had never seen it in newleaf, but one day soon, she would.

"It's a shame blood will soon be spilt here..."

Amber eyes darted back to Viperfang and took in her stance. She truly looked sorrowful. "Blood will not be spilled if I can help it," she mewed slowly. She had to tell Viperfang, so she was going to go about it as delicately as she was capable of. "This land belongs to WindClan only, don't you think? None of the other Clans could get much use out of it with so few warriors able to hunt here." There. Let Viperfang come to her own conclusion for a few moments.

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[atrb=border,0,true][bg=black] "I come up here a lot. In greenleaf the land is covered in long, green grass. In leaffall, the grass turns golden. I have never seen it in newleaf." "I imagine it'd look a lot like greenleaf, only with shorter grass. Maybe harder to stalk prey, but at least there wouldn't be much to trip you during the chase." At the mention of food, Viperfang dropped her eyes to the ground before them. Though most of the moor seemed untouched, there were still signs of life around. A strange set of tracks made an awkward path in the snow. The configuration puzzled the young warrior, and she could only guess that the animal was extremely disfigured. By the scent, she knew it was a prey animal. Could they belong to a rabbit? "Blood will not be spilled if I can help it." The statement pulled Viperfang out of her thoughts. She turned her head and narrowed her eyes at her old mentor. The she-cat sounded so sure of herself. How was she going to help it? Did she mean to defy orders and get involved? Elkstar would have her tail for that! "This land belongs to WindClan only, don't you think? None of the other Clans could get much use out of it with so few warriors able to hunt here." "RiverClan definitely have no claim to it, that's for sure," Viperfang mused as she turned her eyes back over the territory, "They're fat enough on their fish. And ShadowClan would have a tough time managing two territories, especially since they would have to keep crossing the thunderpath to get here." It was Vixenfang's first sentence that really troubled the young warrior, but she hadn't been entirely sure on how to address it. The older she-cat seemed to serious about it, as if WindClan was still in existence and none of the clans had a right to even set paw here. If that was true, why had she invited her to the territory? "Vixenfang, if it wasn't for the abandoned camp, no cat would believe that WindClan ever existed. They're next to myth now. Do you really think they'll come back to defend their territory after being gone for so many seasons? No cat alive even remembers who they were!" As far as she knew, that was all true. She'd only heard that the clan was full of small, fast cats who tore across the land and hunted the fleet-footed rabbits exclusively. She'd never heard exactly why they'd been driven out or who their last leader had been. However, she had to admit, she had been curious about the matter from time to time, but she never got around to asking any of the elders when she was an apprentice. Word Count: 452 Audience: Vixenfang Comments: None

[{Otter}]

((it's ironic that you said that in this thread. Vixenfang just said it in the other one!))

"Vixenfang, if it wasn't for the abandoned camp, no cat would believe that WindClan ever existed. They're next to myth now. Do you really think they'll come back to defend their territory after being gone for so many seasons? No cat alive even remembers who they were!"


Viperfang was absolutely right. Vixenfang had no false hopes in any returning WindClan cats. They had let themselves be driven out, and they had never bothered to return. Whatever the reason, the old WindClan didn't deserve the land either. No, this land belonged to the cats who were here now. The cats who were braving hatred and death to reclaim it and reestablish WindClan's dominance.

With a sigh, the scrawny ginger she-cat unsheathed her claws and dug them into the ground, sifting through the snow until they scraped against the cold, hard-packed ground. Perfect for running. Perfect for chasing rabbits. It was a dreamland for her. And for others, too. Clearly, it was also a dreamland for Viperfang.

"You are right, Viperfang," she mewed after a moment, unable to read her young friend's expression. She didn't realize Viperfang was growing worried or uncomfortable or suspicious. She just...kept going. "The descendants of the WindClan that was driven out will never return. Not after so long. They don't deserve to come back after all this time, after never attempting to return before." She shook her head and narrowed her eyes. No, she would rebuild WindClan's reputation. They were thought of as weak and pathetic, but she'd make it so that no cat ever made that mistake again.

But what of Viperfang? Had she, perhaps, already guessed what was going on? As she shifted through her previous words, Vixenfang realized everything she had said was a tell-tale sign of her plan, but only to someone who already knew about it. Viperfang would never have guessed her mentor would do something like this. Well, she was about to be have the surprise of her life.

"I can't live in this land anymore, Viperfang. I can't stand the thought of letting RiverClan or ShadowClan claim the land, and being forbidden to ever set paw here again. I wouldn't survive." Of course she would survive, physically. But her heart would be gone. She'd end up being only a shell of the cat she used to be. She certainly wouldn't want to be leader of a land she didn't love, so she'd resign as deputy. She wouldn't fight for land she didn't love, so she'd resign as warrior.

"I have talked to two other cats--RiverClanners. They have pledged their allegiance to what I plan to do. I'm telling you now, so that you won't feel as betrayed as you would otherwise. I plan on leaving ThunderClan. Betraying our Clan. I plan on moving out here, and I plan on finding others, besides the two RiverClanners, to join me. More will come. I know we are not the only ones who are suited for this land. And we will be WindClan." She stopped speaking, letting the silence between them grow as she waited for Viperfang's verdict. One word from the young warrior to anyone else would ruin everything. But Vixenfang couldn't keep this from her.

((If Sparrow is still planning on having Charredoak join WindClan, and if he's in ThunderClan, perhaps Viperfang could let this plan slip in front of him? That'd be exciting ^.^))

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[atrb=border,0,true][bg=black] "You are right, Viperfang. The descendants of the WindClan that was driven out will never return. Not after so long. They don't deserve to come back after all this time, after never attempting to return before." No one could be sure WindClan never tried to come back, or even if they were still alive. But Vixenfang was right. After leaving the moor for so long, they had, indeed, given up complete control of the land. Why then, had her mentor said that the moor belonged to WindClan? As confused as she was, Viperfang's mind had a good grasp on what Vixenfang was telling her, as much as she didn't want to believe it. "I can't live in this land anymore, Viperfang. I can't stand the thought of letting RiverClan or ShadowClan claim the land, and being forbidden to ever set paw here again. I wouldn't survive." Her eyes narrowed, concentrating hard on the older she-cat's expression as well as her tone of voice. From how she sounded, Viperfang knew what she spoke was true. Somehow, Vixenfang held a deep connection with this place. The warrior had to admit, she wasn't the only cat captivated by its beauty. She expected this might be the way RiverClan felt about their own territory. Their love of beauty kept them returning to the water. Perhaps the same had been true for WindClan. "I have talked to two other cats--RiverClanners. They have pledged their allegiance to what I plan to do. I'm telling you now, so that you won't feel as betrayed as you would otherwise. I plan on leaving ThunderClan. Betraying our Clan. I plan on moving out here, and I plan on finding others, besides the two RiverClanners, to join me. More will come. I know we are not the only ones who are suited for this land. And we will be WindClan." That was it. Aside from specific names, now Viperfang knew everything. Despite what she was hearing, the part that worried her was the fact that she was interested in the details. Not because she wanted to play the hero and report her. Parish the thought. Vixenfang was both mentor and friend. She would never betray her trust. How could she? The older warrior had just disclosed valuable information to her. Viperfang was no snitch. If anything, this proved how much faith Vixenfang had in her. She had to honor that. It all made sense. The fact that there were four territories, four trees, four seasons... It only showed how much the forest needed that fourth clan. As many questions that filled her head, there was one that kept returning. "Does StarClan approve?" Word Count: 435 Audience: Vixenfang Comments: None

[{Otter}]

"Does StarClan approve?"

Now that was the big question, wasn't it? Clever Viperfang, loyal Viperfang. Vixenfang was glad her former apprentice found StarClan's approval to be so important. It was important, and many cats had forgotten that.

But was that it? No bigger response than that? Viperfang wasn't furious, she wasn't about to attack. She didn't look like she planned to run off to Elkstar and report her. No, she just looked...intrigued. Tentatively intrigued, Vixenfang could see, but intrigued nonetheless. She had been right to trust Viperfang. They had a bond very few revealed secrets could break.

And the question she had asked. Well, it was a big one. And it was at this time that Vixenfang was very, very glad she had spoken to Elkstar. Not only had her leader confirmed her plans, but Elkstar had also disclosed an invaluable piece of information--a dream from StarClan. A dream in which WindClan's tree was returning to life. Though no cat but a medicine cat could be positive, it sure appeared to be approval to Vixenfang.

But she had to be honest. "I have received no message from StarClan," she admitted, watching Viperfang closely in an attempt to gauge her reaction. "It was one thing that was keeping me back. But I spoke to Elkstar earlier, because I had to make sure I was doing the right thing. She told me that just before I entered her den, she'd been having a dream. A dream in which scrawny, thin cats were racing to the dead tree at Fourtrees, and the tree was beginning to bud. Quickly, even. To me, that seems like approval, though I'm not sure."

What was Viperfang thinking? Was she thinking "oh, well I won't betray my mentor" or "oh, well I want to join her!"? Vixenfang wanted so badly to know, but this time she waited. Waited for Viperfang's reaction. There was no totally obvious approval from their ancestors, and she had only one dream, given to one cat, to go on. But it seemed like enough for now.

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[atrb=border,0,true][bg=black] "I have received no message from StarClan." Viperfang frowned. That wasn't what she wanted to hear. Although she was all for bringing back a lost clan, she'd never do so without direct orders from StarClan. She breathed a sigh of relief and smiled again when she heard her next words. "It was one thing that was keeping me back. But I spoke to Elkstar earlier, because I had to make sure I was doing the right thing. She told me that just before I entered her den, she'd been having a dream. A dream in which scrawny, thin cats were racing to the dead tree at Fourtrees, and the tree was beginning to bud. Quickly, even. To me, that seems like approval, though I'm not sure." The young warrior twitched her ears thoughtfully, attempting to choose her words carefully for her next suggestion, something she didn't normally do. However, if she wanted this to work, she'd have to do a lot of things she wasn't comfortable with. "That bares the question of wether or not she had the dream because you were approaching," Viperfang remarked calmly. Of course, if this was Vixenfang's whole idea, it would makes sense that she would be chosen for an important rank in WindClan. "Maybe we should go to Highstones and ask StarClan if they could be a bit clearer on how WindClan will come to power again." Viperfang shuffled her paws as she looked down at the frozen earth. She'd still not said wether or not she was okay with this whole idea. In truth, she was so excited that she could barely keep her fur on. "In case you're wondering... If StarClan really wants WindClan back and you're the cat to start it, I'm in." Word Count: 286 Audience: Vixenfang Comments: None

[{Otter}]

((Oooh! Good idea! I'll ask Willow if Vixenfang can get a small chat from an old WindClan ancestor, or maybe just a repeat of Elkstar's dream))

"Maybe we should go to Highstones and ask StarClan if they could be a bit clearer on how WindClan will come to power again."

Highstones. In all actuality, Vixenfang hadn't really thought of the fact that she was going to lead WindClan. Was she? Would she? So far, she was the oldest, the most experienced. In fact, Shrewclaw, Hawkfang, and Viperfang were quite a few moons behind her. And she was already a deputy, so she had some experience...bah. It didn't seem right, setting herself up as a leader just because it was her idea. Going to Highstones seemed...pushy. Then again, it would answer her questions. If they decided to speak to her, StarClan could tell her if they approved of WindClan being reborn, and they would tell her if they approved of her being their leader.

But Viperfang's idea was ingenious, no matter how difficult it would be. It is not a nice feeling, realizing she had to go before her ancestors after she'd been plotting to betray her Clan. What would the ancestors of ThunderClan say? Her father? He was up there, surely. Would he be disappointed that his daughter had not caught that fox?

Great, now she was just reminiscing. Some leader she was shaping out to be. Her amber eyes refocused on Viperfang, and she felt a wave of relief at the young warrior's next words.

"In case you're wondering... If StarClan really wants WindClan back and you're the cat to start it, I'm in."

It was very strange for Vixenfang to show signs of affection, especially to her loud-mouthed former apprentice, but on an impulse the ginger warrior padded forward and nuzzled her head against Viperfang's. "I was hoping you would say that. I don't want to leave all of my family behind," she mewed quietly. Because, let's face it, they were practically family. Then, to poke at Viperfang's pride a bit, she added, "Besides, a great snake-killer like yourself has to be valuable in battle, eh? You're right. We need to go to Highstones, if only to see if we're doing the right thing."

She frowned and gazed off in the general direction. Naturally, Vixenfang had traveled to highstones as an apprentice, and again with Viperfang when she was an apprentice, but since then she had not traveled so far. Whenever Elkstar went to the Highstones, Vixenfang had to stay behind to lead the Clan in her absence. She didn't quite remember where to go.

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[atrb=border,0,true][bg=black] "I was hoping you would say that. I don't want to leave all of my family behind." Viperfang purred and pressed herself against her mentor's skinny body. She felt like an apprentice again. She hadn't been this close to Vixenfang since her warrior ceremony. Although she would never admit it, she kind of missed having someone to watch over her all the time. Then again, Vixenfang had probably been happy to get rid of the smart-mouthed she-cat. "Besides, a great snake-killer like yourself has to be valuable in battle, eh? You're right. We need to go to Highstones, if only to see if we're doing the right thing." "What are we waiting for, then? Let's go!" With that, Viperfang took off like a bolt of lightning. She extended her claws and tore into the frozen ground, headed directly for Highstones. She refused to take the normal route, not wanting to meet the rats by the old barn. "Even if we're not meant to be the first WindClan cats, maybe it'll be up to us to bring them back!" she called out optimistically. Elkstar's dream had to mean something. There were no specifics about it, so StarClan wouldn't punish them for being curious. After all, this was an important matter! And, at the very least, she hadn't eaten anything all day, so StarClan couldn't reprimand her for breaking that rule. Perhaps Viperfang was getting ahead of herself. It would be no surprise. But something about all this told her that it was right. She only hoped that this feeling didn't mean she was on her way to becoming a medicine cat. Being surrounded by sticky poultices and mouse bile... GROSS! Word Count: 273 Audience: Vixenfang Comments: Charredoak idea- I'll have to see if he's a cat Viperfang might slip up around. XD StarClan- I think the repeat might be a little too vague. Maybe a more specific version of it, like Vixenfang at the head of the group running toward the WindClan tree?

[{Otter}]

((I figured it would be vague, but I figured that'd make it all the more interesting. I dunno x.x We'll see))

An eager young thing, Viperfang was. Vixenfang watched in amusement as her young friend turned and raced off toward the Highstones. Why can't I be so eager? So certain that something good will come of this? she wondered, tail lowering slightly as her ears flattened against her skull. She was just worried. How could she not be? Speaking to StarClan during such a time as this, when she wasn't even a leader or medicine cat....She shook her head. If StarClan didn't understand her dilemma, then they were not the ancestors she had always thought. Besides, surely there were WindClanners up there, too?

After a moment the skinny ginger warrior shot off after Viperfang, her moons of more experience and practice allowing for her to slowly gain on her apprentice as she expertly dug her claws into the snow and lashed her tail to keep her balance. After a little while she caught up with Viperfang, and the two small cats raced side-by-side across the open moors.

She hoped, in the back of her mind, that no other cats were up here to see their plight. Anyone would be suspicious. However, she found it impossible to be too worried when she was running with the icy wind blasting her face and the open land stretched out in all direction. She couldn't wait for the time when she could wander this territory and learn every piece of grass, every rabbit hole, ever place a badger could live. This would be her land, StarClan willing.

"What...do you think...the inside...is like?" she asked between breaths, glancing briefly over at Viperfang. "Do you think...there's light? Or...just darkness." How would she even find her way?

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[atrb=border,0,true][bg=black] "What...do you think...the inside...is like? Do you think...there's light? Or...just darkness." "Dark," Viperfang answered quickly, "It is StarClan- after all. One of the apprentices- told me there was a long- tunnel down to the- moonstone." Viperfang's first run to HighStones had her standing guard while another apprentice accompanied the leader into Mothermouth. She'd never been inside the cave. And, apparently, neither had Vixenfang. This troubled Viperfang. Wouldn't StarClan choose a cat that was closer to them? Perhaps one that had dreams from them? At the very least, they'd at least choose some cat that had at least seen the Moonstone. After all, WindClan was always the closest clan to Silverpelt and StarClan. Being lost in her own thoughts, the warrior had almost placed a paw in a rabbit hole. Had she not dodged, she might have broken a leg at that speed. It was another peril of this territory. However, she supposed that the cats of old had known the moor by heart and would have never even gotten close if they knew a hole was near. Much like she could run through ThunderClan territory with her eyes closed, they could do the same here, only much, much faster. There was a movement in the corner of her eye. Viperfang twisted her head to watch as a few of rabbits stood up on their hind legs near a high boulder. Their ears twisted forward and their eyes were directly focused on the pair of she-cats running over the moor. The warrior licked her lips as her stomach rumbled, but turned her eyes toward Highstones. There would be plenty of time to hunt on their way back if StarClan accepted their wish to revive WindClan. Word Count: 280 Audience: Vixenfang Comments: None

[{Otter}]

((Sorry, I keep dragging this out. I'm out of muse right now.))

The vaguely familiar land approached. The level (relatively) moors transformed into uneven, rocky ground, and Vixenfang slowed enough to pick her way over the land. There were mountains in the distance, but the scrawny she-cat knew they wouldn't have to go that far. As they crested a hill, they came to the first rugged, mountain-like rise, and in the center of that hill was a wide, black hole.

Vixenfang stopped, amber eyes widening slowly as she gazed in the direction of the cavern. The moonstone lay inside, down a labyrinth of passageways she'd never before set paws in. She knew she couldn't take Viperfang down with her. Not this time. If she had to face StarClan's fury (if, in fact, StarClan chose to release their fury upon her), she would do it alone. Viperfang didn't need to be part of it.

What would happen if StarClan disapproved? Would they show their disapproval by caving the moonstone in? No, if they did that, they'd ruin any other Clan's chances to speak with them. Would they send a storm to flood the moors, and kill Vixenfang before she even reached ThunderClan again? Or would they do nothing, and let things play out? Let Vixenfang and anyone who joined her to be banished as rogues.

Or, if they agreed...she stopped there, figuring she had stood here long enough. Turning to Viperfang, she mewed quietly, "Come with me until the entrance, then stay outside as I enter." Perhaps Viperfang would be angry with this--Vixenfang figured many cats wanted to see the Moonstone. But she couldn't risk it this time. If StarClan somehow released their wrath...she wouldn't let Viperfang get caught up in it.

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[atrb=border,0,true][bg=black] Before she knew it, the she-cats had arrived at Mothermouth. Viperfang wanted desperately to go inside and share tongues with StarClan. It would be nice to talk to some of her ancestors. Perhaps even the old WindClan cats would be there. Her thoughts were cut short, however, as Vixenfang barked an order. "Come with me until the entrance, then stay outside as I enter." It was said in a hushed tone, the way most cats spoke in such close vicinity to the Moonstone, but Viperfang growled as she followed her old mentor to the entrance. Once or twice she thought of something to snarl at her, but thought better of it. Except for the Medicine cats, there was always a guard standing watch while a cat went inside to speak with StarClan. But it still wasn't fair! "You'd better tell me if any vision concerns me, Vixenfang. I don't want to be dragged along only to stay in ThunderClan for the rest of my life." Once the older she-cat was swallowed by the darkness, Viperfang turned away from the cave and kept her eyes fixed on the direction they had come from. She kept her ears perked forward, every now and then flicking an ear toward the cave in case Vixenfang called her. Her eyes, however, never left the direction of the WindClan territory. If any cat had followed them, she'd know it. "We'd better not have come here for no reason..." she grumbled out loud. Thinking better of herself, Viperfang layed down on the stone and tucked her paws under her. Acting out when she was so close to StarClan wasn't a very good idea. This place commanded respect. She would obey. Word Count: 277 Audience: Vixenfang Comments: None

[{Otter}]

Viperfang was upset. Vixenfang glanced at her young friend from time-to-time as they walked the several hundred more foxlengths to reach the entrance of Mothermouth, and if she had been anyone else, the ginger she-cat's ears would have flattened. Viperfang was an intimidating young cat; anyone would admit that. But Vixenfang? Hah, she had taught Viperfang to fight and seen her mistakes. She wasn't intimidated by her former apprentice.

"I will tell you whatever they allow me to," she mewed in response to Viperfang's words. Surely StarClan wouldn't make her keep silent if they said something that concered Viperfang? Please...please, StarClan. Allow Viperfang to come. Don't make her waste away in ThunderClan.

It was time to go. She had stalled long enough. With a final glance at Viperfang's familiar face, she padded forward into the darkness.

For several pawsteps, the light from the tunnel entrance lighted her way. As she moved, however, the light slowly lessened, until she could only see the very vague outline of the walls ahead. The first turn came, and she curved sharply to the right...and all light vanished. Vixenfang froze in her tracks, amber eyes widening to their full length as she attempted to make out the tunnel ahead of her. She could see nothing. Knew she wouldn't be able to see anything again. Not until she came back.

It was cold in here. The air was frigid and almost stung her lungs as she breathed, but at least there was no wind or snow. So she fluffed up her ginger fur and carried on. The stone floor had never seen sunlight, and she stepped quickly, not liking to keep her paws on the icy ground for too long. If she could see anything, she knew she'd be able to see the puffs of clouds every breath created.

Finally, finally, the darkness thinned, and she began to see the outlines of the walls. She had to use her whiskers less and less, and she quickened her pace, her starved eyes dying to see light again. Any cat to stay in these tunnels too long would go crazy, she knew.

Eventually, she stepped out of the tunnel and into a large cavern. Her eyes traveled immediately to the source of the light, and came to rest on the large gap in the stone ceiling. Golden rays of sunlight poured in through the gap, lighting the cavern to its fullest and causing Vixenfang's fur to flatten and mind to relax. Light. Pure, golden light. Thank StarClan. For a moment she forgot where she was, and the thin ginger she-cat padded toward the Moonstone. She wanted to hop onto the stone and lay out, sunning herself in the warm rays. But as she approached the creamy white stone, she stopped. What was she thinking? This was the Moonstone!

Vixenfang gazed upon the stone, and as she did, she realized she and Viperfang had made a huge mistake. It was not night. The moon was not up. in fact, the sun was just barely beginning to set. There could be no glowing Moonstone if there was no moon to make it glow. They'd come at the wrong time.

For a long time she sat still. For a long, long time. It felt like years, but could have been no more than an hour. The thin ginger she-cat stared silently at the Moonstone, wondering if she could just wait here until night fell. Would it worry Viperfang if she took so long to return? Should she leave now and sit with Viperfang, then return at moonhigh? She thought, but didn't act. Her mind shifted in a thousand different directions, but she did not move. Not even the tip of her tail twitched. She could hear the wind whistling through the crack way above, but her ears did not twitch. She stared. And thought.

If she had allowed everything to play out, she would have been here several seasons from now, to be made Vixenstar of ThuderClan. Elkstar, when she died, would have met her and welcomed her as her old Clan's new leader. But no, Vixenfang had taken a step away from fate and crossed the line. Perhaps StarClan would accept her as nothing now. She only hoped they would spare the others.

Sunset came. The light changed, and now it painted the Moonstone and the very ground she stood on bloodred. And, as she gazed, the scene changed. The Moonstone vanished, and fields of crimson grass stretched out before her. The cries and shrieks of fighting warriors echoed across the open land, and slowly they came into view. Faceless cats, fighting, scratching, clawing, shrieking. Dead bodies littered the ground, and Vixenfang's heart fell in horror. "No....surely this is not what will happen. Surely there will not be such opposition." The faceless cats slowly became familiar, and she stared in horror as she spotted Hawkfang and Shrewclaw among the others. They were bleeding, their pelts torn, their bodies weary. Surely they wouldn't survive.

She couldn't see herself. She couldn't see Viperfang. Had they already fallen? Were they already dead? As she gazed around, she realized something. All she could see were RiverClanners and ShadowClanners. None from ThunderClan. They were fighting for the moors, not against WindClan. But..what did this mean?

"This, Vixenfang, is what will occur if WindClan is not reformed," a deep male voice announced. It echoed across the moors, and Vixenfang spun around in circled, fur bristled, ears flattened.

"Show yourself!" she hissed, claws unsheathing.

"A bit jumpy to be a leader, don't you think?"

[/i] the voice replied, and a cat appeared before her. He was a long-haired dark brown tabby. His ears were torn, his tail seemed broken. Vixenfang knew her history. This was Brokenstar of ShadowClan. The leader who had driven out WindClan. "Relax, scrawny little cat," he snorted, sitting down and lashing his tail across the moorland grass. "You sure do act like a WindClanner."[/i]

"Are you here to keep me from undoing the atrocity you committed?" Vixenfang spat, fur bristling as she unsheathed her claws.

Brokenstar watched her with cold amusement. "Sheathe your claws. I am a StarClan warrior, and you are a mere mortal. I am not here to dissuade you. I am here to encourage you. Though I was thinking only of my Clan, i committed an atrocious act by driving WindClan away. Something I was battered with for moons among the other StarClan warriors. Psh, as if they never did something wrong,"[/i] He spat at the end, then glanced around, as if to see if there were any others listening. Satisfied that they were alone (save for the fighting warriors in the background), he continued, "If you do not revive WindClan, then many will die. Many in RiverClan and ShadowClan. Maybe they're not your Clan. So what? If you're going to bash me for driving WindClan out, I will bash you for not doing your best to keep my Clan and RiverClan from killing off half their members. Understand?"[/i] It was a threat. Vixenfang was surprised. Were StarClan cats allowed to threaten her? And why was Brokenstar talking to her instead of...Tallstar. That was the last leader of WindClan.

"WindClan are in StarClan, if you're wondering. Even Tallstar, though in the end of his life his Clan did not live in the moors. They found territory far away, and though it was not perfect, they survived for a time. Until a fire. Now they are gone." He stopped, as if to give her a moment to react. Vixenfang frowned, fur slowly flattenign and ears pricking forward again. So, WindClan had ancestors. Not as many as ShadowClan and WindClan, but ancestors nonetheless. She realized she had been wrong to blame WindClan. They had died...they couldn't have returned. She had no right to be derisive of their efforts to return. But why weren't they here? "You are no leader, Vixenfang. I don't know why Tallstar has agreed to let you try. But he has. And they, the WindClan spirits, will not speak to you until you complete your task. The first time you shall speak to them is when you gain your nine lives. If, in fact, you survive that long."[/i] He was skeptical of her, that was for sure. Vixenfang's eyes narrowed.

"I will be a better leader than you, Brokenstar. You can count on that. I am taking everything you have said as approval. I will go through with the betrayal," she hissed. Even if he was a StarClan cat, she had every right to dislike him. He had driven out WindClan. He had caused all this. And now she would fix it.

Whiskers twitched as Brokenstar watched her. His eyes were less than enthusiastic and not very encouraging. "Alright, kitty. Maybe I'll see you again in a few moons, eh?"[/i] He snorted. The dark tabby tom shook his head and vanished. Vixenfang gazed out across the moors, at the fighting cats, the dead bodies...and as she watched, the sight changed.

They were at a Gathering. She could see the dead shell of WindClan's tree. But as she watched, it began to grow. The branches thickened, leaves sprouted, the tree rose. Fast, too, while the other trees stayed the same. And then, WindClan was alive and full as any of the other trees. Scrawny cats appeared from behind the tree and flooded the Gathering. She saw herself, Vixenfang, at the head of the group, watched herself leap onto the Great Rock, alongside three other faceless leaders. She spotted Viperfang among her Clan, Hawkfang and Shrewclaw, too. So, if all went well, the four of them would make it. And others, too, if the numbers she saw meant anything.

And then, she was gazing upon the moonstone once more. The sun had set, but there was no moon tonight. Too many clouds, she realized, as she gazed upwards. Snow would fall tonight, no doubt. They needed to get back. There was no point in waiting for the moon now; she had her answer.

With one final glance at the moonstone, Vixenfang turned and raced back towrads the tunnel. She moved as fast as she could through the dark tunnels, taking the turns sharply and nearly running into the hard wall several times. Finally, finally, she saw the dim light of the outside world, and broke free of the tunnel.

"Viperfang?" she mewed when she'd finally sprung forth. She glanced around her, but it was hard too see--she was too used to the dark tunnels to see clearly. "Viperfang, I think a snowstorm is coming. We should get back to camp."

((Okay, done))
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