Stronger - Thunderclan Meeting

[Elkheart]

Elkstar trotted out of her den then turned and leaped onto the Highrock. She was starting to get stressed out by all the drama over the Moors.

"All cats old enough to catch their own prey gather beneath the Highrock for a Clan meeting!" she announced in a loud, demanding voice. She waited for her Clan to gather, she wanted everyone to hear what she had to say. After everyone was there she began, "By now, you should all know what happened at the last Gathering. Willowstar and Rookstar plan to fight each other for the Moors. My choice was to stay out of it. Thunderclan doesn't need the land now but we may need it sometime in the future. Riverclan and Shadowclan will only weaken themselves for Windclan's territory. You all know as well as I do that no Clan is fit for the Moors but Windclan. It was wrong of us to drive them out in the first place. Thunder, Wind, River, and Shadow set these borders and I think they should stay that way. We will not fight another Clan for land that is not ours." She paused and realized she wasn't getting to the point of the meeting. Her pelt started burning with embarrassment, how could she ramble on like this in front of her Clan? "The reason I've called you here today is because I want to discuss with you something that may danger Thunderclan." This time she paused to lock eyes with her Clanmates, "Because of the war that will take place any day now I think we should increase our border patrols. I don't want Rookstar or Willowstar to think of us weak because we chose not to fight in their battle. I want every cat on the border patrols to be suspicious if Riverclan or Shadowclan are also on their territory doing a 'patrol'." she said patrol mockingly, "I will be leading the dawn and dusk patrols for a while to make sure you all understand me. Thunderclan will not let down their guard!" Elkstar waited for the yowls of agreement and hoped that they would surely come.

[{Otter}]

The meeting was rather unexpected, and Vixenfang scrambled to get herself out of the warrior's den and before the highrock. The small ginger deputy listened closely as Elkstar spoke, and her hopes soared and plummeted at the same time. Great StarClan, it was as if Elkstar knew what she was planning! Did Elkstar not realize that what she was saying was just making Vixenfang more and more certain that betraying her Clan and forming WindClan was the only course of action?

The choice to have more border patrols was a wise one, and Vixenfang nodded her head slowly. Yes, they needed to show RiverClan and ShadowClan that they had chosen not to fight because the didn't want to, not because they weren't strong enough. The other Clans, especially ShadowClan, just didn't seem to understand the difference between being too weak to fight and simply preferring peace. ThunderClan needed to prove it to them.

I won't be deputy much longer, she thought sadly, deep amber eyes shifting to take in the rest of her Clanmates. Now's the time to do as much as I can for ThunderClan. Maybe that will make my betrayal better.... she shook her head. Vixenfang didn't iie to other cats, and she sure as heck didn't lie to herself. Nothing could make her choice any better. She was a traitor.

"And I will lead the sunhigh patrols," she mewed when Elkstar had finished talking. There was no point in arguing further with Elkstar, esepcially in front of the rest of the Clan. "Elkstar is right. ShadowClan and RiverClan can not be allowed to think that we are weak. ShadowClan especially. We will show them just how serious we are!"

[tenacious]

Crowtail was caught off guard when Elkstar called a meeting and the senior warrior stood, arching his back in a stretch before padding slowly out of the warrior’s den, where he had been enjoying a warm nap. The tom often found himself caught up in Clan politics; therefore, meetings greatly interested him, but today he was tired and so he simply sat by the entrance of the warrior’s den. The small black tom gave his paw a lick and drew it over his face while waiting for the rest of the Clan together; ThunderClan was awfully slow in Leaf-bare. When Elkstar’s mew sounded once more, the tom set his paw back on the ground and looked towards her, listening intently.

The black tom had not been at the Gathering himself, but he had heard what had taken place from other warriors. In his opinion, it was wise of Elkstar to stay out of the fight. She was right, after all. ShadowClan and RiverClan would only weaken themselves fighting over the moors and the few tasteless rabbits it provided.

“I think we should increase our border patrols.”

Crowtail’s eyes narrowed, though it wasn’t out of disagreement. After all, he tended to back Elkstar up, whatever her decision. No, he narrowed his eyes out of anger; ShadowClan and RiverClan would be mouse-brains to think ThunderClan could not defend their territory. The ability to remain out of a fight when it was wrong was something to be proud of; the ignorant leaders of the rival Clans should have certainly realized it. Then again, Rookstar had probably eaten one too many tainted fish and the cold heart that blew over ShadowClan territory probably froze Willowstar’s heart long ago. When Elkstar was finished, Crowtail nodded his head with agreement, though he remained silent, for Vixenfang was speaking.

He purred slightly; RiverClan and ShadowClan would be in for a big surprise if they tried to send a 'patrol' over.

[l y r i c !]

Singedpelt !
That's right. We are strong.

Singedpelt padded into camp, holding a small sparrow in her jaws. She had been out hunting all morning but could find nothing but this puny sparrow. Ashamed of her catch, she quickly dropped it on the fresh-kill pile and began to pad towards the warriors den to rest when she heard her leader's yowl from the top of the high rock. She turned her head curiously, and saw the seriousness in that of her leader's stare. She knew something important was going to be told. Hurrying over to the great rock, she sat near Vixenfang to listen. Yes, the gathering, she thought. Willowstar and Rookstar have bees in their brain if they think fighting for a territory that does not belong to them is going to help anyone. Fighting will do nothing but make everything worse, she thought. She had agreed with her leader that they should not fight for a territory that belonged to StarClan, and Wind, the first WindClan leader. Not only was it out of respect for the warrior code that the land did not belong to any of the three clans remaining, but it was the fact she did not want to fight for a few scrawny rabbits that could hardly feed the clan in any season.

ThunderClan doesn't need the land now but we may need it in the future. Singedpelt's eyes widened with surprise. What? No we don't! That's not our territory! It belongs to WindClan! She thought in amazement. Didn't anyone care? For a heartbeat she stared at the ground as she continued listening to Elkstar's speech. Oh, good. Perhaps I just misunderstood, Singedpelt realized as Elkstar spoke about the first four leaders and founders of the clans. Danger ThunderClan. Everything is a danger. That's just how it is. The other clans may think we are weak, but who's weak when they say they need the moorland in order to survive? Great StarClan, why is everyone so mouse-brained? She flicked her tail, sighing to herself. A small smile played on her lips when she heard the scorn about the other clan's patrols. Yes. I don't want to fight but I will to protect my clan. Just as everyone else should. She hoped that was true, that all of her clan mates would fight for what was right. The warrior code said to defend your borders from all trespassers. Her only wish to follow the warrior code even if it lead to her death. That was the way of a warrior, after all.

For a heartbeat she waited, and as she watched, Vixenfang stood up and meowed her own speech. She nodded in approval, suddenly feeling restless. She wanted to go on the next patrol, and chase off those thieving cowards from ShadowClan and RiverClan. What right did they have to allow their greed to take away from the territory of StarClan? She had never really liked the other clans anyways. So Willowstar and Rookstar really believe they deserve more than what they need? ... How arrogant, she narrowed her eyes, almost angrily. Swishing her tail in excitement, she gazed up at the high-rock. She wanted to watch the two clans fighting endlessly for foolish greed. Then to see the despair in their eyes when neither of them could claim the lands they were never meant to have. It was there own fault, honestly. They chose to fight, and they lost. StarClan would never allow any clan to take the moorland other than WindClan. After all, StarClan laid down the laws of the warrior code so that the clans were each given the territory they needed to sustain them.