The Fourth Clan [Gathering]

[Willow]

SNAKEHEART

Snakeheart’s brown fur bristled with anger and she leapt to her paws as Willowstar’s arrogant words spilled across the clearing. Her yellow eyes blazed as she yelled a taunt to the ShadowClan cowards. A glare from one of her Clanmates forced her back to her seat, but her eyes continued to smolder as the ShadowClan leader continued to speak, completely undaunted by the challenge. Snakeheart’s eyes turned briefly to look at her sister, Viperfang, hoping to see the same anger reflected there. But she was disappointed, Viperfang seemed distracted, looking instead at the ThunderClan deputy, Vixenfang.

Snakeheart shrugged and returned her attention to the great rock. Something happened then that made her eyes widen in shock. Vixenfang joined the three leaders on the smooth grey stone. Snakeheart’s eyes narrowed and she looked back at her sister. She knew something. The look in her eyes told Snakeheart that Viperfang knew exactly what was going on.

The ThunderClan she-cat tensed as she listened to Vixenfang, speaking as if she were the fourth leader. As the ginger she-cat continued, Snakeheart came to realize that was exactly what Vixenfang was insinuated. What in StarClan was going on? Reform WindClan? Ha! Like that would work! But her mouse-brained sister apparently thought it would. Even Willowstar expressed no doubts.

Were they seriously going to let this happen? Casting a smoldering look at Viperfang, the cat she had trusted more than the world since birth, Snakeheart rose to her feet. Everyone else was speaking out of turn, why couldn’t she? “And how do random cats from the current Clans make WindClan? It’s not like you’re descended from them or anything! It’s not WindClan. It’s a Clan of traitors. I cannot believe you’re going along with this, Viperfang. I thought you had more sense. And you, Vixenfang, you’re deputy. Are you just going to abandon your Clan without a second thought? You too Rabbitflight?” Her yellow eyes moved from one cat to the other, issuing unspoken challenges to supplement her verbal ones.

[{Otter}]

Everythign seemed to be going well. Elkstar still had not spoken, but so be it. Whatever Elkstar had to say couldn't change Vixenfang's mind.

However, when Snakeheart arose and began to speak, a soft growl of annoyance issued from the ginger warrior's throat. Of course Snakeheart would argue. Of course she would. But how could Snakeheart really have any arguments against this? "Look at the sky!" Vixenfang growled, jerking her head upwards. It was too soon in her leadership position for her to have gained any kind of political patience. "Do you see StarClan disapproving? Blackmoon was given a dream from Tallstar. I, myself, traveled to highstones and was spoken to by Brokenstar of ShadowClan. Will you go against the will of StarClan? Will you let the Clans continue to fight over this territory, or shall you agree that WindClan alone deserves the moorlands." Heck, not even Rookstar or Willowstar or Elkstar were disagreeing with this. Many cats had received signs. Snakeheart was a stubborn young cat, but...it was craziness. No one argued with StarClan. "And if you're truly upset because we are not descended from WindClan, look at us. No others are as fit for the moors as we, and we will prove ourselves when the time comes."

Removing her gaze from her former Clanmate, Vixenfang shifted her eyes over the four cats standing below. A small Clan, without a doubt, and not everyone knew one another well. But it was her Clan...WindClan. Shifting her gaze to Rookstar, the eldest of the leaders, she mewed, "Perhaps we should end this. The sacred truce may be broken if we continue, and thus far we don't seem to have insulted StarClan." In her words were a warning. StarClan willed it, StarClan agreed with it, and ShadowClan, ThunderClan, and RiverClan had little right to disagree. Even if they did, WindClan would prove themselves. Never again would the moors be empty.

Word Count;; 316
Muse;; okay
Notes;; so glad Rabbitflight was adopted!

[m o o n]x[s t o r m]

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[atrb=background,http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r230/Mica556/moontablemiddle.png] This was really happening... A flicker of glee alighted in the medicine cat's eyes - her hopeful plea had come to a beautiful end, with the exception of a few who sounded deflated or bristling with anger, as in Snakeheart's case. Her words spiked a rare rage in the female medicine cat, her thin face was smoothed yet her eyes showed a reserved anger. Overthinking the words she said once more, she went to get her two-cents in before any other cat could take point in the pointed words. "Now, Now! With all due respect, Snakeheart - you have no idea of any other cats past or their beliefs so who are you to point them out?" Her crystalline optics were pointedly glaring at the Shadowclan she-cat, with not anger but with a wisdom of a medicine cat. "I'm glad you can speak your beliefs, but there is no need to when starclan clearly makes their point. Look at the sky, Snakeheart, this is what it will be and you may not stop it if not for your own clan's personal longing or your own anger at your friends leaving." Though the dialogue was more like a spiel, and Moonwing meant no disrespect to the she-cat, it just came out as it was; sharp and full of distaste for those accusations. "Vixenfang, you are correct." Though she agreed with starclan and those leaving for windclan, she was not going to leave her clan despite her furious agreement with Vixenfang. No cat had the right to defy starclan such as that, especially when the skies were clear. Yet, there was a slight imbalance in the medicine-cat's soul and she settled herself again after her yowl, feeling slightly ashamed of her outburst and smoothed her fur with a lick of her pelt and looked to her leader with a hint of apology for her leader - hoping the elderly tom would not take offense to the words she had ignorantly spewed. ___________________________________ words xx 329 audience xx Cats of all clans music xx n/a comments xx sorry guys! XD my inter moonwing came forward and freaked out. ^^;

[Deleted]

[atrb=border,0,true][bg=black] As soon as she heard her voice, Viperfang realized that she probably could have told her blood about her plans. At least maybe Foxblaze. But Snakeheart was ThunderClan through and through. She never would have understood. “And how do random cats from the current Clans make WindClan? It’s not like you’re descended from them or anything! It’s not WindClan. It’s a Clan of traitors. I cannot believe you’re going along with this, Viperfang. I thought you had more sense. And you, Vixenfang, you’re deputy. Are you just going to abandon your Clan without a second thought? You too Rabbitflight?” A yowl erupted from Viperfang as soon as she heard the word 'traitors'. She whipped around to face her sister, fur standing on end. She had expected to hear that word but not from her own kin! "Call me a traitor again, Snakeface!" she growled, "Or any of us! We are loyal to StarClan! This is their wish!" "Look at the sky!" Viperfang followed her mentor's gaze up to the moon. Her pupils narrowed as she faced the brightest night sky she had ever seen. No objections. Not one. It was then that she remembered how fragile the truce was. She flattened her pelt and turned to her previous position. She would not be the one to draw the clouds in tonight. "And if you're truly upset because we are not descended from WindClan, look at us. No others are as fit for the moors as we, and we will prove ourselves when the time comes." It was only after Vixenfang's speech that Stormheart stood and spoke up. He'd finally had enough time to recover from the shock and to think about what was at paw here. The forest had seen enough seasons with the moor empty and cold. Now that there were cats among them who were fit to run that territory, it was high time that they gathered to the place they truly belonged. "I have received no sign from StarClan, but it is clear that they approve of what is happening tonight. Those of you who are uncertain, let me ask you this- Would you rather face the blood that will be spilled while fighting for a territory none of you are suited for? Or worse, a faithless clan of rogues who do not follow our code or look to the stars? If WindClan must be remade, let it be from our friends and family." As Stormheart settled back in his seat, Viperfang turned to face him. She opened her jaws to let out a word of thanks, but he silenced her with a flick of his tail. "Do not thank me. I'm just tired of hearing these fools whine like kits when they don't get their way. Good luck to you. And your clan." Word Count: 467 Audience: EVERYONE Comments: None

[Willow]

SNAKEHEART

Snakeheart’s fur continued to bristle in anger and irritation as Vixenfang stepped up to meet her challenging words. Her legs stiffened and her muscles tensed as she stared into the eyes of her former deputy, eyes glistening with emotion. Sadness lingered among the anger as well, sadness about the loss of her sister. But that emotion hardly shone through the outrage and amazement at the audacity of these cats.

"Look at the sky!" came Vixenfang’s growled response to Snakeheart’s voiced doubts. The brown tabby scoffed and turned her attention pointedly upward. “Yeah. I’m looking. Amazing,” came her scathingly sarcastic response.

“Do you see StarClan disapproving?” “Do you see them approving? Does the lack of clouds in the sky really mean they approve. You don’t know that they think.” Then the deputy mentioned Blackmoon’s vision as well as her own. “You believe him? He’s the marked cat. He’s insane! How do you know ‘Tallstar’ isn’t just a figment of his imagination? And you were visited by Brokenstar? He was a bloody tyrant, Vixenfang! What does his word have to do with WindClan and its reformation?” She was frantic now, picking at every detail. It just didn’t make sense. None of it did. Why was Willowstar not protesting this? Or Rookstar? Her blazing eyes turned to the other two leaders but found no answers in their expressions.

“So being fit for WindClan means being malnourished, does it? That sounds like a healthy Clan in the making,” her voice was a softer mutter now, but still loud enough for the ginger she-cat to hear as she finally sat on the cold ground again. She was silent then, until Vixenfang voiced a challenge, insinuating that Snakeheart was going to break the truce or insult StarClan. “I do not seem to have insulted them either, now have I?” Her gaze turned skyward again, to the cloudless sky.

“Maybe they just don’t care.”

Just as she was done facing the challenge from Vixenfang, another cat stepped forward: Moonwing. Snakeheart let a little smirk come to her face. So, the gentle medicine cat was going to argue with her now? She stood again and took a few paces towards Moonwing, muscles tensing slightly again. “Well, if any of them are descended from WindClan, their ancestors obviously were traitors to the warrior code, were they not? And, I am sick and tired of ‘the sky.’ Is it darkening now that it hears my dislike of this plan? No. No it is not. Explain that, dear medicine cat.”

The strong-willed ThunderClan she-cat sat with a haughty expression on her small face and eyes focused only on Moonwing. She knew the other cats were judging her right now and she didn’t want to look at any of them. She ignored the yowl of outrage from her sister. If she was abandoning her Clan and her family, she did not deserve recognition.

words: 481
audience: gathering
comments: someone had to object x3

[l y r i c !]

There was a long silence- on his part anyways. Since Vixenfang's speech the large tabby warrior had sat with his head down, staring at his paws as other cats added their own words of agreement. He wasn't angry, and he had no disagreements about the new clan being formed. But... Why didn't she tell me she was going to do this? At last, Brackenheart raised his head to stare at his old friend standing on top of the Great-Rock. The small she-cat had never seemed anything more than just a warrior to him, but now, sitting on top of the great rock she seemed to gather all the light of the other three leaders. And Willowstar, a small smirk of amusement swept across his face as he saw the useless leader sitting defeated behind the others. At least, that arrogant piece of fox-dung has bowed down, he thought, cruel satisfaction welling up inside his heart.

And now, because of this small fact, he was more keen to accepting the fact that Vixenfang, no, Vixenstar, would make the new leader of WindClan. Mostly because she had brought forth Willowstar's defeat, but also because she was his friend, even now when she was abandoning him to go off into WindClan. Someday, ShadowClan had to pay for their sin when they broke the warrior code and chased WindClan out of clan territory. Now was the day when ShadowClan's past, and present, would be defeated. Feeling more avenged than he had in moons, he almost snarled out loud when one of his stupid clan mates, Snakehearts, began to yowl her disagreements. What an idiot, he thought, closing his eyes and taking all he had to keep his jaws clamped shut so he wouldn't embarrass his clan.

But now she was being a mouse-brain and arguing with Vixenfang. What reason should she have to argue against a new clan forming? How would that harm ThunderClan? Sure, they lost a few cats. She was just being oversensitive. Even though her sister was one of those leaving, she obviously didn't care what her sister had to say. Well, if a mouse-brain like that is speaking her mind, then I guess I will. So much for being 'nice'.

Brackenheart rose to his paws, unintentionally casting his large shadow over some of the smaller cats around him. When he raised his head, his eyes were fixed on Snakeheart. "Really, Snakeheart?" He called out, raising his voice so the loud-mouthed she-cat could hear him. "Does blood really have to do with anything? Before the clans were formed we were nothing but groups of kittypets and loners who wanted to live in a forest. Can you dare say that any of us are purely of our own clan's descent?" He meowed calmly, taking facts from the history's told by elder's of their clan to his advantage. He let his voice lower, and he ignored the other cats as he paced towards his clan mate.

"Brokenstar and ShadowClan betrayed the warrior code when they chased out WindClan. The warrior code degreed there would always be four clans in the forest. Shouldn't we have done something sooner to repair it? Perhaps it was because of Brokenstar's guilt in breaking the warrior code and turning his clan into a group of traitors-" he let the insult linger in the air for a heartbeat, "that he would visit a cat whom has the brains to actually do with the fact that somehting needs to change? Can you deny it?" He stared at her, holly green eyes fierce and annoyed that she even dared to argue with his friend.

OOC: lol... needed to add some of my own action into the thread. Brackenheart can be mean. :l

[Sparrow]

[atrb=border,0,true][bg=black] Having watched the drama unfold before her eyes, Mintleaf sat in silence, seething. When she first heard Vixenfang open her trap and let everything flow forth from it in a filth-laden torrent, she had been ready to claw the disrespectful deputy down from the rocks and show her forcefully how a deputy ought to behave. She would have done it too, no matter that it was the gathering, no matter that it was supposedly a time of peace. Peace be damned, it wasn't as though starting an all-out riot at the gathering was going to be doing anything for the Clans whatsoever. Who did that furball think she was, anyway? But she was joined by many. Hawkfang, young and reckless, and Shrewclaw, intolerable... but of RiverClan? What traitorous doings had gone unnoticed right before her very eyes? She should have watched them, she should have known! But another young warrior, a hotheaded she-cat from ThunderClan that she couldn't put a name to ...And Blackmoon, the shadowclan warrior with the silver eyes. He was known to be wise and solitary, yet he strode forth with confidence to face his sister and address her from below. His calm demeanor was completely at contrast to the rest of the cats coming forth. He knew what he was doing, and this was one cat who Mintleaf believed to be trustworthy. The sky was clear. What was StarClan planning?... Her ears pricked and her eyes narrowed as she heard Willowstar simply... give in. What was this? What was this? Nonsense! Nonsense! What was going on? She remembered too late that Blackmoon and Willowstar were siblings and moved her ears back up from a pin, her eyes still narrowed in distrust. Some higher motive perhaps? Had the other deputies been there she would have perhaps asked their opinion, but she was alone beneath the rock. Duskfrost was still noticably absent and Vixenfang was too busy pushing the limits and breaking all the rules to be bothered with another deputy. As Rookstar's consent rang out over the clearing, Mintleaf shook her head and signed in resignation. Sometimes it seemed as though she was the only sane cat around. Snakeheart's words rang out over all of the nervous banter and Mintleaf looked up sharply. “And how do random cats from the current Clans make WindClan? It’s not like you’re descended from them or anything! It’s not WindClan. It’s a Clan of traitors. I cannot believe you’re going along with this, Viperfang. I thought you had more sense. And you, Vixenfang, you’re deputy. Are you just going to abandon your Clan without a second thought? You too Rabbitflight?” ...She did have a point. Really. But... Rookstar had agreed, and who was she to argue with her leader? He had had a rough enough night without his deputy going against what he had said, so she sat in silence as Moonwing scolded the angry she-cat with calm and quiet words, though they seemed to have little effect on the affronted warrior. “Well, if any of them are descended from WindClan, their ancestors obviously were traitors to the warrior code, were they not? And, I am sick and tired of ‘the sky.’ Is it darkening now that it hears my dislike of this plan? No. No it is not. Explain that, dear medicine cat.” The ThunderClan warrior had stood up, had begun to stalk towards the medicine cat with a terrifying expression on her face, when Mintleaf stood as well and strode towards the impudent brat with her ears lying flat against her head and her feathery tail high with indignation and irritation. Ignoring the fact that Brackenheart was speaking, she positioned herself next to Moonwing with a growl and eyed Snakeheart with disdain before speaking in a clipped and civil tone. "While you seem to think that your opinions entitle you to cause conflict at the Gathering, degrade and dismiss others' opinions, and generally make a bloody fool of yourself in a public setting, I'd like to remind you that 'the sky' is why we are here tonight. If you think differently you are an idiot, whether you believe in StarClan or not, and you have no reason to be here. You also, I might add, have no right to advance on a medicine cat, nor do you have any right to speak against what she so pleasantly explained to you, you arrogant little toad." With a final sniff, she smiled pleasantly at the tabby, her teeth bared in a forced grimace. "And... If you think that the sky would darken merely because a mouse-headed kit of a cat speaks her baseless arguments over something that StarClan themselves have decreed, then you have far too high of an opinion of yourself." word count: 791 audience: The Gathering comments: Watch out for Miss Manners =) He had seated himself near the back, quietly observing the goings-on of the gathering and hoping against hope that everything would go smoothly. His face was solemn, troubled, and the feeling was foreign to him, optimist that he was. Perhaps it was the kit that he was that caused him to regret running away from a friend when he had promised to help, but he was all out of sorts tonight and the sense of guilt which had decended upon him was a weight that he didn't want to bear. Standing up quietly, he slowly began to leave the clearing when a RiverClan warrior near him gave him a suspicious look. He sat back down quickly, looking at the ground as he did so and feeling the warrior's gaze on the back of his neck like the heat of a fire. He didn't want to be here, really, and though he tried to pay attention, he couldn't. By the time the gathering had started, Charredoak was fast asleep at the back of the mass of cats, the RiverClan warrior looking at him with disgust. ------------------------------------------------------------------ He awoke after Vixenfang's speech had ended, scrambling to his paws in time to see Viperfang and two RiverClan warriors approaching the base of the Great Rock. A black ShadowClan tom had joined them, but he didn't know his name. He had half a mind to get up and join them but remained half-seated, crouching in obscurity while all eyes turned to them and Snakeheart started to squall. Four cats immediately responded to her, saving him the trouble. For her to insult Viperfang like that... He flinched at the thought of facing down Snakeheart in a temper. Vixenfang reasoned with her; Moonwing patiently talked at her, for Snakeheart obviously wasn't listening; Brackenheart scolted her, and the small grey warrior who appeared out of nowhere scolded her with no embarrassment whatsoever. Standing up, he slipped around the sides of the gathering, moving towards the oak tree closest to the moor, waiting to see what happened next, and hoping that the WindClan cats would come this way when they left the gathering. word count: 356 audience: The Gathering comments: Nada

[Willow]

Going to call this thread closed. All that would happen now is more arguing. =p