::The::Sound::of::Music::

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>Majestically, she stood at the edge of the forest. Sunlight exploded in her sight, so much different than the occasional peek-a-boos in the forest. They were no longer by Jay's Hollow and the journey ahead demanded vigilance. And so she sighed.

And down she came, Aurora, the Widowmaker, the guide of the kits to their StarClan. She leapt from rock to rock nimbly, her black and white paws gripping the granite surface. Her ominous stare--omnipresent, as it were--looked on. The loner missed her family, Hollow and Sage--now Sagepaw. The she-cat paused as cardinals and blue-jays raced past, blurs of color that shimmered in the sunlight.

"Look, everyone!" she called. The glimmer seemed to form a shape of a cat on the glade.</sub>

[SHADE. :D]

[pecankit]

<sub>As her four snowy paws hit the grass softly, her sapphire eyes followed the progress of a jay. The bird's feathers gleamed in the summer light and it opened its beak to let out a cheerful lisp of song. Pecankit padded quietly up behind Aurora, her light brown tabby coat slightly ruffled from the day's walk. The kitten stood beside the black and white she-cat, dwarfed slightly by the older cat.

"That's where we must go," she whispered, her eyes wide with awe and dread. It was such a long way. The time it would take, the hours that would drag by painfully as they trudged on... But it would all pay off in the end. At least she hoped it would. This was StarClan's will, was it not? Pecankit felt a shadow of doubt cross her mind. What if they were doing it all wrong? What if they were going the wrong way? What if Aurora lost their path? What if...? What if...?</sub>

[trissea]

You S P E A K o u t--all you feel is defiance

All you need is some SELF-r e l i a n c e

Cause' this world is gonna always TRY:: us

Thump, thump, thump, thump- the rythmic sound of the feline's pawsteps as she followed the grown cat who called herself Aurora. Her white paws were dusty now, but she didn't care to notice. She was barely out of breath, her long, gangly legs matching the stride of their black and white companion. No longer did her pelt shine; no time was there for grooming oneself. They were on a journey, far from sight and sound, and now there was no backing down.

When Aurora stopped, Mottledkit stopped as well, standing beside her newlyfound 'aqquantince' Pecankit. It was beautiful, honestly, not what one would expect a perilous journey to look like. The sun beat down on the six travellers, reflected off of the bumpy rock surface they stood on. Ahead lay a forest- fair sized, at the look of it, and much greener than most of the foliage back in the Clan lands. She shook her head. Mustn't think of that now, we've got to keep moving. If you don't, who knows what'll happen to the Clans?

The gleaming in front of them was forming a faint outline of something. Mottledkit watched as it formed, narrowing her green eyes and scrunchitizing it mercilessly. It was, in the general sense of the word, a cat. Mottledkit blinked confusedly, but it was still there when she looked again. To Aurora, she asked- "What is that?" Simple question- very like how she used to be. Lately she'd talked loads more- but only to Pecankit.

And all you wanted was to run for C O V E R&&
Well here's LOOKING to yourself and no o.t.h.e.r.
We're all searching for that SPECAIL;; s o m e .thing

And we K|E|E|P on run}ning}..

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>"I think it's your Ancestors, leading our way," Aurora said cheerily, letting out a kind meow to the shimmer. The glittering cat slowly faded away after a broad smile. The loner turned to the she-kits by her side, flashing a concerned glance at Pecankit.

"You doubt me?" Aurora said to the air, flicking her tail like a metronome. Her ear perked and tilted as she turned towards the forest. "Your Ancestors don't wait and neither do I!" she called teasingly towards Moonkit, Crystalkit, and Selenekit.

Laughing as if she were a kit instead of seventy-two moons, the black and white she-cat bounded down the small slope, remembering what it was like when she was free. Before she met Sage. Before she met Hollow. Before she met Jinx, the nice loner at the abandoned horseplace. She felt as if she could run all night and day with the wind in her pelt, like the aurora in the northern sky for which she was named. If they were heading north, she couldn't wait to show the kits her namesake.</sub>

[SHADE. :D]

.ooc; Let's wait for the others.

[[xoxo] shard. :)]

Moonkit padded after the other cats into a peaceful grassy glade. This couldn't be where they were going. They would be going farther. Into the unknown beyond, the depths of fear. The fate of the forest was in their paws. It was time.

[sorrowfrost]

Selenekit followed beside Moonkit quietly. The surroundings were so beautiful, she would travel twice the distance to such a sight. It was so breathtaking that she to look twice to make sure it was real. It really was reality, and quite a nice one too. Even though they left everything behind she had come to terms with the idea of their traveling and she knew there was still a journey ahead. She kept close to Moonkits side, for some reason she felt more attached to him then any other, she considered him a friend, she never had a friend before. Her steps were short and quick as she followed them all. She said nothing though her steps said it all, she was nervous ab out something. A twig cracked beneath her paws and she jumped slightly although it was hardly noticeable. What would Firestar think? The MoonClan leader had allowed her to stay when they could have just as easily left her, and this was how she repaid them? By running off without warning?

[trissea]

OOC: Now we wait for Kuri-Chan.

[(aurora) of the problematique]

_*sigh*...

[SHADE. :D]

Pecankit turned to face Moonkit and Selenekit, giving the two a small smile. She examined their expressions and appearances once again. Moonkit was slender, with a sturdy body and small ears. His fur was bright silver, with darker stripes. He had a expression of wonder on his face. Selenekit had long, smoky black fur and silvery eyes. Her face was swathed in uncertainty. Pecankit sighed. By the end of this journey, she knew she would know these kits like she knew her own brother and sister. It was a strange feeling.

[/left]

[KURI. (happy birfday to me :D)]

<sup>ooc; Sorry! My computer broke down... I came back from a friends house and it was gone... My mom took it to the repair shop and they fixed it...

Crystalkit's already huge blue eyes grew even larger at the beautiful sights. The sun, the sky, the wind, the harmony... Everything fit together here, like pieces of a puzzle. The cardinal's call was echoed by that of another bird, and together they sang, the sunlight dancing to the music...

The she-kit couldn't get enough of this place. Even just seeing it, she wondered what awaited her, what wonders she could learn about. For a moment, a beautiful, fleeting moment, she forgot her worries - the fact that CloudClan was in danger, that she could die trying to save the Clans - all that seemed to dissolve, to flow away from her like a long, trailing river.

But that moment didn't last long. Soon everything came back, her worries, her fears - her homesickness. She wanted to be home. She wanted to be safe, away from harm. She wanted to curl up into a tiny ball and let the world continue without her, to just forget everything.... Her small, almost frail body shivered, and she padded up to join Aurora. "Aurora, what will happen when we reach six moons?" she asked quietly, glancing at Moonkit. The broad-shouldered tomkit must be at least five moons.</sup>

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>Aurora blinked at Crystalkit's question. "Six moons? Oh, that's when you become apprentices, right? Pecankit's brothers, Grainkit and Ryekit filled me in on some of your Clan's activities. Well, I guess I'll be your all of you kit's mentor. It'll be a long journey and I'll teach you how to hunt, fight, patrol, and do all the other things warriors do," she said with a cheery smile, turning to the other five.

"Well, what do all of you say to that? I've got seventy-two moons of experience under my paws, so I'm not some green-eared warrior just shooting out on their own. I'm afraid only your StarClan can give you your names though, not me...,"Aurora said, shaking her head. "And you might have to wait the whole journey to get your names." The loner smiled. "And maybe I could join one of your Clans, but I'll need a warrior name? Any hints on what to add to Aurora?" She was in a very good mood today and she hoped it would keep.</sub>

((Unless Shade wants different ;D ))[/sub]

[SHADE. :D]

.ooc; They won't be proper apprentices. They'll stay 'kit'.

Pecankit looked up at Crystalkit' question. The little tabby flinched s Aurora spoke her brothers' names. She sighed, thinking of her home and her family. Hazelkit, Grainkit, Mousekit and Ryekit were bound to be apprentices by now. She sighed again. She and Moonkit were both practically six moons, but were both now missing out on their appreniceship. "I suppose we'll get more than enough training," mused Pecankit. "Out here, I mean."

[[xoxo] shard. :)]

Moonkit shrugged. to Aurora. He looked over at Selenekit. He could tell she was worried or nervous about something. So far, she was the only one he felt very comfortable talking to. Maybe because she was the only one who'd not been there when he went whack with nervousness. He hoped that he wouldn't end up showing that problem to her too.

[trissea]

<sub>We all have the C,H,O,I,C,E to take the lead or -follow-
I want to F.EEL the light shine on {{ME}}



Mottledkit nodded at Pecankit's comment, her mind drifting toward Yewkit. "D'you suppose they'll all become apprentices before us?" She murmured, flicking her tail. By them, she meant their siblings. Yewkit, and Pecankit's brothers and sisters. She shuffled her paws restlessly, knowing it would be only one moon until she was supposed to be apprenticed, and once again wishing it could've been someone else that had gone.

You're so afraid of what people might say
But that's okay 'cause you're only human
You're so afraid of what people might say
But that's okay you'll soon get strong enough
You're so afraid of what people might say
But that's okay 'cause you're only human
You're so afraid of what people might say you're going to break so please don't do it</sub>

[KURI. (happy birfday to me :D)]

ooc; 72 moons is a bit old for a warrior, isn't it? I read somewhere that Warrior cats mostly live to 75 moons...

"Yeah, I think they will," mumbled Crystalkit, looking at her paws. They were pale, pale grey - almost white - with darker gray striped painted on them. She was ordinary. Nothing special, nothing different - as were the other kit around her. Why had StarClan wanted them to go? She thought Calmheart had told her in the softest of voices : "StarClan would never endanger the life of an innocent kit," Had her mother lied to her? Because she was pretty darn sure that sending a kit over lands that weren't Clan territories counted as 'endangering her life'.

Her thoughts lifted temporarily at the thought of giving Aurora a name. "Can you join CloudClan?" she squeaked, her big blue eyes happy again. "I know you have friends in BroightClan, but maybe? Stormstar is really nice. He lets loners in all the time!" She licked a paw and drew it over her ear. "Nice loners, I mean. But, your warrior name..." she thought for a second, taking in all of Aurora. Her inside, her outside, everything. "What about... Aurorafrost? Or... Auroraheart?"

[/center]

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>((Aurora isn't a warrior. She's originally a "kittypet" for a monk in a northern monastery. Her monk had a heart attack in a village, leaving her alone. She's been wandering around in people barns for the past year or so. Kittypets live to 19 years while I heard warriors live to about 12 or so))

Aurora smiled at Crystalkit. "Perhaps," she said to the kit. "I could name myself after something on our journey. Auroracalling, because I was called to you all by your StarClan, or Auroraheart, like you said." She shrugged and shook her head, looking up to the sky.

"When we return, I will decide everything then..."</sub>[/color]

[sorrowfrost]

Selenekit said nothing, although did she ever say much? She had been wondering something as they traveled but never got enough courage to ask. She looked to Moonkit Are you nervous? she asked finally. She thought she may be the only one, and it made her feel horrible, and that maybe she was the wrong one to be chosen. After all, she never asked to go on this journey, they choose her, but why? Did Firestar and Sorrowfrost feel scared? Did any warrior of MoonClan, or any other clan for that reason, feel scared sometimes? Surely the would? She shook her head slightly to clear her thoughts so she could listen for Moonkits reply. She had no real reason for trusting him so much, in the end they may have to fight against each other if they made it back and became warriors and she wasn't sure she could do such a thing, not to him, not to anyone here.

[SHADE. :D]

Pecankit nodded sadly. She was nearly six moons old. Her siblings would probably be apprenticed very soon. She sighed, feeling slightly left out. She knew that she was needed here, though for what she didn't know. She was only a kitten. Her old doubts came flooding back and she wanted nothing more than to turn around and run back into her mother's paws. She gave a small, quiet whimper and looked at her paws.

[[xoxo] shard. :)]

"Yes, I sure am," he mewed. "It's hard...I don't want to go and do this...it's scary. But I don't want to lose my family, my Clan...the forest...."

[/center]

[trissea]

Since Pecankit hadn't said anything, so neither did Mottledkit, narrowing her eyes at the glade ahead. She knew they were all here, now- and she had the nagging feeling that they needed to get moving. She shot a meaningful glance at Aurora, immidiately felt bad, remembering she was a warrior, in a sense- and looked dutifully back out at their heading, trying to look as if she had meant to be so disrespectful. She knew, though, that was a bad thing- Aurora was their mentor! But she wouldn't look stupid or vulnerable next to these younger kits. She hardened her face, and immidiately made her eyes unreadable- but she didn't know that her body language gave off embarassment and shame. Tail down a little lower, ears lowered as well, shoulders sagging slightly- she was completely obvious, but it was an impressively thourough job for a kit to have done.

When everything is wrong, we move

A L O N G--::;

[KURI. (happy birfday to me :D)]

Crystalkit smiled shyly at Mottledkit. The EclipseClan kit didn't talk much, but she was fine with that , because even she, the happy one, liked some silence. Selenekit seemed to only talk to Moonkit. Crystalkit didn't feel lonely, though - she needed time to think. A wave of realization hit her as she realized she was one of the youngest here, at four moons. She shivered. Why vulnerable kittens? Why her? Why them?

[/center]

[SHADE. :D]

Pecankit peered sideways at Mottledkit. Her own ears drooped due to the homesickness inside her, but unlike Mottledkit, she did not care whether the others noticed or not. She could see the tortoiseshell kitten's shame in her body language, and sighed. She's like Kestrelfeather. Her heart gave a twang as she thought of her dead grandmother. She locked her emotions inside of her too.

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>A loud crack interrupted Aurora's thoughts and she looked up. "What was that?" she asked, sniffing around. Her pink nose caught the foul reek of something...fox!

"Run for your lives! It's a fox!" Aurora roared, nodding them to the field ahead. She lunged over them to take the lead just as the fox came charging out of the undergrowth, snapping at her heels hungrily. The white and black she-cat occasionally dropped back to fight off the fox from getting the kits, but she had to leave him to direct the others.</sub>

((And onto the [R]ising [F]ighting Spirit thread)) [/sub]

[trissea]

There was a resounding crack in the femme's ears- and so they stood erect. At the older cat's words, she flattened her ears, but she didn't have time to run before the nimble animal, eyes beady and hungry, leaped out. It was a vixen, but that didn't register in Mottledkit's mind. She screeched and raked a claw over the animal's nose. Hearing a satisfactory howl, she turned tail and fled- quit literaly.

She didn't stop for a while, blind panic overtaking her. She could see out of the corner of her eye a few of the others- but there was no time to count. How could they outrun a fox? Aurora was older, and could do it, alone. But they were mere kits- and running into the open, as they were now, into the glade- was not a good choice, or so her instincts told her. But the black and white cat was their leader now, and she'd follow her to her death. Mottledkit didn't stop until she was far away, and when she did, turning to see how far she'd gone, she let out a breath. The fox was a ways back, and Aurora was fighting it. She didn't do anything- how could she? And what could she do? Her mind and heart raced neck and neck in moments of tension.

Bleed it

O

U

T;;