.a winter breeze >>

[Spice..xx]

Petaldance laughed as Grebekit swatted the air with a tiny front paw. "Yes, i think she'll be a handful. Looks too much like her dad, thats whats wrong" she giggled, looking at Pantherstealth to see his reaction. Kinkajoukit and Grebekit were more similar to their dad, Costanokit and Cobaltkit more similar to her and Lilakit was a mix of them both. She couldnt wait until they opened their eyes and started walking and talking, so she could see what their personalities would be like. But for now, she was quite contented with just having kits of her own. She looked up and smiled warmly at Maverickkit. "Do you want to come and say hello Maverickkit?" she said, her eyes sparkling gently.

[/color][/blockquote]

[SHADE. :D]

Amethyststar watched Crowpaw, her amber gaze measured. She had not had any special reason for choosing this tom as her apprentice - she was without one and they did not have many free warriors. But something about him, about his appearance, his personality, and the fact that he was constantly bullied by his sibling, reminded her of herself. This was one reason she had chosen to take on Crowpaw. Amethyststar turned to greet Spicetalon with a swift nod, her triangular ears going up in greeting. The sturdy black she-cat gave a short sigh. "You will know soon enough," she replied, her voice soft and troubled. Amethyststar got to her paws, leaping back atop the Shaderock. She lifted her tail and gave a short yowl. Her fiery gaze swept the clearing, as though hunting down those that dared to utter another word.

Pantherstealth smiled down at his new brood with a look of dumb pride and happiness on his handsome face. The young tom was content to remain there, seated beside his mate, staring down at their kits until night fell. The dappled warrior's smile widened as he turned to look at Petaldance, his amber eyes grazing her sapphire one's. The lean warrior drew his tongue gently over Grebekit's back. "Mwahaha," he chuckled evilly. "My little heir..."

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>Maverickkit nodded and blushed a bit, but that was lost among the hairs of his muted ginger pelt. The tomkit came forward, sniffing at each of the five kits. His gaze washed over the brood and then he looked balefully up at Petaldance. "Does this mean I won't be king of the nursery anymore?" he mewed, turning his muzzle to the fiesty Grebekit. "I think she'll be the queen of the nursery. I won't let her take my place."

He pouted slightly and turned to his mother, who raised her brows. "Maverickkit, you won't be a kit for long so there's no reason to worry that Grebekit will 'take your place' as you call it. You'll be an apprentice in a few moons," Sunheart said. Maverickkit sighed and turned to Petaldance. "Can I still come visit you and the kits when I'm an apprentice?" he asked.</sub>

[kee :]]

It was a great relief to finally be with someone else he trusted other than Troutpaw. Prophecypaw was shy like him, yet he was kind and nice, soothing almost, so it was as if it brought out the voice in Crowpaw or took him out of his nervous state around his sister. She could snap any minute. Crowpaw couldn't help but the smile when Prophecypaw came up beside him. The two toms had been best friends since who knows when and he was the only cat he trusted other than Troutpaw. "'Lo Prophecypaw," he murmured softly. His voice was rough and crackled from disuse but it sounded like he was trying to sound polite and soothing. Smiling crookedly, Crowpaw nodded his head to his friend. "Why thank you. I'm excited to begin training and find out why I'm supposed to be Amethyststar's apprentice," he said, suddenly stopping, shocked because of how many words he just said. It was so odd to finally be clearing his voice of his quietness and maybe... Just maybe this opportunity could make him popular around his clanmates, therefore he would have to speak to them. Just like that.

[lonelylove :D]

Brokensoul frowned as Troutpaw turned away. He trying to read her eyes, as he oftened did to others around him, but there was nothing to see. He got up, and turned away. Fine, if that's how you feel. He walked away, feeling confused. Wasn't she supposed to be happy for him? He was a warrior now. That was all he had ever wanted.

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[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>Troutpaw smiled at her brother and nodded to him. "I'm going to meet up with Brokensoul and then Razortomb after that. I'll see you later, little brother," she said quietly. The broad-shouldered she-cat trailed her tail across that of her brother's as she turned away from him and padded over to his walking-away form.

"Brokensoul?"

She hesitated and then came forward, striding faster in order to circle him and then sit in front of his path. "Brokensoul? Hey...I just wanted to say...congratulations," she laughed nervously. "Sorry, I'm not really good with showing emotions to many cats..." She scratched her ear and then looked up at him, feeling awkward because of her sudden silence.</sub>

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

Maplepaw smiled, happy that she had done one nice thing. That didn't mean she was going to stop teasing poor Crowpaw, but... Shrugging, she padded back to where she had been before. She wasn't exactly the most popular cat in the Clan, if you wanted to put it like that. Bored, she groomed her oak-brown pelt and watched as Prophecypaw congratulated her siblings.

Why did Troutpaw always take Crowpaw's side! She was lonely, why didn't they see that? Well, maybe she was only lonely deep down, but still. Underneath it all, Maplepaw just wanted a friend. Maybe two... Either way, she didn't make any effort to make friends. If she wanted to, she could have as many as she wanted to. Couldn't she?

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[SHADE. :D]

Like a shadow he slipped from the apprentices' den. Corbynpaw sat, only part of his body visible. His downy head poked from between the ferns, his narrow silver eyes filled with loathing. Corbynpaw swept his cold eyes over the clearing, letting them linger over each of the new warriors in turn. The broken young tom gave a snort of hatred, looking back up at his mother. He lifted his lip slightly, and was satisfied with the ripple of fear that crossed her face. Corbynpaw unsheathed his claws, and folded his forepaws over one another. His very presence was like a smudge of sin over the clan. Corbynpaw lifted his eyes as a large raven winged over the camp. A cruel smile tugged at his lips - yet it did not add light to his face. It only added a twisted sense of lunacy and bitter hate.

[Spice..xx]

Petaldance laughed and smiled down at Grebekit. "Yes, i think she'll be the queen of the nursery. And of course you can come and visit Maverickkit, i'll always be happy to see you and im sure this lot will love you as well" she said, tickling the ginger tom lightly on the nose with her tail. She pricked her ears towards outside as she heard Amethyststars yowl for attention and felt a knot of worry form in her stomach as she sawa raven circling camp. "What is Amethyststar saying? Someone go and listen for me" she said, not wanting to leave her brood but wanting to know what the announcement was. She had a bad feeling it wasnt going to be about anything good.

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[(aurora) of the problematique]

^{Maverickkit giggle and rubbed his nose after Petaldance tickled it. "Okay!" he said enthusiatically. The ginger tom turned to Sunheart. "Hey, mom, can I go listen outside to hear Amethyststar?" Sunheart lifted her head. "Sure, dear, just don't get into trouble," the queen called, but the tomkit had already run off at 'sure'. The ginger ran to the end of the nursery and poked his head out, listening to what the Leader had to say.}

[lonelylove :D]

Brokensoul stood off to the side. His coal-black shoulders were hunched, and his head was bowed. While he felt a lot of things, most of al he felt sad. Weren't they friends now? Why was she so stiff with him? A tear trickled down his cheek. He paused to wipe the tear away. He looked down at the stain the tear left on his paw. Brokensoul had never cried before. It wasn't something he did. But now he was crying over Troutpaw?
Then, he heard a voice. Brokensoul? It was Troutpaw. He frowned. I thought she didn't like me anymore. He lifted his head, and turned to look at her. Oh. He licked his lips. I thought you didn't like me anymore. He know he sounded babyish, but he wanted to understand what had happened.

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[(aurora) of the problematique]

_{Troutpaw blinked in confusion. "Why would you think that? Actually, I thought we wouldn't be friends anymore 'cause...well...you're a warrior now and I'm an apprentice," she said, shrugging slightly to act as if it really didn't affect her. The mottled-blue ran her rough tongue across her muzzle and her near-black blue eyes drifted towards the dark sky. She sighed slightly but sat closer to the lonely warrior when Amethyststar recalled her Clan. Her tail absently laid atop Brokensoul's.}

[lonelylove :D]

Brokensoul turned his body completely around. His eyes registered surprise. I thought you didn't what to be friends with me anymore because... She bowed his head. Because you thought I was a loser or something. His face turned warm in embrassment. Even if your an apprentice, that's okay. I mean... He shrugged. ...You're my only friend, anyway.

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[&&R.A.V.E.N :3]

Prophecypaw;;

The Medicine cat apprentice gave a rare smile. He shook his head at his cloeset friend's words. "Why would you wonder? Amyetheststar probably thought you were worthy enough to be her apprentice" He mewed with a chuckle as she settled down on his stomach and started to lick his front paw to groom his small ears.
"Anyways, you wouldn't belive what Littlefox and I found when hunting for herbs." He mewed, knowing he was told that he shouldn't tell anyone, but he couldn't keep it from Crowpaw. They never kept secerts. "We found a wounded cat, and Littlefox being her kind self, went and helped. A broken leg, that cat had" He continued.

[kee :]]

Sighing softly, Crowpaw watched Troutpaw run after Brokensoul, a newly named warrior that he didn't feel the least bit comfortable around. Even though he didn't like his sister spending time with the other tomcat, he decided that he liked the idea of his sister making more friends and having a wide social view, other than just Crowpaw. He smiled slightly but turned to Prophecypaw, his eyes had the tint of brightness in them, and a smile along with it. He didn't respond to what his friend first said, he still did wonder why Amethyststar choose him. He didn't fully believe Prophecypaw... There just had to be something wrong with him that made Amethyststar decide that he had to be her apprentice. Crowpaw sighed again, and looked at his friend as he spoke. His yellow eyes grew wide. "Really, now? What Clan?" Crowpaw was interested by this and he smiled slightly knowing that his Clan was in good paws, Medicine Cat wise.

[FIREH!!]

_{The mottled pelt of Littlefox smiled at her apprentice. But did you tell Crowpaw you did a lot of work for Runespell? She meowed happily. Then she turned and nodded to Amethyststar, signaling that she wanted to talk to her after the meeting.}

[falconkit]

<sub>A sleek gray figure crept out of the nursery. For some reason, she didn't want to talk today. She never wanted to talk. Miserypaw sat down in the snow, trying to be invisible while she scanned the clearing. Older apprentices became warriors, well, pawns. Clan cats had mousebrains if they think this is the best way for them. They aren't free. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Corbynpaw scowl at the clan. She saw the pure hatred in his eyes. Maybe he figured it out to. . .

Miserypaw pondered weather to go over there and ask him. She wanted to see if he knew. Padding over to him, she let the tip of her tail tap is shoulder so her presence was made known. "Do you know?" she asked, keeping her voice low so that no other cat can hear. "You have hatred in your eyes," she murmmed, like she was answering an unasked question.</sub>

[cheshy says grace]

Moonmist looked at all the commotion around her and for some reason wanted to be part of it. She stood up and trotted over to Petaldance. She licked the fellow queen between the ears and gasped in delight as she saw the kits. Oh, Petaldance! They're just gorgeous! Congratulations, again! she mewed, smiling.

She looked up at Pantherstealth, What beautiful babies.

[/sub][/blockquote][/blockquote]

[SHADE. :D]

Corbynpaw turned his eyes, cold as stone, onto Miserypaw. His expression did not change, his mouth a straight line of displeasure, his eyes flashing with rage and loathing. The shadowy-pelted apprentice scowled at Miserypaw. "I thought you wern't supposed to hide your feelings," he snapped, voice hot and angry as flame. Corbynpaw returned to glaring at Amethyststar, a muscle in his jaw twitching.

Amethyststar cleared her throat as the last of the talking died down. The small, sturdy black she-cat tore her fiery amber eyes away from Corbynpaw, switching them onto Brokensoul, then onto Troutpaw. She flinched as the raven swooped low, but soon regained herself. "As some of you may have realised," she meowed, aware of her son's hot, hate-filled eyes upon her. "I had a reason for going to the Moonshard. I wanted to speak with StarClan. But I found my way was blocked, by strange spirits. Something was infiltrated StarClan; I have been told that everything is going to change. New foes will rise, foes we cannot harm. We have to prepare ourselves for this." Amethyststar swallowed, before letting her nervous, wavering gaze fix on Corbynpaw. "We have to prepare ourselves for the Tribe of Nightmares."

Rosemarypool's pretty green eyes narrowed slightly. Was Amethyststar going mad? She had nothing but respect for the black she-cat, but this sounded like a lot of mousedung to her. Foes that they could not harm? Rosemarypool's ears stood up in surprise. What if it was true? The dark brown tabby turned around, glancing around for Brokensoul, or Cloudsteps. She bared her teeth in a scowl when she spotted the black tom with Troutpaw. Rosemarypool climbed to her paws and padded to Crowpaw and Prophecypaw. "What do you think of that?" she asked, hushed voice reflecting the pit of worry inside her.

[falconkit]

_{Miserypaw looked over at Corbynpaw, his stone cold eyes meeting her dull emotionless ones before he returned to glaring at his mother."I choose to hide my feelings out of others reach. You choose to show yours. No one is the boss and no one can say your not supposed to," she told Corbynpaw. "I was just observing the fact that we somewhat feel the same way about the clan," she finished. She still wasn't sure if he knew, but it was most likely he did. She knew, but most of the other warriors and apprentices were to mousebrained to figure it out. sighing, she turned her attention to the leader. Tribe of Nightmares, ok, makes just about as much sense as starclan. Why is everyone so fleabrained in this clan. All who don't know are fleabrained. Tilting her head up, she watched the sky, and the raven, trying to figure out how it flied so effortlessly. . .}

[&&R.A.V.E.N :3]

Prophecypaw;;

Prophecypaw whipped around as he mentor's voice came to his small ears, which burned with embarassment. He shook his head slowly to Littlefox before looking back to Crowpaw. "I wasn't paying much attention to what Clan we were by. But I did help the cat, Runespell was his name." He mewed, his voice still quiet like always as he shuffled his front paw in the dirt under foot. His eyes suddenly widened as he turned, staring at Amytheststar. Pupilless eyes stayed locked upon the leader "I knew it. I knew something was about to happen."He murmured, turning his eyes towards Littlefox.

[FIREH!!]

<sub>Littlefox's eyes darkened as she heard Amethyststar's words. Brightclan. She murmured the answer to the curious cat, wondering which clan they had helped. But her mind wasn't on that. It was focused upon Amethyststar's words. She shook her head. Her dreams! They were finally answered. She shook her head once more. How do we fight something that we cannot harm? She called.

Spicetalon's eyes widened. He heard his sister's words, and they chilled him to the bone. It was as if frost suddenly covered him, and he didn't move. He didn't catch Littlefox's words, and his mind was whirling. How do they fight something that they cannot harm? Spicetalon felt movement return to his sturdy limbs, and he shook his head. That explained Amehtyststar's freak out over her visit to the Moonshard.</sub>

[kee :]]

"Ah yes, Runespell,"Crowpaw murmured, he had heard the name before but he was not familiar with the cat and he had no clue what Clan he was in. The name wasn't normal and Crowpaw could easily remember things that weren't normal. He smiled slightly to his Medicine Cat as she passed by and turned back to Prophecypaw. "I've heard of him. Unforgettable name," he whispered but Amethyststar's roar for silence made his mouth shut automatically as he listened, his slightly happy eyes suddenly turned dark with worry and anger. StarClan was blocked and now, this Tribe of Nightmares or whatever they were were in the way. Crowpaw snarled softly but then he slumped to the ground, his sadness washing over his anger. The black tom stayed crouched at the ground for a long second, his eyes closed. He was trying to hold back all the emotions that were balled up inside of him. The hushed tone of Rosemarypool echoed through his mind. He didn't look up at her but just shook his head and sighed.

"I don't know. I just don't know..."

[/blockquote]

[[xoxo] shard. :)]

^{Suddenly, Silentpaw's monotone world world swirled with change. First, he spotted Gillwing whisper something in Amethyststar's ear. The next thing he knew, he was no longer Silentpaw, but Silentsong. He was a warrior of bravery and vigiliance. He felt happy, but was all the more when greeted by the other she-cat. "Oh, uh, thanks. Congrats to you as well." A cat besides his mentor had spoken to him! His belly swelled with pride. He wasn't that lonely apprentice anymore, for those few, quick moments had changed his life, and his outlook on it. Today was a new day, for he was reborn. He was Silentsong.}

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

Maplepaw's olive eyes grew serious as Amethyststar spoke of the Tribe of Nightmares. She wasn't afraid, not of something as completely mousebrained as that. How could dead cats harm them? She didn't bother voicing her question. She knew the answer. Amethyststar was probably overreacting. Rolling her eyes, she padded back over to Crowpaw. "You don't beleive in this stuff, do you?" she asked, rolling onto her belly.

[/blockquote]

[SHADE. :D]

Rosemarypool turned to look at Maplepaw, narrowing her green eyes. "Why would Amethyststar lie?" she asked the apprentice, lifting her chin. The dark brown tabby noticed Silentsong standing alone, and approached him again. She shivered as though a cold wind had brushed against her. The Tribe of Nightmares... Rosemarypool blinked her leaf-green eyes in fear. They needed to be prepared, as Amethyststar had said. Part of that meant feeding the clan, keeping them strong. Determination filled the young warrior - she wanted to help her clan. Rosemarypool turned to Silentsong, announcing her presence by touching him on the shoulder with her fluffy tail tip. "D'you want to go hunting after the ceremony?" she asked shyly. "Just a thought, I mean, if you don't want to, it's fine."

[Spice..xx]

Petaldance strained her ears to hear what Amethyststar was saying and hearing the warning of danger coming, danger even greater than StarClan itself made shivers run down her spine. Her tail wrapped protectivley around her kits and she looked up at Pantherstealth and Sunheart, worry clouding her lilac-blue orbs that had only seconds ago been full of joy and excitement. "What does this mean? What can we do?" she asked nervously, beginning to shake with worry to a lot of loud protesting from her kits as they were trying to suckle, oblivious to the worrying that was going on.

[/color][/blockquote]

[kee :]]

Crowpaw's eyes opened suddenly when he felt his sister's presence. It wasn't Troutpaw, only Maplepaw. Hissing softly at his sister's tone, he watched Rosemarypool walk off. "Do you actually think she just wants to scare us?" Crowpaw hissed, trying to push himself up, but feeling that it was no use, he slumped back to the ground, covering his face with his paws. They were blocked from StarClan and his own flesh and blood was too stupid to believe what was going on... The Tribe of Nightmares would be the end of him. He knew it.

[(aurora) of the problematique]

<sub>Troutpaw smiled faintly. "I'll always be your friend, Brokensoul," she said gently. The mottled female nodded to him and turned back to Amethyststar. No emotion crossed her visage, not unlike how it was earlier with Brokensoul. The apprentice ran her paw across her muzzle and sighed.

"This Tribe of Nightmares," she murmured half to herself.

The female looked over at Brokensoul. "If...If this Tribe is stealing cats from StarClan, could that be that your mom was taken?" she asked him. She hadn't known Lonelyheart but she had been told stories by the other queens about the EclipseClan callgirl who had gone off to mate with Cormorantstar of CloudClan and come home with babies.</sub>

[lonelylove :D]

Brokensoul's voice turned to a whisper. Thanks, he said. A smile tugged at his lips for a moment, before his face returned to its neutral expression. He listened quietly to Amethyeststar's words. No wonder she had been so jittery after Moonshard. Was this threat real? Could dead cats really harm them? If they blocked his leader from Starclan, then they must be very powerful. But they still didn't seem real, or like they would cause any harm. If they weren't physical...
He was deep in thought when Troutpaw's voice broke into his thoughts. ...Could that be that your mom was taken? Brokensoul froze up. His throat constricted, and no words would come out. I...uhh...I... He realized that she could be right. Could they have taken Lonelyheart? But she died so many moons ago... That means that the Tribe, or whatever, had been in existance a long time. But it was possible.
He had always thought that his mother had been a good cat. Razortomb had praised highly about her, but then again, he had fallen in love with another she-cat. Maybe she was a bad cat. And maybe he and his siblings and Razortomb just refused to see the bad side.
But how would he know? He had never met her before. She was just...well, his dead mother that died at the birthing. She was nothing to him. Even Rosemarypool, who he despised, he loved her more!
He finally managed to answer Troutpaw. You know, maybe you're right. But, you know what that means? That means that this Tribe, they've been around longer than you or I have... He shook his head, a frown on his face. I think I might tell Amethyeststar about this. About her.

[/blockquote]