Camp [♥x] {oh.how.boring}

[>>BLACKiE! ]}]

"Of course, Maplestar," Smokeheart meowed in response, dipping his head in a dramatic form, low and respectful. Excitement bubbled within him about being able to tell Eagledance to go speak to Maplestar, but he kept it inside of him so that Maplestar wouldn't see how eager he was for the events to take place.

"May I eat with Lightbreeze before I go and deliver your message?" the smoky-black tomcat warrior asked, sending an affectionate glance towards the she-cat warrior that continued to wait near the fresh-kill pile for him, gazing around Camp with a dreamy-eyed expression across her face. He looked at Maplestar, awaiting his leader's response.

--x

"Then it would be her fault and not mine; she shouldn't have been influenced in the first place," Shatterwind hissed shortly in response, frustration mixed with rage blazing in his eyes, making them appear to be an icy blue. He met Moonwind's gaze evenly, holding it and trying to resist the strong impulse to sink his teeth into his friend's -- former friend's? -- neck.

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[[:; [h] e a r t ::♥]]

"Well, you'd want sympathy or at least understanding for why you killed your friend, right? I know it's not the same thing, but please, just try to understand. If I want to bring Amaryllis to EarthClan, I don't need your permission. I still want us to be friends, though." Moonwind looked at the entrance, his ears still turned to his friend in case he wanted to say something more.

[>>BLACKiE! ]}]

Shatterwind gave an unsatisfied hiss in response. "Why would you even want to bring that... that murderer into the Clan?" he spat angrily, his tail slapping against the ground out of rage, giving a resounding thump upon the nearly frozen earth that sat underneath. His ears remained pressed against his head as he didn't exactly respond to the black and silver colored tomcat's statement.

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[Battooth]

Maplestar shrugged. "Do what you like," he meowed, "Not even StarClan controls you that much." He turned away from the tom, towards the entrance to camp. He stared at it for a long while, then broke into a run, galloping out of the camp. Whoever was strongest would be in charge, he decided. They would know to take control- temporarily of course- as soon as they realized he was gone.

Maplestar had a lot to think about.

((Maplestar'll be poofin' for a while. I'll bring him back in a bit.))

[[:; [h] e a r t ::♥]]

Shatteriwnd wasn't listening to anything Moonwind was saying. "Because...Because I love her!" he spat, and turned out of that camp, going to get Amaryllis.

[MOVIN MOONWIND TO THE FOREST]

[>>BLACKiE! ]}]

Shatterwind just glared after Moonwind, but the words suddenly formed in his mind. Because... Because I love her! The words that the tomcat had spoken to him before he had departed. What was this all about? Moonwind loved that... that malicious and devious she-cat? Shatterwind wanted to go after Moonwind and shake some sense into the tomcat, but decided not to. Moonwind deserved it if Amaryllis broke his heart; Shatterwind wouldn't intervene.

Looking around Camp with his fur still bristling out of anger, he saw Maplestar charging out of Camp as well. What was wrong with the world? First his friend -- now former friend in Shatterwind's mind -- said he was in love with a murderer and then the EarthClan leader just charged out of the EarthClan Camp? Thank goodness the deputy -- Hailwind -- was still within the Camp grounds.

--x

Lunarky padded about the EarthClan Camp, having nothing to do. Heavy pawsteps sounded at a rapid tempo from Camp and she turned to look, seeing Maplestar charge out of Camp. What was wrong? Tilting her head to the side to consider the possibilities, the white she-cat wondered if Maplestar had left someone else in charge. Well, Hailwind was there -- he would surely suffice, being deputy and all.

Of course, the she-cat was fairly curious about why the tomcat leader had just barged out of Camp, but Lunarsky decided to keep quiet. Many times she had been a little too over-curious and some cats had mistaken that trait for being obnoxious or sassy -- which she was, sometimes, although she did know when there were some subjects to be sensitive about. Still, why had Maplestar left in such a hurry?

Deciding to ask another cat if they knew of Maplestar's troubles, Lunarsky padded up to an orange and black colored she-cat with a rather feathery tail. "Tige'lily," Lunarsky meowed, the exotic Australian accent weaving through her voice as she spoke, "what d'you s'pose is wrong wit' Maplestar?"

--x

Tigerlily turned as the faint rustle of a flower and a lilting tone of voice spoke her name in an accented form as well as words that followed. Seeing Lunarsky, she pulled her whiskers back in somewhat of a cat's smile. "Hello, Lunarsky," she meowed in greeting. "As for Maplestar, I'm not sure about what's wrong," she added, a confused look passing through her eyes, for she, too, had seen the departure of Maplestar from the EarthClan Camp.

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[>>BLACKiE! ]}]

"Lightbreeze, my love," Smokeheart purred as he neared the she-cat warrior, slipping into the spot beside her. Gently, he rasped his tongue over her ear in long strokes, purring all the while as he did so. At least Lightbreeze didn't pull away from his touch, but the smoky-black tomcat did wish that she would return his affections a little more than just a purr here and there every once in a while.

"Shall we eat?" the tomcat warrior asked, turning his head to gaze at Lightbreeze. "You never know when our next meal will be; after all, elders and queens must be fed first," he added, trying to show Lightbreeze that he was an extremely loyal warrior to EarthClan. Indeed, Smokeheart was loyal to EarthClan. He just didn't like Eagledance... all that much.

Continuing to gaze as Lightbreeze, he awaited her to take the first bite out of the fairly scrawny looking thrush. When she took a small, dainty bite out of the black colored bird, Smokeheart himself dipped his head down and tried to take a small bite just as Lightbreeze had, but had a rather difficult time since he was absolutely ravenous and could have gulped down this thrush and three more. Still, he managed well enough.

When the thrush was gone, Smokeheart looked at Lightbreeze with a tender expression on his face. "Lightbreeze," he meowed, "I'll be back, all right?" Standing up, he touched his nose to her shoulder before padding off, malicious delight suddenly sparking in his eyes as he thought of delivering Maplestar's message to Eagledance. Still, how could Eagledance find Maplestar when the tomcat leader had just charged out of Camp?

That was no matter -- he could still tell Eagledance.

[Smokeheart >> Searchin' for Eagledance]

--x

She was confused about Smokeheart. He was a nice and sweet tomcat to her, yet she felt that sometimes he was a little over-affectionate. Sure, there were times when she adored that, but sometimes it just got a little embarassing for her when cats turned to see Smokeheart cooing over her in every which way.

Lightbreeze watched as Smokeheart stood up and padded away. She couldn't see his current mood since his face wasn't facing towards her, but that didn't matter to her. Resting her head on her paws, she closed her eyes, glad for the brief lull in the stream of Smokeheart's affections for her.

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[>>BLACKiE! ]}]

"Lightbreeze, my dear!" Smokeheart purred as he neared the she-cat warrior seated in the EarthClan Camp, the dreamy-eyed expression he loved written all across her face as she blinked her eyes rapidly a few times as he came within her line of sight. Instantly, he seated himself next to her.

"My love," he purred in her ear, affection gleaming in his eyes as he looked at the she-cat warrior. He sat down next to her, enjoying the sudden warmth that had began at his side from the warmth that the she-cat had. Rasping his tongue over her ear in a soothing stroke, his tail slowly curved around, entwining with hers gently so as not to scare her.

--x

Lightbreeze couldn't help it; she rather did like the tomcat warrior, although he could be a little... odd at times. Why had he kept on making disappearances? Why had he had to go for a few moments out of the EarthClan Camp? If he loved her so much, then why didn't he tell her what he was doing? For a moment, the light of confusion gleamed in her eyes, but she quickly blinked it away so as not to let Smokeheart see.

And Smokeheart didn't see -- his eyes were closed as strong purrs arose from his vocal chords. Amusement hinted in Lightbreeze's eyes briefly, but she had to admit that she did care for the tomcat warrior even if he did act a little akward sometimes. Her own purr joined his in a softer tone, regarding the tomcat warrior for a few moments.

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[[:; [h] e a r t ::♥]]

Moonwind walked into camp, tail entwined with Amaryllis'. He glanced at Shatterwind, the stopped. "Come on, lets find Maplestar," he purred to the she-cat.

Wintersong padded into camp, her heart now heavy, her paws feeling like stone. She walked past Smokeheart, glaring in his direction, hissing in his ear. "You couldn't have given me one moment with Eagledance," she hissed in his ear, stalking towards the warriors den.

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[>>BLACKiE! ]}]

Lightbreeze glanced at Smokeheart, an unspoken question dancing through her eyes as she looked at the smoky-black tomcat. She purred when he rasped his tongue delicately over her ear, but she was still confused. Why had Wintersong just stormed past Smokeheart and hissed something in his ear?

"It's nothing," she heard Smokeheart respond to her, "she's just angry because I delievered a message to Eagledance; it's not /my/ fault -- Maplestar /told/ me to get Eagledance." Another wave of confusion laced through Lightbreeze's eyes, but she decided to say nothing else about the subject, preferring instead to just sit beside Smokeheart with him grooming her gently.

--x

Oh god.
He was back.
Why?

Shatterwind's gaze turned hard and his eyes were now again like chips of ice as he saw Moonwind come in the Camp... with Amaryllis behind. Racing over to them, he attempted to block their way forward. "What do you think you're /doing/?" he hissed angrily, pure rage lining every single feature on him. His fur bristled as he glared at both Moonwind and Amaryllis. How could Moonwind? The tomcat had set out to avenge him and now he was back, in... in love with the same she-cat who had indirectly murdered Ashbreeze? It just wasn't right.

Shatterwind's claws worked at the ground as they sheathed and unsheathed. In truth, his name hadn't actually had "shatter" as its prefix when he was a kit; it had been a changed name that he had begged to have since he felt as if he just couldn't live anymore. His ears were pressed against his head as he continued sending an icy cold stare in the directino of Moonwind and Amaryllis.

--x

At the sight of Shatterwind, Amaryllis shrank back slightly. Fear passed through her eyes as she looked at the enraged tomcat. She longed for everything to be all right and that she had never started trying to show the world that she was independent, but it had all happened and now this tomcat was in front of her, looking as if he'd like to sink his claws and teeth into her neck.

--x

Hailwind looked up from his position in the midst of the Camp. He assumed that he was temporarily in charge since Maplestar had simply charged out of Camp without saying much. He saw Shatterwind nearby and wondered why the tomcat looked so... angry. No, it wasn't anger -- it was more than that. Something Hailwind couldn't quite name.

But why? Looking onward, Hailwind saw two cats with unfamiliar scents on them. Studying them for a bit, he finally remembered one as Moonwind, the former warrior of EarthClan who had decided to go out to avenge Shatterwind against the she-cat whom had caused the grief on him. His fur bristled slightly. And who was Moonwind's friend here? Why did she look familiar?

Stalking up to them, Hailwind tried to remain calm. "Moonwind," he meowed shortly.

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[[:; [h] e a r t ::♥]]

[Oh goodness, now it's Moonwind, Shatterwind] , and Hailwind]. xD]

Moonwind looked at Shatterwind, his fierce gaze meeting Shatterwind's icy one for a moment before he turned his gaze toward Hailwind. "Hailwind," he started, dipping his head in a sign of respect for the deputy. "I have come in asking to re-join the Clan, if you considered me leaving departing the Clan permanently, which I have not meant to arouse that idea. I have brought back a friend. He name is Amaryllis, and I want her to join too, if that is her choice." Moonwind met the deputy's gaze steadily, wondering why he was so upset with him. He hadn't done anything bad for the Clan. He hadn't left the clan permanently, or he hadn't meant to make it look like that.

[>>BLACKiE! ]}]

Amaryllis. The name instantly rang a bell in Hailwind's mind as he looked first as Moonwind, then to the orange tabby she-cat known as Amaryllis, and then back to Moonwind, the former EarthClan warrior now asking to be granted permission to join the Clan again along with his little... friend here.

"Amaryllis?" Hailwind meowed, trying to hide his uncertainty but failing. Hailwind had never been a good one to hide his emotions thoroughly; confusion still shone in his eyes as he tried to chose the correct response to Moonwind. What would Maplestar have said? What would any great leader, back when they were still a deputy, have said in his place? "Is that not the she-cat that granted Ashbreeze, one of our warriors, safe haven to StarClan?" the black-and-white tomcat asked, his face still showing his confusion at the current situation.

--x

"Hailwind," Shatterwind meowed to the deputy as loudly as he could so that everyone could here, "this is indeed is Amaryllis, the same she-cat that flirted with me and captured my attention -- as well as Ashbreeze's -- and made me kill him." Shatterwind shifted his gaze from Moonwind to Amaryllis, glaring at the she-cat and expecting her to look away from him as if she were too ashamed to say anything in her defense. "And now she is relying on Moonwind to protect her through whatever might befall on her," he added, spitting out the words out of disgust.

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[[:; [h] e a r t ::♥]]

"No, she is not, Shatterwind," Moonwind mewed back, a bit of a snarl coming into his voice, but trying to keep calm. "Can you or any cat just eventually orgge Amaryllis or her wrongs, or at least listen to /why/ she killed our frind, and broke tomcat's hearts? Please?" He looked at Amaryllis, his eyes urging her to tell the story as best as she could.

[[:; [h] e a r t ::♥]]

Small pawprints made almost no mark in the snow that now covered the ground as a she-cat walked into camp. Her muscular but slender legs moved her quickly, and thick silken fur flowed and carressed her lithe body as a chilly breeze came by. She flicked her fawn clored ears, her pale blue eyes darting around, searching for the leader she had seen before in the group of cats. She had been "spying" on these cats for a quarted moon now, and had picked out the leader of them, and the leader-in-training (deputy), as her Tribe called them.

The reason Fawn had came here because her Tribe had been attacked, and she was one of the only few left, so she had set off in search of a new home.

She placed one fawn colored paw in front of the other, until she reached the center of the camp. She looked around for the leader, but he was nowhere in sight. She soon spotted the leader-in-training, though, and trotted over to him. Her rather distressed looking delicate face softened as she looked at hi. His voice was rather commading, and he looked strong and good for a leader. Although she wished to speak to him, but saw that he was dealing with another thing right now, su she just stood behind him and waited, her paw scuffing the ground a bit impaitently.

[>>BLACKiE! ]}]

"I..." Amaryllis faltered for a moment, seeing that Shatterwind looked even more furious than he had been in the Forest, if possible. Breathing in deeply, the orange colored she-cat began again. "I was born from my mother"-- frustration flashed in her eyes briefly as she heard Shatterwind snicker at the simplicity of her beginning statement --"who was with my father unwillingly." Instead of cowering back from Shatterwind's taunting glares at her, she held her head up even higher as if she were proud. "My father took my mother as a mate, my mother not even giving her consent. And my mother didn't fight back. If she had, then things would've been different. But she didn't do anything and that's where all this trouble started." She saw Hailwind give a nod for her to continue.

"Anyway," she meowed, "I've learned my mother's story." She paused for a moment before going on. "I was always a headstrong cat; extremely willful. I didn't exactly want to be like my mother with having a tomcat practically own her. Instead, I took a different course -- instead of wanting a mate, I tried to prove to the world that I just didn't need one and that I would always be independent."

Although her eyes had been cast down before she had spoken these words, her sapphire blue eyes now raised up, a hint of determination in them. "I took it a little too far. I know that now," she finished, giving a nod to conclude her speech.

--x

Shatterwind's glare never wavered as his eyes remained like hard chips of ice. "And now," he hissed, "you're going to be Moonwind's mate and you'll have kits and then you'll live happily ever after without even caring about those you hurt, am I right?" His tail lashed out at the ground again, almost thawing the thin layer of ice that had collected with the lightly falling snow.

Shatterwind felt a tail-tip touch his mouth. He whipped around, seeing Hailwind. Shatterwind wanted to speak more curt words, but knew better than to go against his deputy.

--x

"Amaryllis, Moonwind," Hailwind meowed, trying to look as decisive as ever. Inside, he was secretly worried; what if he didn't make the right decision? "You may stay here. When Maplestar gets back, however, I must ask that you two go and face him. Whether you stay or not is up to him," the deputy stated. Although he was glad to be out of making the decision, he felt as if he were pushing even more decisions on to Maplestar and that ended up in causing a guilty feeling within him.

Finishing his speaking, Hailwind merely flicked his tail at another cat's greeting. It was probably just another Clan cat wanting to speak to him about something. His gaze remained fixed on Shatterwind and Moonwind mostly, wondering how the two would reacct.

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