The Fallen Tree's

[Slug]

Crowclaw looked up-- and with a rumbled purr of malice, Crowclaw gave Mothtail a dark, hate-filled look. You're ruining my fun! The stare practically screeched. "Mothtail-- I thought you were suppose to be back at the camp... unless that's too much for you to handle, of course. Poor warrior." He said with venom-- his voice light as a feather, turning his gaze back to Silverheart.

"And, didn't you hear me the first time, pussy-cat? I said I wouldn't hurt you..." His eyes prowled like ice into Silverheart's own.

"Unless you want me to, that is."

[Whiskers]

"We do seem to have met, apprentice"


It was strange how each word pierced him like thorns or like a bee sting in a brief moment, but in the next second the hurt was gone. Though she threw another insult at him (though it was technically directed at Rowanheart, so it barely grazed his skin) Finchpaw was surprised with... the immaturity of it all. It seemed superficial and pointless to try to alienate him when all he did was say 'hello.' He gazed at her curiously and wondered why.

In fact, he scrutinized for an uncomfortable period of time, and realized that she had actually said something and was waiting for response. He recalled the words:

"Looking for some ridiculous magical herb?"

"Actually, no. But I'm planning to visit the meadow of rainbows in order to retrieve the Berry of All Healing later, so if you want to come, that would be brilliant." He meowed calmly, almost stoically in nature, though the words were tipped with playful sarcasm.

"Guess again."
---

Mistystream followed Jaypaw's glance. "What's happening over there?" She asked aloud though she really doubted that her apprentice would know if she did not. A ripple of unease passed through her though. She didn't like unnecessary fights.

"Should we check it out?" She murmured offhandedly to him, her eyes lighter as she lifted her head as if to get a better view. she seemed to have forgotten that she was the mentor in that moment.

[laur]

Silverheart's round eyes opened wider than before. For a second, a large wave of relief rushed through him at the sight of Mothtail. THANK YOU! He wanted to wail at her, thinking he would be saved. His gaze softened at the creamy she-cat, hoping the intense relief he felt did not show plainly on his face. She confronted Crowclaw, much to the black tom's dismay. Silverheart, almost excited, had a feeling that he could get out of this unscathed.

"Unless you want me to, that is."

Silverheart recoiled at the larger tom's words. He let out a low hiss, trying to act more like the warrior he should be. His silver-blue eyes pierced those of his torturer, disgust flashing across his face for a brief moment. "Leave me alone," he scowled, "I don't want to fight with you." He backed away a few more tail-lengths, desperately trying to make his coarse silver fur lie flat again. Silverheart shot one, pleading glance at Mothtail before shooting backwards a couple fox-lengths.

"Will you leave me alone?" Silverheart snarled, the anger burning in his belly beginning to come loose.

[Poizuun]

Mothtail's stomach quivered in fear as she physically felt Crowclaw's glare fall upon her. However, she didn't want to look bad in front of this cute new tom and created a smirk of her own to take on the tom warrior, even though she was completely terrified of what he might do to her.
"I actually finished with all my duties," She sneered at him, twitching her whiskers haughtily as she continued down the tree trunk and hopped gracefully to the ground. "And I believe I could be saying the same to you."
Mothtail twirled her tail at him as she stood next to Silverheart, forcing a carefree purr from her throat.

[Crowzerplorodon]

step step leap, step step leap, step ste- oh, stop!

The she-cat chuckled lightly in her head before taking quick steps around the patch of wet leaves that marked the snow. Her small, dainty paws were kept clean when she stepped in the slowly-melting blanket on the ground. It meant she would have less washing to do when she returned and more time to help the clan.

step step leap, step step leap, step step leap, step step leap. Perhaps I should hunt now...

Even if she wasn't the greatest hunter, Silverflower would still manage to bring something back. Even as the sun of Leaf-Bare set, prey was still needed to keep the clan strong. So moving off her (almost) straight path, Silverflower slipped between two bushes, following the faint scent of rabbit she could pick up.

Her silver-tabby fur glimmered in the sun with all the snow it had picked up on her trek. She seemed such a brighter color than normal. But still not as pure and bright and peaceful as the snow. Oh no, even when it was disturbed, the snow was the picture of peace and beauty in Silverflower's mind.

Are those cats? She thought to herself, her ears picking up the sound of many voice all in the same area. Oh, are they having a meeting of sorts? Curious, the she-cat broke away from her stalking path and followed the stream of voice to an area full of fallen tree.

-----

Copying his mentor, Jaypaw also shifted to get a better view. But of course, he still couldn't see what was happened. All he knew was that it involved Crowclaw and Mothtail, the former probably being cruel while the latter tried to stand-up for another cat.

"I think we should go over there..." He muttered, already getting up from where he sat. "Just in case something bad happens. We can be there as... backup."

[Rolo]

Frostpaw smiled at his defensive attitude. This apprentice was more firey than she first thought.

"No thankyou, young one." She chanted, no hint of menace in her voice, "I'd rather not. Anything that helps you tamper with fate is not what I want to do."

She sounded resolved, no hint of sarcasm. She was blunt, yes, but there was no feelings behind the words. It was more like a verbal sigh than a witty retort. Though Frostpaw believed the words, it was the essence of her opinion, but it was as if she was tired with repeating it again.

Frostpaw was astonished at her own voice, wondering where her edge had gone. Then she realised why. This cat was Rowanheart's young, she'd probably be subjected to a session of pity and harsh remarks about her beliefs. Out here it seemed so pointless. All she wanted to do was laze about in the sun.

[Slug]

"My duties are none of your business, Mothtail." Then Crowclaw sighed, looking old and weary for a second-- almost exasperated. "Why must you ruin my fun, you Cream-ball?" He asked softly, giving Mothtail an odd look-- one that didn't have a name; it seemed blank and devoided of emotion.

"As for pussy-cat over here, I said I wouldn't hurt him, didn't I?" He chortled, and he was suddenly with swift movement at Silverheart's other side; pressed against him lightly. "And I always keep my promises, Mothtail; you should know, yes?" Crowclaw purred, trying to assure Silverheart.

"But I'm not too sure of Mothtail, Sil-vurr." His golden eyes glinted. "She hasn't said anything about NOT hurting you, has she?" Crowclaw gave a charming smile before slinking over to a fallen tree and leaping onto it's trunk, looking down at the duo with a startling intensity that just screamed Sleep with both eyes open before laying down; staring at them with laxed eyes. Waiting.

[striped]

The she-cat slowly got to her paws, and winced as the branches below her snapped and crackled. She stretched happily, and looked around, her pelt standing out and yet standing in with everything. All of the colors seemed to go with everything.

What was going on? She heard conversations on both sides of her. She thought she had been alone. But who was there? And who was everyone talking to. Great StarClan, it sounded like a gathering! All she wanted were some peace and quiet, and she was disturbed by cats.

In...two...three
Out...two...three

Clam yourself down, the she-cat thought to herself, scolding herself inwardly. She would become a nicer cat, even if she woked on it upon her death. She couldn't be ill-tempered all of the time, or she would make no friends. She was too frustrated right now to talk to anyone. She was stuck, there were voices all around her, and she didn't really know which way to go so she wouldn't have to talk to anyone.

Was that normal? Most cats would approach another cat, right? Or was she just thinking unlike herself again. She wasn't sure what was normal and what wasn't. That bothered her. "Maybe I should see who are the talking cats, say hello, and walk away," the she-cat murmured to herself. "No, because that would be rude, and I don't want to be rude.." she meowed. "But then again, I won't become any social if I try to slip away without talking."

This being nice thing wasn't going to be easy, would it.

[laur]

Silverheart snarled at Crowclaw as he came close, shifting closer to the reassuring Mothtail. As the black tom pressed into his side, Silverheart spun around and snapped. He slashed at Crowclaw, missing his ear by barely any space. Crowclaw, almost unnerved, simply bounded away and sat on a trunk, watching him with a cold, disturbing look. Silverheart, plainly uncertain, scooted closer to Mothtail, staring into her eyes for any sign of a plan.

His blue-grey gazed flicked back and forth between the two cats, both seeming to be lost in thought. Leaning over to Mothtail, Silverheart whispered, "He's your clan-mate? What are we going to do?" He looked down at the sparkling snow, letting a sigh escape his throat. "Where is Kestrelstorm when you need him most?" Silverheart mewed to himself.

He scanned the surrounding area for any sign of help, his piercing eyes finally resting on Crowclaw's twisted expression.
~~~~~~~~~
An immense, brown tabby tom stalked through the forest, as if he was on a mission. A massive, brown-hued head swiveled on thickset shoulders from side to side. Thick rounded paws scuffed the white snow with dirt and debris as the tom bounded swiftly through the rotting trees and bushes. His dark-ringed tail flicked back and forth as the tom picked up speed, heading towards a clearing filled with pure snow.

As he entered the area, the large brown tabby stopped and gazed around with bright yellow eyes, rimmed with black. He sniffed, ears perked for any sign of cats. Then, he heard it. With a loud snort, the tom raced through the dead trees, the sound of cats gradually getting louder and louder, until he could pin names to the different voices he heard.

Crowclaw, Mothtail, Silverheart? Kestrelstorm was surprised at the sound of his fellow warrior. He's not one to wander. Picking up speed, the massive cat cleared a fallen tree with one mighty leap. As he neared Silverheart, his pink nose easily picked up the scent of fear, but from two cats. He knew trouble was brewing, and burst into the fallen tree-covered expanse of land with a determined look on his broad, brown striped face.

"What's going on here?"

[Whiskers]

Finchpaw padded closer to her, sitting down but a fox length away from her. He was somewhat disappointed and very surprised that she was not going to continue to play. It was strange how she had gone from a harsh, proud she-cat to a more... tired one.

If anything, she was apathetic and that was all. She wanted him to leave; he could feel that much. And he wasn't doing that. Well he had a right to this place as any, yes?

"You're out here for the same reason I am, I bet," Finchpaw commented, deciding just to go out on a limb. There was nothing for him to lose.
---

"It's settled then! Come now, Jaypaw!" Mistystream did not waste time or her steps. Her swiftness took her to the area quickly though she slowed and stayed back a ways in order to be careful.

From what she saw, Crowclaw was being... Crowclaw and had been taunting another cat who she did not recognize in the least. His scent held that of Pineclan though, and so at least she knew his place of origin.

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