As if camp could get any more boring (ALWAYS OPEN)

[Rolo]

((I don't care who or how many cats join this one. And I'm meaning into the 20s. Just join. Don't even ask. Seriously, let's have a ball and create some DRAMA. However, I tentatively plea that Miststar keeps out of this one for now. Other council members may join if they wish ;P))

Frostpaw immerged from the apprentice den wide awake, and as well groomed as always, feeling distinctly bored and somewhat fed up.

To say things weren't going very well for her was an understatement.

Fogclan was pretty bad to begin with, but now it was bad beyond belief.

Fogclan was dull. Entirely, awfully and stupendously dull. For a couple of moons now, she had watched the previously narrow-minded and deluded clan become brainless and entirely without a clue, and now even the enjoyment she had had when making the fun out of the stupidity was starting to wane. They were all entirely the same. There was no debate, because they all believed the same thing or were scared to speak against the rest, and they all spouted the same nonsense repeatedly.

Of course, Frostpaw had simply had to grit her teeth through it all. When Mistpelt vetoed Owlstar, she'd known instantly that this spelt great trouble for her and anyone who knew her, and she'd known she'd have to bite her tongue for a while. Instead, she just watched how the council acted and how the clan was effected. Now she knew a fair amount. The council was secretive, she didn't know much about their motives, but she knew how they worked, and how to irritate the tail off them.

Now she needed to test the boundaries.

Nah, scrap that. That was an excuse. Frostpaw was just really really bored. She was fed up of self-preservation and ready to go back to her normal self and actually have fun (a concept lost on the rest of her clan).

Frostpaw went and sat in the clearing, preening herself in her usual way. It was the first time in several moons that she'd not dashed out of the camp to relax somewhere and, grudgingly, do a bout of last minute hunting to bring back an 'acceptable' level of prey.

She needed something to do. Preferably, annoying somecat for her own entertainment or debating. Something that would make her smile. She didn't care about the consequences, she couldn't stand the monotony anymore.

Frostpaw smirked, getting an inkling of an idea. If the opportunity arose, she'd use it. Perhaps not today, but definitely some day. Possibly over a moon. That'd ruffle Rowanheart's feathers.

Frostpaw sat formulating that idea, waiting for the rest of her clan to wake up. She was up unusually early today (probably because she spent most of yesterday napping up a tree) and she hoped her clanmates would rise soon.[/center][/size]

[Cloud of Diamonds]

OOC: As much I hate sending Frostpaw someone who hates her (because I love her, of course) I'm sending Falconpaw with the hope that he'll get his severely annoying behind chewed off. Metaphorically speaking. Please forgive me, Rolo. :c

BIC: The twisted young striped tom's doubts from kithood were long gone. He remembered, with sneering pity for his younger self, the day he had, through Miststar, questioned StarClan. How foolish he had been. Still, he supposed it was the dangers of one of her new principles, that kits would not be taught the ways of StarClan until they were six moons old, that purity began with innocence. Of course she was right - Miststar was NEVER wrong - but he wondered if that was truly a wise decision. Then he mentally shook himself. It was sinful merely to question Miststar - because, she was, in essence, StarClan. Their living host on earth. And he would never dare question the might ones.

But here was someone who would. His amber eyes narrowed in disgust, his pawsteps slowed as he caught a whiff of evil itself. Her. PineClanner to the core - no, more evil even than that. Dark Forest to the core. He realized, for perhaps the first time in his life, the magnitude of her sin. She was no ordinary sinner; she was a minion of the Dark Forest itself. Born only to destroy them.

He must tell Miststar. But he should warn her first; it was only fair. After all, HE was a warrior of StarClan.

"Beware, evil one, for I have discovered your true nature, and now all of StarClan's wrath will crash down upon you! You have been warned!"

He then began to pad off to alert the leader.

[Pyro]

It hadn't taken Otterclaw very long to begin to wish he had gone with Owlstar. Not only because it seemed, after all she had done for the clan, the right thing to do, but thing hadn't exactly gotten better since Miststar 'rose to power'. It seemed like his sister was always watching him out of the corner of her eye-and Rowanheart too-as if the both of them had something to say to him. The only thing was, neither of them had said it. Not to mention some of Mistpelt's supporters, even those who hadn't been given the la-di-da role of being a part of her council, had been getting uppity. There was a distinct aura about the air. Something akin to triumph...but what was there to be triumphant about? FogClan had gone against their precious code and kicked out the leader who made them who they were. Otterclaw couldn't deny that Owlstar had gotten a bit lax in her duties, but that was okay as far as he was concerned. She was, after all, just one cat. Of course, no one, including himself, had seemed to think anything of it until Mistpelt came along and began her vicious nit-picking.StarClan's chosen, my ass. he thought grimly to himself. Cats could get away with a bit too much just by throwing that meaningless term around for his liking.

The brown tabby glanced around the camp with dozy eyes. He'd already gotten an 'acceptable' amount of prey for the day. His sister was quite profcient at making sure he did. He was surprised she didn't catch a bird to jare him awake with squawking every dawn. All he wanted was a nice, uninterrupted nap. Nothing too extensive, just a bit of rest. But he knew as soon as he closed his eyes a job of some sort would pop up like some unwanted centipede in his nest.

It seemed though, as his eyes locked with the arrogant Falconpaw approaching Frostpaw, sleep might not be achievable for a different reason. He smiled. It might be fun to watch Frostpaw smash the large apprentice down a peg or two with words alone. He found himself almost laughing at Falconpaw's words. Otterclaw supposed they were supposed to fill a cat with fear...but...they were so nonsensical. As if StarClan, even if they did exist, ever actually did more than just pout about cats who didn't like them and send the occasional oh-so-omnious bug on a leaf. Chuckling, Otterclaw strode over to the two apprentices, stepping slightly in front of Falconpaw to block his haughty retreat.

"Now hold on there. What's a youngin' like you know about good and evil and who is and isn't? By my reckonin', you need to see a little bit more before you can assume yourself lord and master of fates and intentions." He smiled indulgingly. "And I really don't think a bunch of pretty stars are going to care what a cat does...or what anything does for that matter. Too far away to do anything but light the night, neh?"

[Rolo]

Frostpaw grinned as the small apprentice wandered up to her, his fur sticking out in all directions with agitation like a disgruntaled hedgehog. As usual, the miniature devout, with a serious ego issue, had simply began shouting a stream of barely intelligable abuse in her direction. Why exactly, she didn't know, the little tom hadn't exactly made it obvious why he was acting in such a manner. Unless her preening herself was now 'sin' (which wouldn't surprise her, as everything fun seemed to be), she could only deduce that the very sight of her was a burr in the apprentice's pelt.

Frostpaw smirked. She didn't know whether to be delighted by the opportunity for fun, or irritated because it had been too easy. It didn't matter. She'd make the most of it, now it was here.

Her eyes glittering, she gazed up at the black apprentice, summoning words to begin a verbal game of tennis. However, she only just managed to open her mouth to reply before a brown tom strode him and offered his own reply.

Frostpaw couldn't help but chuckle at the tom's sense of humor. She had no doubt he had felt the same as her, that the tom was being completely mousebrained and entirely ridiculous. He had probably come to have some fun with her, especially since they hadn't spoken in moons in their attempt to keep a low profile. Frostpaw couldn't help but feel that this potential to irritate had now become entirely more amusing. Now she had someone to share it with.

"Otterclaw is right, Falconkit." Frostpaw purred, sending an amused and thankful glance in Otterclaw's direction, "How exactly are a few specks of light in the sky going to judge my actions? And how have I revealed my true nature?"

She pouted childishly, lowering her chin. She was going to play this role for all it was worth. She'd missed these moments these past moons.

"I didn't mean to be evil! I was just sitting here cleaning my pelt. Is that a sin?"

She frowned deeply.

"Or maybe it is. Maybe I ran my tongue along my fur too hard." She looked down at the ground, feigning deep depression. "Perhaps you've seen what I really am. That, beneath my white furred disguise, I'm actually the daughter of a badger and a fox, the embodiment of all evil.."

It wouldn't surprise her if the kit actually believed she was. He didn't seem the hardest cat to convince.

[Cloud of Diamonds]

Everything she said was gibberish. Everything. None of it meant anything. Ignore her. She is nothing but sin. He breathed hard, trying to contain himself from ripping her ears off. It wasn't allowed, even for sinners. Well, not by him. But by Miststar it was.

Despite his doubts. What if she was right? What if it was ridiculous? No. He mustn't risk punishment. Ever. He must have power.

And Otterclaw too! How dare he spout sin, and as a council member's brother, too! Poor Reedfoot. At least his sister had faith, silly though she was. But because he knew, Otterclaw would be graced with the blessing of StarClan and be purged of the darkness that had invaded his soul.

And hey, there was nothing bad about raising his status, lest they suspect /him/ of not being strong enough. In truth, he knew he wasn't. He knew StarClan was important, but he worried more about other things. He had to be better, or at least look better. He had to have power to protect himself.

He had to think like a devout.

He spat at them both. "You, Frostpaw, are punishable simply by existing! As if you didn't know you were the incarnation of the Dark Forest sent to punish us...tah! Your pretending will be stopped soon enough! And you, Otterclaw...you should be ashamed! Your sister will be terribly saddened at your heinous betrayal!"

He then hurried off to tell his leader.

[Pyro]

Otterclaw winked as Frostpaw as she thanked him with a glance. This would be very interesting indeed. He had missed Frostpaw's bouts of sarcasm...and his own skills were probably rusty. Of course, it seemed that Falconpaw was going to be more than obliging, as far as giving him material to work off of went. The apprentice didn't seem to think he needed evidence...or to even catch a cat in the action of 'sinning'. As Frostpaw said, she was only grooming herself. Mistpelt, no matter how StarClan-obsessed would hardly see anything bad in that. With no evidence against her...Otterclaw thought to Rowanheart. Her mentor would probably be less kind. The brown tom was willing to bet that her mentor would gladly shout stories of her 'wrongs' from the treetops.

Of course, much of what Falconpaw was saying was ludicrous. Maybe he'd eaten a mushroom or a bad mouse to be spouting such nonsense. Incarnation of the dark forest? Sent to punish FogClan? The warrior had never heard something so laughable in his life. If anything, Frostpaw was one of the only sane minds left in the clan.

"Simply existing is hardly cause for punishment. Why, if existing is such a crime, then I suppose we'll all be due for confessions. Us, the birds, the trees...Maybe we should give those lofty clouds a call."

He grinned as Falconpaw set his sights on him. Council's brother indeed. The only thing that did was put him under increased scrutiny. He had all but had to become a mute to stay below the radar. And Otterclaw plus silence...well. That just wasn't a stable combination. Ashamed? If anything he was irritated. As if he was supposed to fluff his chest and be proud of his sister for going all hazy-eyed with 'belief and duty'.

His grin turned wry. "My sister and I are already on less than ideal terms. Another infraction in her eyes is just another twig on the pile in mine."

[Rolo]

Frostpaw was on the brink of ignoring the little kit's belief regurgitation. She swore he was getting worse everyday, she wouldn't be surprised if he was, growing up with the deluded role models that now occupied the clan. A few moons ago, Frostpaw would have been alarmed by the fact that the lunacy was spreading, but now she was so bored by and indifferent to the complete twaddle echoed around the clan that she only felt a slight irritation.

Frostpaw knew immediately that there wasn't any point in replying to the minature devout. As soon as he'd stopped spurting gobbledygook, he'd be off, trying to find some higher up to win favour by informing them of her 'sins'. In some ways, she despised the fiery male for it, for being so easy to corrupt and brainwash, but she couldn't help but find herself... whatever the word for it was. Caring but not caring, understanding? Something like that. She... almost cared about him because she could remember doing similar things for her own mother. Saying only what she wanted her to say, doing only what she was told to do, breathing only when she was allowed to breathe. It was so easy to want some kind of attention from those you admired (no matter how despicable they really were. Frostpaw had decided that young cats simply didn't see ridiculousness when it bit them on the nose), and so, really, she could only hope that Falconpaw would realise he didn't need it one day.

Giving the apprentice half an hear, she turned back to grooming herself, not in the least fussed. Within a few minutes, the idiot had stopped spitting venom and skipped off happily, probably to tell Miststar that she'd been very naughty.

Smirking at the idea, Frostpaw looked back up at Otterclaw and grinned.

"That was mildly interesting." She purred, imitating a dull, droning tone, "Usually I enjoy antagonising believers until they bury their head under their paws and beg for mercy, but I have to admit it gets dull when they repeat the same things over and over. It's mind numbing. Maybe they're trying to get us to conform by killing our mental abilities and bringing us to their level."

Her eyes sparkled at the idea and she smirked cheekily.

She chuckled, "Ah well, it is fun hearing how evil I'm becoming. Apparantly, I've gone from a nuisance to 'Dark forest incarnate'. My mother would be horrified."

She paused for a moment, wondering why exactly her mother was preying on her mind recently. First she'd sympathised with the kit with starry mud for brains, now she was wondering how exactly her mother would think of her. Had the starclan drivel started to get to her too?

"And how might my tainted comrade be?" She forced her mind back to the conversation, "Poisoned any minds recently?"

[Pyro]

"Maybe they think they can be rid of heretics through mindless droning. Death by boredom." The tom said, chuckling. "Although, it's always fun to hear what craziness our Fearless Windbag decides to spew when she gets her 'stately' self onto the highrock."

Otterclaw snorted at Frostpaw's next words. "Your mother, my sister. I never thought I'd see the day when a mouse became a hawk. But I guess I should have seen it coming. You should have heard her the first time she talked to Mistpelt. I'm surprised her words didn't ooze honey." For all his mocking words though, Otterclaw seemed a bit hesitant. His sister was still his sister, no matter what madness Miststar instilled in the ever faithful she-cat...or was she? Though they were blood relatives, in spirit, they were two completely different entities, aside from stubbornness. In the last few days, despite her incessant rebukes, Reedfoot had all but rejected the idea that they were related. But those rebukes were no longer coming from an obsessive sister to an annoying brother. They were a superior to an insubordinate. He shook his head. He had to believe their was still some kindness, some love between them. Reedfoot was just getting a little hare-brained.

"Surprisingly, no. Have you noticed how quick those council members are to usher impressionables from us if we try to talk to them?"

[Rolo]

"Of course." Frostpaw purred, "Mistpelt's idiocy is always amusing."

She smiled softly for a moment before her smile lost its lustre. Although the change in her face was miniscule, her eyes showed concern, "But your sister's transformation... that's not so amusing. I was under the apprehension that she had a little more free thought than most of the devouts and her change in personality is undesirable. How you cope with it, I have no idea."

Her voice was cutting, blunt and insulting, yet beneath the sarcasm lay an underlying tone of worry. As much as she would love to jest and pretend that their situation was substance for jokes, she couldn't ignore that both their situations were grave. If Otterclaw's own sister was now turning away from him because of the brainwashing, things had stepped up another level. She'd expected it would, but not so soon. This and Otterclaw's comment that the impressionables were being kept away from them reminded her that they were slowly being isolated from the rest of the clan. This was bad news. If Reedfoot, passive and harmless before, vindictive and indoctrinated now, had succumbed to Miststar, how long would it take for the rest of the clan to do so? From her calculations, it wouldn't take long.

"I noticed." She murmurred, looking at him urgently, "But that doesn't mean we can't speak to them. We'll just have to be more cunning about it. And I think we're both clever enough to do that."

[Pyro]

His look soured. "Oh of course. She's all smiles for everyone else...But I've always been her twisted little project. Always the troublemaker never the orderly brother she could be proud of." Otterclaw looked toward the ground to take in Frostpaw's cutting tone. He hadn't expected his sister to be so kind to everyone else. He supposed it came from her desire for kits: impressionable followers were really no different than the innocent young ones in the nursery. it was upsetting that she couldn't muster just as much kindness for her own kin but not exactly surprising; he was quite used to it now.

"But that doesn't mean we can't speak to them. We'll just have to be more cunning about it. And I think we're both clever enough to do that."

"Camp is out, I suppose...But I suppose there's no real reason we can't find someone hunting. We can't be faulted for just running into someone on our own territory." The warrior flashed a look behind him as though making sure they weren't being watched, but after Falconpaw and sped away no one had dared come up to them yet, wary of what they might have done to warrant the apprentice going to Miststar's den. "We don't have to keep conversation to the clan though."