[ the best part of believe is the LIE ]

[Spec]

Mistpelt stood firm against the chill around her, the clutch of winter clinging to every fiber of her being. Her gaze was strangely at peace, knowing that Starclan was the only warmth and comfort required from her to face this challenge blossoming in front of her. Sea foam eyes sharp as ever, she gazed across the faces that had gathered, assuring herself that the time was indeed right for her to take the final step against Owlstar. All that was needed now was her solemn, heartfelt speech on Owlstar's banishment, then Fogclan could taste the glory of Starclan in their lives and no longer be blinded by a heartless, sinful cat that tainted them with her fate. She was in Starclan's paws now. Inwardly, she fought a great waging battle within herself, her ears being brutally bashed by Owlstar's words. She had no sensitivity to the wrongs she had committed even though she spoke as though she held all of their starry ancestor's wisdom in her address. She forced herself not to spit in her direction when she concluded her speech, half an ear twitching in blatant response, but said nothing to her words. Her gaze alone spoke her elegant distaste for the she-cat, that much was evident. Dear Starclan, give me a sign... She prayed softly into the air, mouthing the words beneath her frozen whiskers. The seconds ticked by, lethargic in the separate time frame that followed, then, but a sudden burst of full fledged faith – the amazing happened. Without warning a draft of cold air buffeted her fur, fur reeling back from the might of the strange gale that had appeared before them. Her eyes shot open, raw energy from the touch of ice upon her skin, but strangely...it felt hot, searing that she jerked with realization. Starclan had spoken...Mistpelt could barely contain herself form joining in at dear Rownaheart's upturned voice, Fallowfoot's yowl, and Volepelt's words of truth. Turning solidly towards Owlstar, she implanted a pitiful look in her aqua glazed eyes, abashed and appearing reluctant. Her lips parted, and a melancholy sound of pity echoed forth. “Owlstar, you cannot deny that Starclan had indeed spoken...” The she-cat took a breath, inhaling a breath of liquid fire. “I'm...I'm sorry to say this, Owlstar, I truly am. I do not believe you are fit to lead us anymore. The signs are clear, I can only pray that Starclan gives me strength enough to help Fogclan regain it's former glory. I will also pray for you, Owlstar...Please, don't make this harder than it actually is. With the support of my warrior ancestors, I hereby banish you from Fogclan. May Starclan keep you.”

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[Kelly]

The cold was... Well, Owlstar knew what it was. It was just a burst of wind and snow, common enough in this frigid weather. It was a normal part of their current lives, there had been plenty of these outbursts over the last few days. What it wasn't was a sign from StarClan- if it was they had been receiving signs everyday, multiple times a day. How sinful of them to ignore it. Owlstar knew what else it was. It was just some very, very bad luck. And before she could speak against it, her ears were trapped by Mistpelt's words. Could not deny that StarClan has spoken? She very well could deny it. But she wouldn't speak, no, Owlstar wanted to hear what other words of lies Mistpelt could conjure up in the clan's time of need. I'm...I'm sorry to say this... Owlstar snorted. I can only pray that Starclan gives me strength enough to help Fogclan regain it's former glory Former glory? FogClan was still glorious- the strongest of the clans! I hereby banish you from Fogclan. May Starclan keep you. She swallowed, feeling her throat tighten by the second. She needed to speak now, to call out Mistpelt's lies, to ignore the banishment- anything. But Owlstar found she couldn't. She knew that if she looked at her clan mates now, she'd see nods of agreement. So many cats were against her now, siding with Mistpelt because she had pulled 'StarClan' out of her hat a few times. It was madness. Blind devotion to StarClan had caused this, Owlstar was sure of it. They were so blind in their following they ignore some of the most basic principles. For a moment she stared at the sky, hardly able to see it between the thick gray clouds and swirling snow. But if she could have, would she see stars twinkling in agreement? Was that why this had happened today, a day when the sky couldn't be seen? StarClan couldn't quite show themselves on a day like this. “Mistpelt,” Owlstar said after a moment, finding some relief in her throat. “If this is what you've reduced my clan to, then perhaps I want to leave.” She raised her voice, addressing all the members gathered before her, and hopefully all the members listening in. “This isn't FogClan anymore, this is a clan of blind followers led by an ignorant fool herself. I won't fight for it.” She didn't bother to look around once more after that, there was no point in her mind. After all, she had been banished, hadn't she? With her head held high, Owlstar padded softly from her spot in the crowd, maneuvering around other cats and making her way to the entrance.

[Slug]

"O-owlstar!" Willowpaw gasped, ears back and green eyes wide. He stumbled through the snow after his leader-- his true leader-- nearly falling on his face a few times in his mad attempt to catch up to the she-cat.

"I'm c-coming wit-with you!" The little silver tom declared, determination stirring in his heart. "No m-matter what the-they say, you are my l-leader. W-where y-you go, I will fo-follow!"

There was such a stubborn look on his face now-- a look of a warrior. There was no hiding from his leader-- only honesty. He would be step up, if no other would.

With that said, Willowpaw gave one last look around, then bared his teeth at Volepelt-- an expression that seemed so raw and full of hatred, it was just wrong on Willowpaw's muzzle.

"I wi-will never a-accept Mistpelt as m-my l-leader." He whispered furiously, then turned back to Owlstar, nearly colliding into her as he did so.

[Crowzerplorodon]

Blackpaw was too young for this. He wasn't a warrior yet – nevermind that he was warrior age – it wasn't his job to deal with things between leader and deputy. At his age, all he should worry about is being a good warrior, flirting with she-cats, and working toward a first apprentice. Sure he was still one himself, but his warrior days weren't far off. Blackpaw could just picture his apprentice already. Perhaps a bubbly she-cat, all eager to learn. Not quite the brightest finch in the nest, but ready and willing... Or a tom, ambitious and cocky, much like himself. A cat Blackpaw could shape, could teach, could help raise in FogClan.

A shame everything was going downhill.

Mistpelt, calling on some bodiless name, had just banished Owlstar. Banished. She couldn't do that, could she? Could she? No. She couldn't. But she did, she had, and Owlstar wasn't fighting back! Blackpaw wanted to yell, to hiss, to tell Owlstar to fight for this clan because StarClan knew what would happen if a maniac like Mistpelt got her dirty paws on it. He couldn't form the words, though, and just stared as Owlstar stood brave against her traitorous clan. In his heart, a flare of pride sprung to life. He couldn't help it. No matter what Owlstar did, Blackpaw found himself agreeing. Yeah, he was biased. But why deny his bias? FogClan surely wasn't. Damn StarClan, the apprentice cursed. If they won't set themselves as a fixed point, they ain't worth following. Mistpelt is wrong. And that was all he really could think. His brain wouldn't wrap around any other thoughts, his mouth wouldn't form other words. Briefly, he locked eyes with Silverflower. He could see his feelings reflected in the she-cat's eyes, and wanted to call out. But she tore away, gazing at Cedarpaw for split seconds, then turning back to shake her head. Blackpaw knew what to do now.

“Smooth, Willowpaw,” he said jokingly, cracking a soft smile after he caught up with the other apprentice and the leader. “Count me in.” He wasn't staying here with Mistpelt. No matter what it meant giving up he'd leave with Owlstar. That much was true. He'd give up everything to follow the leader. FogClan, Cinderpaw, that apprentice he still thought of. It all paled compared to Owlstar, compared to the real FogClan.

ooc;

Kay guys, we just need someone to post as Hailstorm, and then Owlstar + Sootpaw will go. Then the followers will be done and Mistpelt's cats can discuss ~

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[green ! [old ghost]]

Despicable. If ever that word had one pure meaning, one ultimate form of its definition, it would be this very moment. There was no doubt any where now. Mistpelt and her followers had planned this right from the start. Days had probably been spent searching for the tiniest cracks in Owlstar's exterior, picking and prodding and searching and finding. And in this one moment everything and anything they had found was pooled together in a practically unanimous voice of 'believers'. If FogClan could truly see how StarClan was now, Hailstorm hoped and prayed they would be scared. StarClan would never approve of something so heinous, something so without evidence. They were a fair and- hopefully- logical group of cats. Seeing this event for what it was would not be a difficult cats for such omnipresent beings.

From his point in the circle, Hailstorm could view each and every cat that spoke against Owlstar. Volepelt and Rowanheart being the most vocal, but Fallowfoot stood out as well. And, of course, Mistpelt led them all. Even young Falconpaw was in on it, StarClan knows why. At least his sister, Cinderpaw, seemed fairly clearheaded at the moment. Or perhaps she was just unwilling to side against Blackpaw or Falconpaw. Hailstorm had heard ties like that could kill a cat. The poor dear. She must be suffering the most out of all these cats gathered. Pulled apart by loyalties to her family and loyalties to her clan and leader. No cat should suffer that. Why couldn't Mistpelt see what she was doing to FogClan- to her own apprentice, nonetheless?

Faith, Hailstorm snorted to himself. The tom wasn't one to degrade against it. In fact, he had been a firm believer his entire life. StarClan- or some form of it- did indeed exist and he was strong in that resolve. But this was extreme. Their faith had shattered their minds. To Hailstorm, it seemed that the “believers” were only being moved by blind faith. And living that way wasn't living at all. You needed faith in other things, things you could see clearly. You needed dreams and goals and bonds. StarClan gave you none of those. It gave you belief, something to hold on to when nothing else was there. It was not a supplement for anything. Especially not fact.

And fact was, Owlstar is a brilliant leader. She had managed to pull FogClan up from roots and make it into a tree. She used emotions, logic, and pure instinct to move herself and her clan, and it worked. It had worked from the moment they settled until now. Such awe inspiring leadership had only been shattered by “StarClan”. No true thing destroyed it. Owlstar didn't do anything wrong, Mistpelt had only twisted things to make it seem so.

But that was all thought. And thought, while important, wouldn't do in this situation. The times called for action, and Hailstorm would give it. Willowpaw and Blackpaw already had, standing beside Owlstar as she bodly renounced the clan. In away, Hailstorm agreed. What was the point fighting against mindless zombies? It was a losing battle, and Owlstar would be safer away from it all. It didn't seem below Mistpelt and her followers to resort to physical harm, after all. Then again, nothing seemed below them. Not after this. But in another light, giving up the clan now would give Mistpelt the boost she would need to potentially do more harm to FogClan. His mind was torn, as Cinderpaw's probably was. Should the clan be fought for, or should it be relinquished, and allowed to find the error of its ways by itself? A tough thing to decide.

For once, Hailstorm was glad he didn't have to.

“Brave words, Willowpaw,” Hailstorm complimented, shifting out of the crowd to stand along with the two apprentices and Owlstar. “FogClan would do well to learn from you. It's obvious your head is screwed on a little...” He bent down to whisper softly, making it so only the apprentices and Owlstar could hear. “... tighter.” Straightening his back, Hailstorm made sure to address FogClan as a separate entity from the small patch of cats around him. “Who knows, perhaps one day FogClan will learn from one like you, Willowpaw.” He ended strongly, a stony gaze practically daring anyone to challenge him now. “I will go with you, Owlstar. I know where my loyalties lie. My gaze is unfogged, you could say.” He wasn't sure when he had last spoken in a manner that was meant to hurt. But it felt right now. Remaining by his leader, Hailstorm turned one last time to gaze upon his apprentice, questioning Sootpaw's very own resolve.

[Kelly]

First it was Willowpaw hustling over to her, proclaiming his loyalties in that (sort of cute) stuttering way of his. Owlstar was thankful for the apprentice's support, but moved to turn him down. The winter wouldn't be a safe place for a small apprentice without the support of a full clan. Besides, Owlstar just didn't have the patience to deal with an apprentice like Willowpaw. She wouldn't say it out loud, of course. But it was true. If she had to be exiled with a cat, she'd want it to be a cat who could take care of themselves in case they got split up. Preferably a warrior, a senior warrior. Or even a braver apprentice, just not Willowpaw.

Then Blackpaw spoke, something that didn't surprise the leader at all. In fact, probably no one was surprised that he volunteered to go with Willowpaw and herself. And, well, he was a braver apprentice. Practically a warrior, just without his given name. Which just brought up another reason she was going to turn both of them down. They were near warrior age- heck, they were warrior age- and taking them with her would delay the process even more. Then again, would Mistpelt even give these two apprentices their names when they definitely deserved them? They were obviously siding with Owlstar, after all. Perhaps they were better off out of the clan.

And finally Hailstorm spoke. Now things were looking up. With a warrior by her side, Owlstar could handle the pressures of being kicked out of FogClan. And she could definitely handle the two rowdy apprentices if Hailstorm tagged along. Her words of refusal died on her tongue, and Owlstar could only purr in contentment as she watched the three toms gather around her. “Thank you,” she said proudly, finding hope in the fact that not all FogClan cats had been lost. With one last, swift glance around camp, Owlstar trudged out, not halting until the anxious voice of yet another apprentice rang out.

“Wait,” Sootpaw said loudly, sounding completely exasperated and annoyed. He hadn't been able to handle Hailstorm's stare, and, after too much thought, gave in. He'd go with Owlstar, but only because it meant keeping his freaking mentor. Under Mistpelt's reign, he'd probably have to start training all over again with a stupid... cat. That, and, Owlstar was stronger than Mistpelt. More honorable too- Sootpaw doubted that Mistpelt would've done what Owlstar did, especially since it seemed she preferred underhanded tactics like what he had just seen. “Don't leave without me.” The small apprentice caught up quickly, determined not to be left behind by the older cats. He joined right behind Hailstorm, but ignored their lead and turned to look at FogClan once more.

It surprised him that the only thing he noticed was the difference in fur colors. “Aren't we a monochromatic bunch,” he snipped, almost feeling proud about himself. Almost.

[frosty]

Fallowfoot's face was pulled into an expression of fierce pleasure, relishing every word both Mistpelt and Owlstar uttered. Every word the deputy spoke was truth, each and every syllable laced with goodness. She raked her gaze over the ivory pointed she-cat and realized that Mistpelt was the image of StarClan from the tips of her claws to the ends of her whiskers. Her own deep blue gaze glittered with the tiniest bit of jealousy.

"I'm...I'm sorry to say this, Owlstar, I truly am. I do not believe you are fit to lead us anymore. The signs are clear, I can only pray that Starclan gives me strength enough to help Fogclan regain it's former glory. I will also pray for you, Owlstar...Please, don't make this harder than it actually is. With the support of my warrior ancestors, I hereby banish you from Fogclan. May Starclan keep you."

“If this is what you've reduced my clan to, then perhaps I want to leave. This isn't FogClan anymore, this is a clan of blind followers led by an ignorant fool herself. I won't fight for it.”

The cream tabby snarled at her former leader's words. If she wouldn't even fight for her leadership, then, yet again, Mistpelt spoke the truth when she stated that Owlstar wasn't the cat to hold the suffix -star. Her optics suddenly hardened, gleaming like a hungry fox's. She watched the large she-cat shoulder way through the crowd, a crowd that was once full of her Clanmates. But even if Owlstar decided to turn tail and decide to fight for FogClan after all, Fallowfoot was sure no one would stand behind her. The signs, after all, were clear as crystal. From the deputy's -- no, the leader now -- dream to the sudden gust of wind that sliced through the FogClan air to Owlstar's defeated words. So Fallowfoot watched, cream tabby fur spiked up with self-righteousness, as though she had been wronged by the black and white cat, as the now rogue weaved in between the members of FogClan. She wondered briefly whether keeping her head high was just mock confidence or whether Owlstar really was showing her true arrogant nature.

"No m-matter what the-they say, you are my l-leader. W-where y-you go, I will fo-follow!" Willowpaw was speaking up?

“Count me in.” That was Blackpaw.

“I will go with you, Owlstar. I know where my loyalties lie. My gaze is unfogged, you could say.” Hailstorm's mew.

“Don't leave without me.” And finally, Sootpaw.

She spat venom, swearing vengeance under her breath while flavoring the air around her with fury. Why were cats following Owlstar? Fallowfoot's night-colored eyes waned to glittering slits. Had they thistledown for brains? This was mutiny.

Then, suddenly, Fallowfoot's anger faded. No matter what she felt towards those... those deserters, Mistpelt had won. She had rallied up the support she needed from FogClan to bring her vision to life. Admiration tingled at her paws, warming the bottom of her pads despite the frigid ground. Her heart swelled at the thought of serving under such a magnificent leader.

Her jaws split and the words of chant came tumbling out. "Mistpelt! Mistpelt!"

Though the pride that branched within herself, like a seed growing into a tree, made her spirit feel light as air, Fallowfoot couldn't ignore the microscopic doubt that tingled at the back of her neck. FogClan were barely settled in as it was. Could they really handle a new leader? She blinked slowly, contemplating the whole situation. Fallowfoot would remain loyal to Mistpelt until the end, regardless of the inner turmoil of fear that would haunt her paws until the day this ended. The ivory pointed she-cat was her leader now, and she held her in the highest of respect at this point in time. What a cat Mistpelt was, but was she ready to take leadership?

Swallowing the lump of emotions that had gathered in her throat, Fallowfoot rested her gaze on the silver tabby mask that surrounded blue eyes. Her own dark blue optics were wide, blazing with admiration as she studied the face of the cat that would lead her and her Clanmates.

{{ I hope this is okay... }}