Alas... The third Victum

[Windchime '07]

[glow=dodgerblue,2,300]((This is VERY private... Please don't post untill either Stormstar, Frost, or I say that other members of the Clan can post or we ask you spacifically... you are all sleeping nighty-night + Remember this was BEFORE now... because I was late in getting mission #2 underway My fist litter aren't even apprentices yet so I am only about a few weeks pregnant... NO ONE KNOWS YET!!! Except Windstorm about her seccond litter))

Flash! Only a moment of silver. Flash! A vision of deep ocean blue. Flash! A flicker of fear, longing, and hate. Flash! Windstorm had appeared. Her soulful eyes were drained of all emotion, and her long pillars were schrunched close to the sodden floor. Dew layered the ground, for it was very early in the morning. The sun showed no sign of coming up and the camp was almost as silent as death.

Slowly, The silver queen slunk into a large den at the bottom of the rock. Her paws making no inprint in the sand that layered the floor. Nothing enetered her eyes as she sat there, staring at the ball of deep gray fur. Her leader... her victum... Stormstar.[/glow]

[Stormstar]

[glow=blue,4,000]One gray paw twitching, Stormstar lay in his Den. His fur was fluffed up and his claws were unsheathed. He was reliving a memory, the night when Meadowpaw, his beloved daughter, the eve of when Windstorm had first come to RiverClan as an Apprentice. The funeral had been held in secret, only Stormstar and some now-dead Elders.

Blinking open his green orbs, Stormstar saw two azure disks floating in the air. Blinking a bit, the RiverClan Leader did not recognise the cat behind them. Standing up, Stormstar stretched and sat down, addressing the cat. "What reason do you have to disturb me in the middle of the night?" His irritable voice was charateristic of Stormstar, and he was never far from getting into a bad mood.[/glow]

[Windchime '07]

[glow=dodgerblue,2,300]Windstorm flicked her tail irratably, what had he woken up? Killing was so much easier when the one you wished to kill was... well wasn't there. The stone walls in the den hugged thesilver murder tight, and let none of her merderous thoughts out. This one was different. You want to kill him Windstorm, The queen silently told herself. Remember Hollowheart? Remember how he distroyed your friendship? The queen hungrily thought of Stormstar's anger. At her first fight as Windpaw... ordering her to go home because she spoke of death to Darkfur, at her first gathering; ordering her away, When she had fled the Clan in search for Hollowheart's comfort ordering her back, her fist litter--ordering...ordering...ordering.

A hate boiled up inside her, as she remembered Stormstar's orders. Too much controll for Windstorm now. She completely discarded all memories of Stormstar's kindness and focused on his power. "I must discuss somthing with you Stormstar." she lied smoothly, feelingless eyes betraying none of her deed to come.[/glow]

[Stormstar]

[glow=blue,4,000]The voice of the cat was female, but so cold and hard, it was impossible to tell who she was. The herbs that Stormstar kept stored at the end of his Den, for Lilyfeather incase she ran out and there was no time to forage, were covering the she-cats scent with the glorious smells of rosemary, chervil, thyme, poppy, catnip and more.

"Well, go on then," Stormstar's irritation was still clear, but underneath was a indness as he loked at the she-cat, her form sillouhetted against the mouth of his Den. Green eyes glowing, Stormstar smiled, a small smile, but genuine.[/glow]

[Windchime '07]

[glow=dodgerblue,2,300]Windstorm shook herself what whas his game? "Something tragic has happened Stromstar--I don't know how to tell you..." she trailed off for effect.

Ooc|| G2G meh mommy's kickin' meh off ^^ ||[/glow]

[Stormstar]

[glow=blue,4,000]As his green eyes adjusted, and his sensitie nose picked up her scent among the herbs, Stormstar recognised Windstorm. But something wasn't right. Stormstar had not become Leader for nothing, and now the blue-gray tom could smell a rat, Windstorm was lying. "Windstorm?" His voice was curt.[/glow]

[Windchime '07]

[glow=dodgerblue,4,300]Windstorm narrowed her eyes into little azure crescents. Her tail behind her gave a slight agitated twitched before she lifted a tawny paw to nervously score her face. "Yes Stormstar?" she asked eyes thick with mock-pain. "I must tell you... but what is it?" she looked savagely at the enterance of the cave before flicking her glance back to Stormstar. Flamestar would be her new leader. she wondered if she would miss the smokey cat.[/glow]

[Stormstar]

[glow=blue,4,000]"What is it you have to say to me," Stormstar prompted, wrapping his thick-furred tail around his paws, green eyes locking onto Windstorm.[/glow]

[Vixenchaser ~ Rhapsodykit]

((I was PMed by Frost. . .))

Lifting her russet head, Vixenchaser yawned, displaying her white fangs. Shaking her head to clear it, the ginger Warrior's ears pricked as she picked up voices. Pulling herself up, Vixenchaser padded forward, clambering over a few other Warriors in the process, untill she managed to climb out into the fresh air.

A flicker of silver was moving inside Stormstar's Den. Confused, Vixenchaser squinted, trying to recognise the cat who blocked the Entrance. Realizationg hit her and suddenly Vixenchaser was running, dashing across the Camp to reach Windstorm. Stopping short of hitting the silver cat, Vixenchaser fluffed up her fur and hissed.

[Windchime '07]

[glow=dodgerblue,2,300]Dial shaking furiously, Windstorm snarled at the scarred warrior. Vixenchaser's ginger plumage was stained blue in the crooked moonlight. Evreyone and everything was washed in a blanket of errie coloring that tainted windstorm's twisted mind. Half of her was delighted to see her ex-victum--one more chance to kill her. But the other half was tightening her senses... two againsd one.

"What are you doing here?" she snarled.[/glow]

[Stormstar]

[glow=blue,4,000]Ears pricked as the hiss pierced the silence, Stormstar peered behind Windstorm and saw the form of another Warrior, younger than the other two cats. The scent told him that the she-cat was Vixenchaser. "She has perfect right to be here, Windstorm," Stormstar meowed, his voice sharp. "I will not tolerate hostility."[/glow]

[Windchime '07]

[glow=dodgerBlue,2,300]"NO! NO she does not!" the queen hissed. "The news I wish to bear to you is private--for only you and me." she stared at him somewhat savagely. Vixenchaser would not ruin her plans.[/glow]

[Stormstar]

[glow=blue,4,000]Frowning at Windstorm's disrespect, Stormstar stared hard into the silver cat's eyes. "Windstorm! I will not have my Warriors brawling like a pair of hares in march!" Stormstar admonished the disobidient Warrior. "Vixenchaser, please wait outside."[/glow]

[Windchime '07]

[glow=dodgerblue,2,300]|| It doesn't seem like Vixenchaser is verry active, so I'll post I guess. (I was waiting for her to post) ||

Her eyes flashed with half-hearted delight as she followed Stormstar into the Black complection of the den. When finally concealed in the deep shadows Windstorm looked up at her leader. All that could be seen of him was his green eyes, blazing out bright and awake at this very early hour. She dropped her own head, her plan would have to require some very vivid acting--somthing Windstorm had failed to do on her Mission a few weeks ago.

Lifting her head her deep oceanic-gray orbs were tear-stained and shimmering with sadness. "I... Stormstar It, I can't." she lifted her haunches and began to pase worridly, her heart thudding againsed her chest. Hiding the anguish and hate inside her belly; Windstorm continued to play a nervous wrek. "I have no news for you, Stormstar," she stopped pasing but looked up at him with true compassion. "I... can't... BEAR IT ANYLONGER! I came seeking comfort... my kits." she burried her face in his smokey fur.[/glow]

[Vixenchaser ~ Rhapsodykit]

Grumbling as the Leader sent her outside, Vixenchaser listened. She could barely catch the words that were exchanged, but heard Windstorm's distressed cry loud and clear. To her ears, the ears that had been raked by Windstorm's claws in a fight for her life, it sounded like a trick. Not restraining herself any long, Vixenchaser charged forward into the Den, screaming "GET AWAY FROM HIM YOU BLOODCLAN SCUM!" Stopping before the two cats, Vixenchaser explained, "Stormstar, Windstorm has commited great treachery. She-"

((Frost is coming in now, thats why I cut off.))

[Frost]

[glow=red,2,300]((HaHa, the evil twin has come!))

Snow white paws thudding on the hard earth, yellow lamplights piercing the darkness of the RiverCDlan Camp, Frost continued forward, an instinct telling her that she had to intervene with something. Slowing, Frost was in time to see the russet she-cat dissappear into Stormstar's Den.

Instantly, Frost launched herself forward, crashing through the Den to get to the Warrior who should have died a long time ago. Vixenchaser was in mid-flow when Frost stopped her, placing her ivory paw over the russet mouth, shutting the waterfall of words that had tumbled out.[/glow]

[Stormstar]

[glow=blue,4,000]"We'll find them, Windstorm, don't worry," Stormstar whispered, rasping his tongue over the Queen's silver ear. The sudden appearance of Vixenchaser was too much, and the RiverClan Leader spun round and hissed at the russet Warrior, breaking off when a silver paw reached out from the darkness and covered Vixenchaser's mouth. Springing into action, Stormstar strode forward, lashing out at the silver paw.[/glow]

[Vixenchaser ~ Rhapsodykit]

Her speech blocked off, Vixenchaser struggled against the weight of the older cat. Spinning round, the she-cat found ehrself staring into venomous yellow orbs. A sharp coldness filled her body as she gazed into them, barely noting that her tormentor's fur was thick and silver, mirroring Windstorm. Breaking the eye contact, Vixenchaser turned her head and screamed, "WINDSTORM ATTACKED ME!"

[Windchime '07]

[glow=dodgerblue,2,300]Deep azure pools blazed as her own pelt blended with her sister's, she knew instantly what her twin was doing. It's okay Windstorm... get it together. Shiningkit must come home! with thoughts of her daughter swirling in her head, she crouched down to the ground, feeling her own eyes clash brilliantly with the olive green of her leaders. 'StarClan will welcome you Stormstar,' she murmered as she get a feel for the sandy carpet in the den. 'You've been a good leader.' Before anyone could say any more, the silver queen felt her foremuscles contract and her back pillars spring. Her head lowered between two silvery shoulder blades. She landed atop the smokey tom. Her dog's teeth claws unsheathing in no time's moment. tawny leaf-patterns blurred with her swift movements, she twisted herself up; wrenching Stormstar with her so that they were sidebyside on the sandy floor. Crimson blood lapping at her jet black paws windstorm cling, the identically back tailtip swerving in the air nervously and aorrowfully. She was a murderer.[/glow]

[Stormstar]

[glow=blue,4,000]Vixenchaser was pulled out of the chamber of his Den, when she turned round and screamed the cruel truth of Windstorm. Stopping in his tracks, Stormstar spun round to fix his icey stare on the silver Queen, but rather than attack her, the smokey Leader remained where he was, unable to move. Some may say that Stormstar was merely paralyzed by shock as one of the first cats to aknowledge him as Leader turned so shockingly against the blue-gray tom.

But the truth of why he was shocked was woven in to what happened just under a year ago, on a warm night in early new-leaf. It was on that bloody night that Stormstar had first found the body of his beloved daughter, Meadowpaw. She was reaching the end of her Apprenticeship, a good Warrior and beautiful she-cat who had spent her free-time listening to legends and playing with Kits. Her own Mentor, Softstep, had been the murderer, a bloodthirsty lilac-grey she-cat, and she was exiled on that night too. It was on the morning when Softstep had been driven away that Windstorm had first made it to the Borders and been found by Stormstar and accepted into RiverClan. In his shattered soul, Windpaw was what StarClan had sent to help him in the dark time, a bright young she-cat with big prospects, identical to Meadowpaw in personality. StarClan had sent Stormstar a dream that though he had lost two cats, one would be replaced. At that moment, the smokey Leader had taken Windstorm under his wing and looked out for her, though his methods did seem a little harsh. Now he realised that it was not Meadowpaw who had been replaced, but Softstep, the cruel Warrior who ahd struck down Stormstar's daughter.

Windstorm's thundering paws were audible to the four cats present, each pound another blow to the RiverClan Leader. It was blatant to Stormstar, a cat of many battles, that if Windstorm should hit him head on, there was a great possibility of breaking his neck in one move, erasing his seven lives, but instinct and his fighting spirit flared up as one and Stormstar turned away, so that Windstorm's head was aimed at his shoulder. With barely a tail length between then, the blue-grey tom's sidestep was cut short when silver connected with grey and the two cats were thrown backward. As they tumbled, the Leader felt Windstorm's claws rip at his shoulder, causing him to bleed in several places, the blood tipping her black paws and tailtip. He felt Windstorm wrench both their bodies upward, so that they should be next to each other rather than a messy heap.

Allowing himself to slip from her graps, Stormstar lay limp for a few moments, absorbing the shock and pain, both physical and mental. His fur was spattered with blood, but the blood was of both cats. During the fall, Stormstar'd claws had raked through the silver Queen's shoulders, so that they were spattered with the different blood. Suddenly, the smokey tom reared up on his back legs, slamming his massive paws onto Windstorm's flank, unsheathing his claws to rake through her skin. As his claws connected with her skin, Stormstar felt them connect with his own heart.[/glow]

[Windchime '07]

[glow=dodgerblue,2,300]Brightly burning eyes blinked shut for a moment as twin stormclouds smashed into her chassis, feeling a slight crack. Unable to sense the pain at the moment, crome body came crashing into the sandy floor, motionless. She was not black, for her eyes blinked open once more. The little seas upon her dial were filmed over in memory, or more a beloved thought.

The sun beat lovingly down upon her pelt. It was summer, about a year ago by the Windclan border. Her pelt's silvery surface was washed over cleanly. A Black form lay just infront of her. His cool pelt as sleekly lined as her own--yet slightly buffeted. The white spot on his chest regally rising and falling with his rythemic breathing. The summer heat was hardly noticable to the young she-cat. Windpaw's pallet turned, revealing youthful eyes upon her tawny-freckled face and telling of her apprenticeship at the moment. 'I beleive that following what you beleive is right... is right... no matter what... The flames inside be your guide always Hollow. If WindClan is willing and so is your zeal, hollowheart... go to where the flames take you... I hope that helped.' She murmered, lips moving swiftly yet caringly. He had replied so softly. So softly that Windpaw was unable to make it out the first time: 'When the wisest cats don't have an answer look to a kit, for they may be the wisest of all.' Hollowheart.... hollowheart.

Slipping back to reality, the silver queen remained under the scything claws, not moving but staring off into space. Pain fluttered across her eyes. A pang of Sudden realization hit her like a bullet. She had never said goodbye to the cat she had cherished as a friend. She had never--had never told him who he was to her. Windstorm Wrenched her gaze up, She had almost forgotten about the three other cats in the cavern. A tear found it's way form her oceanic orbs. She did not struggle but called out to the morning. 'HE WAS... HE WAS HIM! MY SOULGIVER... HOLLOW!' she yowled, her heart thudding crazily. 'HE WAS SHARD... HE WAS HIM!' For what the silver queen had never told her best friend, was that she saw a cat within him. Not just any cat... but that cat that had given her her soul. Holowheart had Shard within him. What made the murderer remanance this moment would remain unknown... untill Blood shatters the forest.[/glow]

[Stormstar]

[glow=blue,4,000]The strong muscles that rippled beneath his pads slumped beneath the great cat's weight. Surprised at such an easy victory, Stormstar reeled backward, searching Windstorm's body with his chips of ice. Her own pools of blue were wide, staring at something beyond the Leader's chambers and the smokey tom himself, their sparkles covered with a film of memory. "No..." Stormstar gasped, as false realisation hit his shell-shocked mind. The crack ahd reached his auds when his pillars had locked with her shoulder, but never had he thought that the struggle might end Windstorm's life. Not noticing the slight rise and fall of her flank, the smokey tom tentatively padded forward, the light tickle of his pawsteps echoing around the stone walls.

At last, Stormstar reached the body, gazing at it with unshed tears glowing in his orbs. Before he could utter his mourning, Windstorm's jaws opened and a yowl tumbled from her throat. The words were barely audible in the deafing noise, but Stormstar could pick out the names of the WindClan Warrior and the silver cat's Father, Shard. Gently, the smokey Leader's whispers tickled Windstorm's auds as he did his best to comfort the traumatised Queen. "Shush, litle one," His words were like a Queen comforting her Kit, but it was really what Stormstar had said to Meadowpaw when she had first realised her Father's secret, her Mother, Runningstream. "He'll come back, Windstorm, Holow will return eventually. He is like you, Silver One, leaving a place of pain to go to a better place, though I doubt you'll return to BloodClan. He lost his Mate, Amberwind, and commited a serious murder, but he will remember his Kits, Silverstar, and you."

((Stormy's really soft-hearted beneath the prickly outside))[/glow]

[Windchime '07]

[glow=dodgerblue,2,300]The aud-splitting crrack was indeed a broken rib, and every breath the she-cat took in was followed by an unbelivably stabbing pain. She rolled over to look into Stormstar's eyes bitterly. 'No, Stormstar... he won't' She mewed, pain swirled in the waves of oceanic blue that studded her veslage. She dragged herself to her paws, little black clouds supporting an even clouder silver disaster. Her tail dragged in the dust as she fought to get her balance. Only short and quick breaths could be taken as her diafram caused her rib-cage to swell and contract. She shuttered and suddenly burst out in tears. 'I'm supposto kill you Stormstar, But I can't!' she yowled as once again her balance was lost and her feeble body cascaded to the sandy floor. 'Hollow, told... me... never... to... be... ashamed of... my herritage.' she murmered after a split moment of silence.

|| Gah that sucked, oh well guys: there 'tis ||[/glow]

[Stormstar]

[glow=blue,4,000]The surprise that should have hit him at the news did not reach his mind, for Stormstar had not expected Windstorm to have attacked without means. Nodding slightly, the smokey Leader leant over and rasped his tongue over her aud for comfort, cyan orbs glowing in the pitch. "I guessed as much, Windstorm," Stormstar whispered softly in that same aud. "It was the other silver cat, wasn't it, the one who wrestled Vixenchaser. Who is it?"

Not waiting for an answer, the Leader smiled at the silver Quen as she excaimed what Hollow had said. "He wasn't the only one who felt that way. RiverClan will always be here for you, and Dragonheart has cherished you since you were Apprentices. Why do you think I accepted you into the Clan? I believe in you, Windstorm, you will go very far. It is entwined in the stars-" The blue-grey tom broke off before he could give away the whole secret of StarClan's Prophecy. Listening to the way his Warrior had been speaking Hollowheart's name, the tom could not help but wonder if Windstorm held a love for Hollow, stronger than her one for Dragonheart, but Stormstar was wise not to mention this.[/glow]

[Windchime '07]

[glow=dodgerblue,2,300]|| OMG I just realized that Hollow can't be gone yet in this thread >.< Gah this is so messed up because he's the one who takes Phoenixkit to WindClan... so technically he's not gone, oh well just pretend that -cough- just don't think about that hehe ||

It was true, Windstorm had secretly loved Hollowheart. She was not quite sure if it had been the love between father and kit--or love between masculine and feminine. But nonetheless when she had met Dragonheart down by the river after fleeing the camp to Hollow... she had lied. On the outside she feared what was swirling inside of her at the moment but truthfully deep down--she knew there was passion for the black warrior she had shard so much in commen with. Her memory couldn't help wandering back to her first meeting. Hollow had demanded respect from her and demanded honesty. She recalled wanting to slit his throat at the moment. A want that turned into a fire so deeply burning in her soul that she had to cross borders to be with him. A lie, a murder, another murder, a betrayal, Windstorm couldn't bear it. Her heart thumped bitterly againsed her chest little black paws laying motionless in the sand, identically pitch-hued tail-tip flickered every now and then, but no other movement shuddered her chassis. 'StarClan won't welcome me... I'll never see Hollow again,' she whispered, voice barely audible over the hisses that swirled up from her sister and Vixenchaser outside the den. 'I'll remain in BoneClan with Frost, and Rogue and, Cl--' she broke off, not wanting to mention the horrid BloodClan cat that had brutally mentored her. 'Hollow is gone Stormstar.' she couldn't help but put all the sorrow in her voice that her passion for him was very noticable. But she did still love Dragonheart, although they had not spoken in what seemed like moons. 'I attacked Brownpaw, and Vixenchaser... and I was going to kill you. I need my kits back!' she was pain in her voice. Pain so clar and audible that she watched the deep blue orbs of Stormstar disapear behind squinting lifds for a split second. 'If I get my kits back... I'll never see him again.'

|| Bleh >.< ||[/glow]

[Stormstar]

[glow=blue,4,000]((Lets just believe he has gone))

Even as the thoughts were racing through Windstorm's mind, Stormstar was mentally punishing himself for not seeing all this in the conflicted Queen. If he so claimed that the silver she-cat had given him a reason to live after Meadowpaw's death, then why was he missing so much that went through her life. The fight that the two cats had so recently ended was bringing up painful memories for the smokey tom but he was determined to sort them out, but for now, all Stormstar could do was comfort Windstorm.

"All good cats belong in StarClan," Stormstar mewed, as he stood over Windstorm. "You were blackmailed into recieving your Kits and you have been through so much, Windstorm, but you are a good cat underneath. I have not met your sister, but as she if of your blood she is a good cat too. Besides, you might eventually meet Hollow again, but this episode needs time to heal in all our hearts."

Relaxing his muscles, the RiverClan Leader slid into a sitting position as he continued to gaze at this she-cat he loved as a daughter. "If Vixenchaser wishes for a trial, I cannot stop her, for it is her right, and I do not hold control over the verdict, but it is unlikely that you will be exiled from the Clan. On to a happier subject, Hollow is a very lucky tom from what I've heard. Amberwind love him, it is blatant that you love him in some way, and I know another who loves him too."

Kneeding the earth beneath his paws with his grey-blue digits, Stormstar waited for what Windstorm would have to say at this news of trial and other news of another love for her best friend.[/glow]

[Windchime '07]

[glow=dodgerblue,2,300]A sudden rush of Jealousy flared up within the icy orbs of the RiverClan-BloodClan queen. Her deep blue orbs glistened with what humans would call tears and her long fluffy plume swayed back and forth in confuzion. She had thought the deceased Amberwind was the only one between her and her... her... father-figure. She growled and tossed her dial up to the roof of the cave. A Trial. It would be horrible. Deep within her mind's chasms she pictured it.

Cats standing all around her... hissing and snarling. Stormstar was on the rock, tryingto hide the deep wrinkles of pity that incased his entire features. Dragonheart was near him--barely hadling to look at the queen. Her pregnant belly had swullen to mass size unlike the barely visible lump she carried now. Nonetheless if she was exhiled, she would have kits to look after. Dragonheart's kits.

She knew where she would go, although it sickened her to have so much comfort in the place. Her birthplace was the only right place for her to go. She knew that her twin would take her in, quite brutally but she would. Dep inside her the small cherry orchard where Endless had birth the twins of future and Shard had birthed a Soul. That place was home enough for her exhilation. 'I will go through a trail if she wants one.' she spoke hoarsely. 'But only, if needed.' there was pain in her voice. Pain.[/glow]

[Stormstar]

[glow=blue,4,000]Suddenly, Stormstar remembered that Vixenchaser had beenn brutally removed from his Den, and the smokey tom reared upward on his hind legs, pivoted, and charged out of his Den. There was no sign of anyone outside his Den, bar a few silver hairs.[/glow]

[Windchime '07]

[glow=dodgerblue,2,300][--Gah! No muse--]

Windstorm followed, fear clutching her heart when she set gaze 'pon the hairs.[/glow]