Confrontation!

[Blackie]

Thymeheart trotted by the river, her white-pawed ginger legs flashing gracefully beneath her. Sweet river scents picked up by the breeze wafted around her. She took in the smells blissfully. She loved her river! The dark ginger tabby moved closer to the water, splashing it up. Her white rimmed green eyes glittered with delight. Sparkling droplets flew out behind her, soaking her fur. Purring, Thymeheart slowed down until she came to a stop and looked back over her shoulder. She sniffed with irritation. Where was her brother? They were supposed to be doing a border patrol together, but Goldburn had fallen back.
"Goldburn!" she yowled. "Goldburn where are you? Come in the water! It feels great!"

[Spook]

Shatteredmirror looked with longing at the river. It was her whole heart and being if nothing else was. She missed RiverClan with a passion, but she was a loyal cat and now she was a ThunderClanner. Nothing could change that anymore even though she wished she had been able to stay in the Clan of the River. That hope had been dashed moons ago. Looking at the scars that dotted her silver tabby pelt, she sighed. Those scars would remind her for her life why she could never go back.

~~~~

Shatterglass heard her sister sigh and could barely suppress one of her own. She knew what her sister was sighing about, but the slow release of air wouldn't help anything. Slowly, walking just on the border, the twin sisters were on a border patrol. Why Brownstar kept them on the RiverClan border was beyond Shatterglass, but she could believe it was almost testing their loyalty. They had been in ThunderClan long enough, well at least ShatteredMirror had, to not turn back. The only reason they would even think about it was because of the river. Shatter's ghostly yellow gaze swept across the expanses of the water and met her sister's bright violet orbs. They shared a knowing smile and continued along the border.

[Blackie]

A gold-bracken furred tom slipped out of a patch of reeds where the river was calmer. He lowered his head to drink, lapping up the cool liquid quietly. His sister's distant voice reached his ears, but he ignored her. What did he need to listen to her for? Sitting up, Goldburn scratched behind his ear and narrowed his amber eyes with content. Today was peaceful. His pink tongue flashed over his whiskers before his mouth stretched in a yawn. He needed a good nap, but the patrol came first. He gave his ears a good shake and stood up. His forepaws slipped before him in a luxurious stretch. A warm purr rose from the powerful young warrior as he turned his gaze ver the border. Even the ThunderClan trees were beautiful today. All green and...impossible.
Goldburn's eyes stretched as the the twin she-cats came into view. He knew he recognized them, but it was hard to tell. He glanced warily down the river to check if Thymeheart was around before fixing his gaze intently on the familiar sisters.

[Spook]

Shatteredmirror stalked through the trees, trying in vain to keep her mind on the patrol. She saw the trees break off to the small stretch of rocks beside the river. It seemed as the border finally curved to the edge of the river for the breifest moment. She trotted down to the water's edge and lapped up some water before noticing eyes on her. Looking up she saw a young, and decidedly handsome, tom. She smirked at her extra observation. Then she started when she realized who it was. Stepping one paw into the water she tried to get her brain to react again. She hadn't seen this tom since they were apprentices together. And then she had been driven out by the older ones for being a half-blood.

~~~

Shatterglass continued down the trees not trusting her soul enough to go near the water. But she felt a strong emotion coming from her sister. Suprise. Turning back she saw who her sister was looking at.

[Blackie]

Goldburn's amber eyes streched and he choked on nothing.
"Shatter....or, um, Shatteredpaw? Or, well...mousedung, who are you?"

Thymeheart splashed back down the river, a scowl marking her face. Mouse-brained brother! Where, in all the forest, was he? Grumbling, she padded ack onto the bank so she could move faster. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the flash of movement. She paused, then gasped. It couldn't be...
"Shatterpaw?"

[Spook]

"Goldpaw?" Shatteredmirror asked stupidly. Of course this was Goldpaw. And of course he wouldn't remember her name. There was always confusion when she and the sister had been Shatterpaw and Shatteredpaw. Not to mention the fact they hadn't seen eachother for moons. She felt Shatterglass slip out behind her. Stepping once more into the water, she breathed, "I'm Shattered. Or Mirror now."

~~~

Shatterglass held Thymeheart's gaze steadily with her ghost yellow one. But that wasn't who Mirror was looking at. She was looking at Gold...something now. Obviously they would have had their names changed. Shatter and her sister had been warriors for moons. She was speechless. ((Mostly because I'm braindead))

[Blackie]

ooc:lol

Goldburn swallowed, and stepped back. Confusion filled his mind. He was excited to see the sisters, but how did he deal with them? As old friends or...traitors?
"Shatteredmirror? That's neat...I'm, um, Goldburn now."

Thymeheart heard her brother's voice. After glancing quickly at Shatterpaw, she hurried to him. Pressing herself against his golden brown side, she watched with wide eyes.

[Spook]

Shatteredmirror smiled weakly, confusion filling her purple eyes. Goldburn and Thyme...paw... had been friends before they were forced out. "Thanks, Goldburn's a nice name too." There was too much to take into consideration. Each being in different clans, she had never had that experiance. And now, here were old friends and she didn't even know if they could stay that way for much longer.

~~~

Shatterglass got ahold of herself and being the sharper, more diplomatic sister, she nodded her head. "I guess its good to see you too again and since it's been awhile, I'm guessing were all warriors. Shatterglass is what I am called now." She grimaced at how formal she sounded. She hated that. Unlike Mirror who had an avengeful inside and a happy bubbly outside, she was calm and sharp appearing, with a center that was forgiving and wished for peace.

[Blackie]

Thymeheart blinked warmly at Shatterglass. It might have been a long time, but Thymeheart was too sweet natured not to be friendly.
"I'm Thymeheart now." she mewed. Lightly she swept her brother's powerful shoulder with her white-tipped tail. "Goldburn and I have missed you! What's life like in ThunderClan?"

Goldburn knew Thymeheart's gentle touch was an encouragement to close his gaping mouth and be polite. Snapping his jaws shut, Goldburn dipped his head. He wasn't used to being polite. Usually, he hurled insults across the border, but it was odd-feeling now that he was faing former Clanmates.
"Are they, um, ...nice in your Clan?" Stupid question! he hissed inwardly.

[Spook]

Shatteredmirror smiled and laughed slightly. "Nice? Well, they are our Clan mates, so I guess they are obliged to be, but yes. They are "Nice"," Shaking her head she laughed again at the tom's awkward attempt at converstation. "We are happy in ThunderClan. At least better than in RiverClan. But we miss it all the same. Especially the river." Mirror was now up to her chest in the river water, but the strong current didn't even budge the strong river-bred she-cat. She felt a paw sweep across her tail.

~~~

Nodding at her sister's words, Shatterglass swiftly stepped into the water and brushed a paw on Mirror's tail. Speaking softly, but still loud enough for the RiverClan cats to hear she said, " I know you want to go over there, but if you cross the river, you will be in their territory. You know we cant do that." Shatter's voice seemed slightly strained. How she wished she could go back.

~~~

Shatteredmirror felt anger at the small group of older warriors who had driven her out because she was a halfblood rouge. She wanted to revenge her shattered young life, but nothing could help that. "So how have you two gotten along after Shatterglass left and I was... pushed out?" She asked almost coldly.

[Blackie]

Thymeheart layed her ears back and glanced at Goldburn. The sudden cold turn in the conversation made her uneasy. She wasn't used to arguing and fighting, especially not with cats, former or not, that were her Clanmates.

Goldburn met his sisters green eyes with his amber ones. A flash of confidence brimmed thier edges. It was his turn, now. Time to fill in what Thymeheart couldn't handle.
With a proud lift of his chin, the bracken furred tom gazed mockingly at the sisters.
"We've been perfect!" he mewed, stepping into the water himself. "I had the most wonderful apprenticeship. I'm very popular with the Clan."

Despite herself, Thymeheart snorted.

[Spook]

Shatteredmirror laughed and looked over at Thymeheart. "Well, at least we know one thing stayed the same." Shaking her head she turned back to Goldburn. "Arrogance, dear. Watch out or it will come back and bite you. But it's nice to know that you're loved by your Clanmates." I wish I could say as much... She thought.

~~~~

Shatterglass smirked characteristically and added, "And what about you Thymeheart? Have you had as much success with the toms as your brother had with the femme's?" She said stressing the word success.

[Blackie]

Taken aback, Goldburn coughed and stared uncertaintly at the sisters. Okay, mabye he wasn't performing as well as usual but... success with females? He was Goldburn wasn't he? He had a reputation, he had to protect it!
"I... I'm irresistable." he murmered pathetically.

Thymeheart rolled her eyes. "Yeah, your great." She purred warmly at Shatteredmirror. "I haven't been worring about toms. I've got my brother, and thats about as much tom I can take."
There was a twinkle in her green eyes as she lowered her head and hissed in mock confidence.
"He's so full of himself!"

[Spook]

Shatteredmirror laughed at Goldburn's strut-around attitude. Well, his looks weren't bad at all, she noted inwardly laughing. Turning to Thymeheart she said. "Well, it looks like Goldburn's ego hasn't changed so, maybe he is all the tom any femme needs." She smiled at Goldburn to tell him she was just joking.

((My brain is fried))

[Blackie]

ooc: S'all right, happens to me a lot too.

Muttering, Goldburn lowered himself into a crouch. Thymeheart was tired of him? He wrapped his tail around his paws. Well what if he was tired of her and her silly new friends?
"We're not supposed to be talking to them." he pointed out stubbornly, indicating Shatterdmirror and Shatterglass with a flick of his bracken colored tail. "We should be telling them to stay off our border. You can talk at a Gathering, when no one will care. What if someone sees us?"

Thymeheart turned to her brother, her white tipped ear flicking with irritation. Glaring at him, she meowed snappily, something she rarely did.
"If your so worried, you can leave! These two are former Clanmates, I'm sure any of RiverClan would stop to say hello to them!"

[Spook]

When Goldburn said what he did, it hurt something in Shatteredmirror's heart. Her shattered heart cracked a little more. Shock rippled through her soul though she didn't let it exit into her pelt. Here she was thinking that maybe someone from RiverClan still cared about them and missed them. She was wrong. Why was she always wrong. She couldn't keep the shock and sudden pain from showing in her eyes as she looked at Goldburn.

~~~~

Shatterglass's eyes hardened. She had expected as much from the RiverClanners though it hurt. Thymeheart's objection to her brother's outburst reached deeply, but it still didn't soothe anything. Unlike her sister though, she had been ready for the rejection. "He's right though," Shatter said sourly.

~~~~

"But...," Shatteredmirror weakly exclaimed. She didn't want to leave the river and, as much as she didn't want to admit to it, the two cats who they had renewed this bond with. At least for a short time...

[Blackie]

Thymeheart turned sorrow filled eyes on the sisters. She was sensitive to pain and recognized it in thier eyes. Goldburn, she wanted to scream the words at her brother, but it wouldn't help her reputation any to let any cat see her argue with her brother.

[/i]If only you could gaurd your tongue.[/i] Sensing Shatterglass' harder emotion, Thymeheart decided to speak to Shatteredmirror.
"He doesn't mean it!" she mewed, wanting to comfort her former Clanmate. "He's just a annoyed about us teasing him! If he weren't so dumb, he wouldn't say those things." Every bit of Thymeheart longed to hurry across the river and comfort Shatteredmirro, but her paws wouldn't budge. She couldn't risk getting the four of them into trouble by crossing borders.


Goldburn's amber eyes flashed toward his sister. Excuses? She didn't normally make excuses for him. The tom glanced at the ThunderClan sisters. He had only spoken the truth, why should Thymeheart be angry with him?
"Let's go home." he hissed.

"No!"Thymeheart snapped. It took all of her control not to slash out at him. "I still want to be thier friend, even if you don't."[/size][/center]

[Spook]

Shatteredmirror jumped back from Thymeheart's sharp resonse to her brother. "Please. If it is going to drive you apart it wouldn't help to be friends with me. I dissaprove of sibling rivalry. You learn that when they're all you have left. Anyway, we have to go." She dipped her silver head to the water below to hide the river in her eyes.

~~~~~


Shatterglass wasn't affected in the least by the teary eyed words of her sister. Instead she was watching the river, her only love and friend. But it was acting strange. It was steadily speeding up and it seemed as if more debris was floating along. Suddenly a roar could be heard in the distance and it steadily grew louder. "Flash Flood!" She screeched, but it was too late. The wall of water appeared in front of them and swept all four of them away. She pushed her powerful legs upward fighting for air. She found herself being swept along and she fought to stay up. She was a swimmer and she stayed up. But she saw Shatteredmirror and Goldburn downstream. A large branch came flying through the center current and hit Shatteredmirror full on. She went under and didn't reapear. She screamed to Goldburn who had been closest. "Help her. Please, you could hate us, but PLEASE help her." Water filled her mouth again as a wave swept over her.

~~~~~

Water? Is that all? Up there! Sun! Fight for it. Don't loose it. Breathe. Wheres Shatterglass! PLease be ok. More water.

Blackness.

[Blackie]

"Flash Flood!"

No way, but it was too late for 'no ways.' Before Goldburn could jump up and get Thymeheart to somewhere safe, the river crashed down on them. Water filled his mouth, and the bracken colored tom was pushed under. Thymeheart, where's Thymeheart?! He couldn't see his sister, couldn't see anything. Blurry light shimmered above him, and Goldburn thrashed toward it.

He broke through the surface and bumped against something solid. Paws flailing, Goldburn tried to grab what he thaught was a rock. Gasping, he saw what was there instead. Shatteredmirror bobbed in the water beside him. Moe water stung the tom's amber eyes, and he had to shut them. When he opened them again, Shatteredmirror was gone.

Goldburn didn't hear Shatterglass' pleading cry. Eyes wide with fear, Goldburn instinctively dived. Paws pummeling water, Goldburn spun frustratingly slow searching for any sign of the she-cat. One of his back paws kicked something. Shatteredmirror!

Hooking his claws in her fur, Goldburn tried to drag her up. The river aided him, taking her natural wieght. Still, it was difficult. He managed to grab her scruff with his teeth. Now, in a much easier position, Goldburn pawed upward.

It was like leaping out of the water and falling back in. The splash was tremendous, but Goldburn was a RiverClan cat. Quickly, he sought shore and struck out for it. His paws touched the mud. When they were on the shore, Goldburn dropped Shatteredmirror and collapsed beside her. Breathing heavily, he looked back at the river.

"Thymeheart? Shatterglass? Thymeheart!"

[/size]

[Spook]

The water was everywhere, but somehow the former RiverClan and loner cat managed to pull herself out of the raging river. Pelt plastered against her fur, she couged out the water she had swallowed and opened her eyes. And what hit her irisis was not the sight of home. Torn up terrain, standed fish and mud are all that she saw. That and the raging, but now lower, river behind her. She saw no sign of her sister or of her two former friends.
Entering deep into herself she tried to grasp a connection with her sister, the one that told her if she was alive, but nothing was there, and that worried her more than if she could tell her sister was dead.

~~~~

Warmth. But All I see is Blackness. How can this be? Open your eyes...

Deep lilac orbs opened to the mid afternoon sunshine. Blinking quickly to wash her eyes from the water, it took a minute for them to adjust to the bright sunlight. There was no sound exept that of a gurgling river nearby. In flashes, all of her memories raced back to her, and last the pain in her back leg. She groaned and tried to stand up, but the pain in her leg drove her back down. How did I get out of the river? Shatteredmirror wondered. When her eyes caught sight of a handsome golden tom she immediatly knew. Goldburn had drug her out. "Thank you." She said softly, hoping he could hear.

[Blackie]

Goldburn searched the receding river franticly for his sister's ginger pelt. If he lost Thymeheart, he lost everything. His paws itched to jump back in the water, but a burden had been lain on him. A fair burden. No! Goldburn thaught sharply. No thinking, you're supposed to look for Thymeheart. Do NOT think! He would go in the water to find Thymeheart. He was going to, he really was, but a soft voice interupted his train of 'natural instinct.'

"Thank you."

It was a soft voice, barely audible, but it rooted him to the spot. Reluctantly, but somehow eagerly, the amber eyes turned on Shatteredmirror.

"Yeah, it's alright - I mean, uh, your... Your welcome."



Thymeheart felt rough gravel scrape against her fur. She actually hadn't been washed too far away from her original spot and was more or less unharmed. Choking on a mouthful of water, the ginger tabby sat up. After waiting a moment to clear her mind, Thymeheart looked at the river. Her eyes full of fear, she swept the green gaze over the scene. Goldburn and the ThunderClan sisters went any where in sight.

"Thymeheart? Shatterglass? Thymeheart!"

Gasping and jumping with surprise, Thymeheart was on her paws in a flash. That was Goldburn's voice!

[/size]

[Spook]

She heard a voice. It was distant and she could barely make it out, but she knew what it said. Thymeheart? Shatterglass? Thymeheart? The voice was Goldburn's. The mud stuck to her paws and she was so very tired, but she had to push onward. Tail dragging along the ground and bright yellow eyes clouded over, Shatterglass trudged through the rubble and mud to find her sister and the others.

~~~~

Amber eyes melted the purple ones. Shatteredmirror looked at her old friend and dipped her head as he stammered out a reply. Attempting to stand again she saved the sore one for last. But when she put it down she cried out in pain and fell into the water washed ground. "Goldburn, I-I think my leg is broken, could you help me up?" She didn't like admitting that she needed help, but there were times... And she didn't like sitting. At least not where she was.

[Blackie]

Great, what next? Somebody's pelt gonna fall out?

Goldburn moved without trying to stand over Shatteredmirror's leg. For the moment, Thymeheart and Shatterglass were completely forgotten. She had his full attention. Gently, he prodded the sore leg with his paw.

"Right, well, I'm no medicine cat, but your leg can't be broken because you still have to walk back to your camp. And I am not dragging you there." Or mabye he would, but she didn't need to know that yet. "I'll help you out of the river, though."

Goldburn went beside her and reached down for her scruff. His tail was slowly bristling with crackling nervousness. His teeth gently met the loose skin around Shatteredmirror's neck, and he lifted carefully. Glancing anxiously at her injured leg, the bracken colored tom moved cautiously forward. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt Shatteredmirror any more than she was. The intensity of the situation, coupled by the lightening-feeling that now bounced around in his stomach, made Goldburn shaky on his paw. They were almost out of the water, just a few more steps. Only a little farther.

"OW!" Pain rippled up his leg and Goldburn jerked his paw back from the stone that had cut it. At the same time dropping Shatteredmirror. "Ow...ow! Mouse-dung, look at my pad. There's blood everywhere and-" he paused, studying his wound carefully. Then his amber eyes widened. With a crack to reality, Goldburn poured out a rare apology.

"I am so sorry! I can't believe I dropped you! I've never drug a cat with a wounded leg before. I-I've never even drug a cat anywhere before! Especially not a ThunderClan cat who once happened to be a RiverClan cat and has vi-violet eyes? Whoa, that's different..." And that was the most mouse-brained thing you've ever said in your life.



"OW!"

Once again, Thymeheart jumped, eyes wide. "G-Goldburn?" she ventured. She couldn't see him or scent him. Padding a little farther, she caught sight of Satterglass. Calling her name, the tabby sped up to her.

[/size]

[Spook]

Shatteredmirror yelped in pain as Goldburn dropped her, but she couldn't find it in herself to blame him, no matter how cynical and unforgiving her soul was. She just sniffed and said," Thanks alot Goldburn." Then he started stammering out a long apology that started turning into some wandering of the mind and something about violet eyes. She felt her cheeks grow hot. "Its really alright, don't hurt yourself trying to help me. And anyway, I don't know anything about medicine, but I think I just pulled a muscle. Not that is going to be any better than a broken bone for the time being."

~~~~

Shatterglass once again heard Goldburn yowl something, but another sound was closer. Dead branches rustled behind her and she spun around ready to fend off an attack. "Oh! Thymeheart!" She exclaimed. "Its just you! I thought it was... I really don't know." Her air of suprise quickly wore off as the pessimisstic mask she wore set back in. "Well, at least none of us are dead, I hope. So far all I've heard are Goldburn and now you. I hope Shatteredmirror is with Goldburn...." He voice trailed off.

[Blackie]

"Pulled muscle?" Goldburn murmered distractedly, giving his cut a lick. Didn't you have a better thing to say than that stupid ramble? Violet eyes. Mouse-brain. Gingerly, he set his paw back to earth. "Look," he meowed to Shatteredmirror, avoiding looking at her. He didn't want to see her eyes. Violet eyes? Great StarClan, what a stupid thing to say! When, in all your life, have you ever even said violet? "We need to find our sisters, and then you and Shatterglass have to go home." I'll never be able to look anyone in the eye ever again. I'll be haunted by violet eyes forever, all because I had to say something stupid!

"Okay, are you staying here, or should I go look for them by myself?" Let me go alone. The last thing I want is to be around violet eyes. GAH! It won't go away!

Silently, Goldburn began to pout.



"I keep hearing Goldburn too." Thymeheart mewed. Worridly, she looked around herself. "I think he might be farther down the river. Which way do you think we should look?"

[/size]

[Spook]

Shatteredmirror could see that Goldburn was beating himself up about saying violet eyes. True, her eye color was quite strange, and personally, the subject of the eye color dillemma was quite amused, but it was a bit still childish on Goldburn's part to freak out about it in Shatteredmirror's point of veiw. Pulling herself back up from where she had fallen, she hopped over on three legs to Goldburn.
Giving his ear a quick, friendly lick, the silver cat meowed,"Go find them on your own. I have to save my leg for the hop back to camp. I'm sure they'll be around here somewhere..." The last part was said mostly to herself. She didn't expect herself to say it outloud, but she did.

~~~~~~

((Haha, we should have them go in the wrong direction. lol. Only if you want though.))

Shatterglass worridly looked around. "I think the voice was coming from upriver, but I'm not really sure. It baisically looks like a wasteland. Or at least here does..."she said.

[Blackie]

"Well, if your sure?" Somehow, Goldburn didn't like leaving Shatteredmirror alone. And he didn't want her to have to hop back to her camp. Starting to pad away, the bracken-furred tom looked once back at the she-cat. "I'll go find them," he mewed, dipping his head to her. All the haughtiness of before had been shooed away with a single realization. A realization he didn't want to accept. Coupled with a nagging thaught, it subdued Goldburn in an odd way.

"Stay here. Keep off your paw. I . . . I'll be back."



Thymeheart nodded in agreement with Shatterglass' observation. "Should we go upriver, then? Or should one of us go downriver in case Goldburn and Shatteredmirror aren't together?" The dark ginger and white warrior's mew was tight with fear. What if the river had taken her brother? Would something she had always loved and trusted be so cruel?

[/size]

[Spook]

Shatteredmirror nodded and meowed quietly, "Ok, don't go too far though. If they pass through here I don't want to have to go look for you."

~~~

Shatterglass frowned and shook her head. "No, we should stay together, we can't be seperated incase we can't find eachother again."

((Sorry, I'm so braindead XD))