HOME | DD

Description
An entry for ~Sonnenpelz 's contest. All the characters belong to her, except for the siamese-patterned cat (Dewstar - hopefully she's familiar by now X3) at the bottom. And nooow, here's a little story to add some voice to this scene

EDIT: This placed first in the contest! I won this super amazing drawing: [link] No words can express it's awesomness.

~~~

The moon shone down on an eerily silent forest. It was unlike all other nights of a full moon, because tonight, the four Clan leaders would not go to Fourtrees. While their deputies took their place at the Gathering, the leaders of Thunderclan, Shadowclan, Riverclan, and Windclan would have a Gathering of their own. As planned, a fifth cat would meet with them that night. This cat was the leader of an outside Clan that the central warrior Clans rarely came across. And at that moment, the fifth leader was the only creature that moved beneath the moon. Her paws trod silently over the unclaimed territory, not even stirring the fallen leaves underpaw. As she walked, the cat’s ears were perked and alert. She seemed to think that danger might appear the moment she let her guard down. In times like these, it very well could. That danger was her reason for meeting with the other leaders tonight.

Her pace slowed when she reached her destination; it was a small clearing that came into view once the treeline ended. A tumble of rocks lay in the center. It was at this pile where the lone cat sat down to rest. However, she wasn’t entirely at ease. Being so far from home - and in unfamiliar territory no less - put her on edge. So, it was only reasonable for her to leap to all fours at the sound of a rustling thicket. A well-built white she-cat stepped out of the bush into plain view. She looked down from higher ground at the leader, whose ears were now pinned back apprehensively. This newcomer was exactly the cat she had not wanted to run into first. Gathering her voice, she bowed her head to the second cat.

“Shinestar. I’m glad to see you came.” The one called Shinestar gazed down at her with ice-cold eyes and curled her lip.

“Funny. You don’t look too glad to see me here.” She flinched at that, not realizing her emotions were being expressed so openly. But instead of letting it affect her, she chose to ignore Shinestar’s remark.

“Where are the others?”

“Coming” Shinestar mewed shortly. The white cat lifted her forepaw, inspecting a set of hooked claws that caught the moonlight as she turned them. “I certainly hope that this little meeting will be worth Shadowclan’s while.” She thrust her unsheathed claws to the ground, scarring the stone she stood on. “Because I don’t appreciate being dragged into the middle of nowhere without cause… on the night of a Gathering no less.” Shinestar’s retort was edged with malice. The leader standing on the rock below her swallowed, but held Shinestar’s gaze with an equally ice-blue stare.

“I can assure you. Meeting with the other leaders tonight is completely necessary. It couldn’t wait.”

Shinestar sneered, “You’d better be sure of that. If this isn’t as urgent as you claim -”

The Shadowclan leader is cut off by a rustling noise. A muscular cat – even larger than Shinestar – shoulders his way out of the bushes edging the rock pile. “Dewstar would not have called us here tonight if it weren’t urgent. You know that as well as I do, Shinestar.”

While Dewstar blinks at him gratefully, Shinestar bares her teeth at the gray and white tom. She responds to him icily, “So nice of you to finally join us, Halfstar. Typical of a Thunderclan cat to meander.”

The Thunderclan leader eyes Shinestar calmly as he passes. “I’d like to point out that Spotstar and Clawstar aren’t even here yet. There’s no reason to be hasty.”

“Who’s being hasty?” A pale ginger tom with orange flecks slides out of the bushes. His yellow eyes dart to Shinestar, whose fur is still bristling. Halfstar turns his gaze to the smaller tom. “No one.”

Dewstar speaks up for the first time in a while to ease the tension. “Halfstar was only saying that the Riverclan and Windclan representatives had yet to arrive. But now that you’re here, I suppose we’re just waiting on Clawstar.”

The Riverclan tom snorts. “Windclan are the fastest creatures on the moor, yet they can’t even show up to a simple meeting on time.”

“Actually Spotstar,” a new, quieter voice speaks up, coming from one of the taller boulders. “I am here on time.” A cherry tortoiseshell peers out from the underbrush before splaying across the tallest rock on the pile. Spotstar gazes up and huffs haughtily, clearly hating to be proven wrong. “It’s good to see you again too, Spotstar.” The newest arrival hangs his forepaws over the edge of the rock before nodding to the cats nearest the Riverclan leader. “Shinestar, Halfstar.” His green eyes fall last on the siamese-patterned cat standing on a jutting outcrop. “Dewstar.”

Dewstar was half-surprised that the Windclan leader even remembered her name. His territory was the farthest from hers, and rightfully so, she had only met him once. At which time, he hadn’t said more than a few words to her. But then, Clawstar was known to be on the quieter side.

Halfstar breaks into her thoughts “Well, since we’re all here, I guess we can get started.”

“Yes, please do. Before we all freeze out here.” Shinestar rolls her eyes to Dewstar expectantly – she was the reason they’d been called to meet here in the first place. Dewstar clears her throat in turn.

“You can all probably guess why I called you out here.” Her gaze drifts to Halfstar. “I know it isn’t just happening on my territory.”

Spotstar leans forward skeptically. “What isn’t just happening on your territory?”

Dewstar pauses before answering. “Rouge scent. It’s everywhere. All over Rockclan.” The silence that follows drags out longer than Dewstar feels comfortable with. Had it been a mistake to rally the other leaders together? She starts to grow anxious, until Clawstar speaks up.

“I have scented these rouges myself.” He rises to his paws with urgency. “There are many of them. Several dozen at least. And they run through Windclan as well.” His next words are directed specifically at Dewstar. “I wonder if they are the same ones you’ve encountered?”

A sigh comes from across the rock pile. “My patrols have reported rouge scent as well…” Spotstar’s voice grows with defiance “Every time we think we’ve come close to the end of the trail, it suddenly veers off into another Clan’s territory.” His amber gaze turns to Halfstar. “The last time we tried to track them, their trail led into Thunderclan territory. Surely you must have scented them too?”

Halfstar dips his head, clearly having no intent to deny it. “We have. Without any luck of catching them. It’s as you said – whenever we come close, the trail crosses the border. And for you, Shinestar?” He gazes back unblinking at the white she-cat. “Has Shadowclan also scented these rouges?”

Shinestar’s gaze darts accusingly at all the leaders. “So what if we have?” Her cold eyes finally fall on Dewstar. “I still don’t see your reason for calling us here. Chatting about a group of rouges we can’t see and can’t catch isn’t going to get us anywhere.”

Dewstar nods. “It is as each of you said.” Her gaze travels over Clawstar and Halfstar. “No matter how close we get to the end of the rouges’ scent trail, we can’t catch them because they always cross over into a different territory. That’s why I called this meeting – to propose an idea” She eyes each leader, her paws rubbing the stone with uncertainty, “…but it’s a radical idea.”

Shinestar’s eyes narrow. “And that is?”

Halfstar watches Dewstar steadily. “Go on Dewstar.”

Spotstar flicks his tail-tip. “We’re listening.”

Clawstar is silent, as expected.

“At any other time, our borders serve to make us stronger. But now they weaken us; instead of keeping out our enemies, our borders prevent us from reaching our enemies. It isn’t by chance that none of us have been able to corner them - these rouges seem to know the purpose of our borders. They know that by crossing them, they’re out of reach from their pursuers long enough to stay safe.” Dewstar lets out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. “I believe that the only way to catch them is by eliminating our border laws all together.”

The reaction following her suggestion was expected. Shinestar explodes into a fit of rage. “Give up our borders?! Ridiculous! Our borders have existed since the dawn of the Clans. Ignoring their existence would be like ignoring the warrior code.”

Dewstar shakes her head. “It would only be for a short time. As soon as the rouges are captured, the border rules will go back into effect.”

“But how will we ensure that a patrol has crossed the boundary line because of the rouges?” Clawstar asks uncertainly. “How will we know they weren’t using it as an excuse? Say, to catch a rabbit that drifted out of their own territory?”

Dewstar had anticipated this question. “We could post sentries. That way we can ensure that whenever any cat crosses, it’s for the right reason.”

Now it’s Spotstar’s turn to speak. Dewstar expected another rebuke, but his answer caught her by surprise. “I think it might work.” He looks at Clawstar. “It’s not like Riverclan would want anything to do with your stringy rabbits anyway.”

Halfstar takes a step forward. “Sparing warriors to constantly patrol the border will be tough. But I’m willing to try anything if it means catching the rouges.” He lifts his head, almost in a challenging manner. “A rouge on Clan territory is a threat. But many rouges on Clan territory, especially in the numbers we’ve scented, is dangerous.”

The Windclan leader begins to shift uncomfortably. Having three cats willing to temporarily void the borders wasn’t an odd he liked. Especially since Shinestar was the only cat on his side. He nods hesitantly. “Very well… I’m not opposed to the idea.”

A feeling of relief washes over Dewstar. She hadn’t expected to sway the argument so easily. But it wasn’t over yet. Her eyes turn toward the greatest barrier. “We can’t succeed without Shadowclan’s help.” Shinestar’s eyes are now glazed over, making her expression unreadable. It is a long time before she answers.

“Fine. You are permitted on Shadowclan’s land.” She shoots a death glare at every cat within sight. “But set a single claw out of place, and the whole agreement is off.”

Always the peacekeeper, Halfstar bows his head. “Fair enough. Let it be known to your clanmates tonight about the new border rules. Each Clan is to post two warriors at their borders to ensure that they are only crossed for the right reasons."

Clawstar dips his head. Spotstar nods as well. “Agreed”.

The Rockclan leader stands tall on the edge of her rock, proud of her ability to unite Clans so different from each other to achieve a common goal. “We will catch these rouges.” Dewstar’s blue eyes burn with a determination that hadn’t been there before. “I’m sure of it now.”

Description
An entry for ~Sonnenpelz 's contest. All the characters belong to her, except for the siamese-patterned cat (Dewstar - hopefully she's familiar by now X3) at the bottom. And nooow, here's a little story to add some voice to this scene

EDIT: This placed first in the contest! I won this super amazing drawing: [link] No words can express it's awesomness.

~~~

The moon shone down on an eerily silent forest. It was unlike all other nights of a full moon, because tonight, the four Clan leaders would not go to Fourtrees. While their deputies took their place at the Gathering, the leaders of Thunderclan, Shadowclan, Riverclan, and Windclan would have a Gathering of their own. As planned, a fifth cat would meet with them that night. This cat was the leader of an outside Clan that the central warrior Clans rarely came across. And at that moment, the fifth leader was the only creature that moved beneath the moon. Her paws trod silently over the unclaimed territory, not even stirring the fallen leaves underpaw. As she walked, the cat’s ears were perked and alert. She seemed to think that danger might appear the moment she let her guard down. In times like these, it very well could. That danger was her reason for meeting with the other leaders tonight.

Her pace slowed when she reached her destination; it was a small clearing that came into view once the treeline ended. A tumble of rocks lay in the center. It was at this pile where the lone cat sat down to rest. However, she wasn’t entirely at ease. Being so far from home - and in unfamiliar territory no less - put her on edge. So, it was only reasonable for her to leap to all fours at the sound of a rustling thicket. A well-built white she-cat stepped out of the bush into plain view. She looked down from higher ground at the leader, whose ears were now pinned back apprehensively. This newcomer was exactly the cat she had not wanted to run into first. Gathering her voice, she bowed her head to the second cat.

“Shinestar. I’m glad to see you came.” The one called Shinestar gazed down at her with ice-cold eyes and curled her lip.

“Funny. You don’t look too glad to see me here.” She flinched at that, not realizing her emotions were being expressed so openly. But instead of letting it affect her, she chose to ignore Shinestar’s remark.

“Where are the others?”

“Coming” Shinestar mewed shortly. The white cat lifted her forepaw, inspecting a set of hooked claws that caught the moonlight as she turned them. “I certainly hope that this little meeting will be worth Shadowclan’s while.” She thrust her unsheathed claws to the ground, scarring the stone she stood on. “Because I don’t appreciate being dragged into the middle of nowhere without cause… on the night of a Gathering no less.” Shinestar’s retort was edged with malice. The leader standing on the rock below her swallowed, but held Shinestar’s gaze with an equally ice-blue stare.

“I can assure you. Meeting with the other leaders tonight is completely necessary. It couldn’t wait.”

Shinestar sneered, “You’d better be sure of that. If this isn’t as urgent as you claim -”

The Shadowclan leader is cut off by a rustling noise. A muscular cat – even larger than Shinestar – shoulders his way out of the bushes edging the rock pile. “Dewstar would not have called us here tonight if it weren’t urgent. You know that as well as I do, Shinestar.”

While Dewstar blinks at him gratefully, Shinestar bares her teeth at the gray and white tom. She responds to him icily, “So nice of you to finally join us, Halfstar. Typical of a Thunderclan cat to meander.”

The Thunderclan leader eyes Shinestar calmly as he passes. “I’d like to point out that Spotstar and Clawstar aren’t even here yet. There’s no reason to be hasty.”

“Who’s being hasty?” A pale ginger tom with orange flecks slides out of the bushes. His yellow eyes dart to Shinestar, whose fur is still bristling. Halfstar turns his gaze to the smaller tom. “No one.”

Dewstar speaks up for the first time in a while to ease the tension. “Halfstar was only saying that the Riverclan and Windclan representatives had yet to arrive. But now that you’re here, I suppose we’re just waiting on Clawstar.”

The Riverclan tom snorts. “Windclan are the fastest creatures on the moor, yet they can’t even show up to a simple meeting on time.”

“Actually Spotstar,” a new, quieter voice speaks up, coming from one of the taller boulders. “I am here on time.” A cherry tortoiseshell peers out from the underbrush before splaying across the tallest rock on the pile. Spotstar gazes up and huffs haughtily, clearly hating to be proven wrong. “It’s good to see you again too, Spotstar.” The newest arrival hangs his forepaws over the edge of the rock before nodding to the cats nearest the Riverclan leader. “Shinestar, Halfstar.” His green eyes fall last on the siamese-patterned cat standing on a jutting outcrop. “Dewstar.”

Dewstar was half-surprised that the Windclan leader even remembered her name. His territory was the farthest from hers, and rightfully so, she had only met him once. At which time, he hadn’t said more than a few words to her. But then, Clawstar was known to be on the quieter side.

Halfstar breaks into her thoughts “Well, since we’re all here, I guess we can get started.”

“Yes, please do. Before we all freeze out here.” Shinestar rolls her eyes to Dewstar expectantly – she was the reason they’d been called to meet here in the first place. Dewstar clears her throat in turn.

“You can all probably guess why I called you out here.” Her gaze drifts to Halfstar. “I know it isn’t just happening on my territory.”

Spotstar leans forward skeptically. “What isn’t just happening on your territory?”

Dewstar pauses before answering. “Rouge scent. It’s everywhere. All over Rockclan.” The silence that follows drags out longer than Dewstar feels comfortable with. Had it been a mistake to rally the other leaders together? She starts to grow anxious, until Clawstar speaks up.

“I have scented these rouges myself.” He rises to his paws with urgency. “There are many of them. Several dozen at least. And they run through Windclan as well.” His next words are directed specifically at Dewstar. “I wonder if they are the same ones you’ve encountered?”

A sigh comes from across the rock pile. “My patrols have reported rouge scent as well…” Spotstar’s voice grows with defiance “Every time we think we’ve come close to the end of the trail, it suddenly veers off into another Clan’s territory.” His amber gaze turns to Halfstar. “The last time we tried to track them, their trail led into Thunderclan territory. Surely you must have scented them too?”

Halfstar dips his head, clearly having no intent to deny it. “We have. Without any luck of catching them. It’s as you said – whenever we come close, the trail crosses the border. And for you, Shinestar?” He gazes back unblinking at the white she-cat. “Has Shadowclan also scented these rouges?”

Shinestar’s gaze darts accusingly at all the leaders. “So what if we have?” Her cold eyes finally fall on Dewstar. “I still don’t see your reason for calling us here. Chatting about a group of rouges we can’t see and can’t catch isn’t going to get us anywhere.”

Dewstar nods. “It is as each of you said.” Her gaze travels over Clawstar and Halfstar. “No matter how close we get to the end of the rouges’ scent trail, we can’t catch them because they always cross over into a different territory. That’s why I called this meeting – to propose an idea” She eyes each leader, her paws rubbing the stone with uncertainty, “…but it’s a radical idea.”

Shinestar’s eyes narrow. “And that is?”

Halfstar watches Dewstar steadily. “Go on Dewstar.”

Spotstar flicks his tail-tip. “We’re listening.”

Clawstar is silent, as expected.

“At any other time, our borders serve to make us stronger. But now they weaken us; instead of keeping out our enemies, our borders prevent us from reaching our enemies. It isn’t by chance that none of us have been able to corner them - these rouges seem to know the purpose of our borders. They know that by crossing them, they’re out of reach from their pursuers long enough to stay safe.” Dewstar lets out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. “I believe that the only way to catch them is by eliminating our border laws all together.”

The reaction following her suggestion was expected. Shinestar explodes into a fit of rage. “Give up our borders?! Ridiculous! Our borders have existed since the dawn of the Clans. Ignoring their existence would be like ignoring the warrior code.”

Dewstar shakes her head. “It would only be for a short time. As soon as the rouges are captured, the border rules will go back into effect.”

“But how will we ensure that a patrol has crossed the boundary line because of the rouges?” Clawstar asks uncertainly. “How will we know they weren’t using it as an excuse? Say, to catch a rabbit that drifted out of their own territory?”

Dewstar had anticipated this question. “We could post sentries. That way we can ensure that whenever any cat crosses, it’s for the right reason.”

Now it’s Spotstar’s turn to speak. Dewstar expected another rebuke, but his answer caught her by surprise. “I think it might work.” He looks at Clawstar. “It’s not like Riverclan would want anything to do with your stringy rabbits anyway.”

Halfstar takes a step forward. “Sparing warriors to constantly patrol the border will be tough. But I’m willing to try anything if it means catching the rouges.” He lifts his head, almost in a challenging manner. “A rouge on Clan territory is a threat. But many rouges on Clan territory, especially in the numbers we’ve scented, is dangerous.”

The Windclan leader begins to shift uncomfortably. Having three cats willing to temporarily void the borders wasn’t an odd he liked. Especially since Shinestar was the only cat on his side. He nods hesitantly. “Very well… I’m not opposed to the idea.”

A feeling of relief washes over Dewstar. She hadn’t expected to sway the argument so easily. But it wasn’t over yet. Her eyes turn toward the greatest barrier. “We can’t succeed without Shadowclan’s help.” Shinestar’s eyes are now glazed over, making her expression unreadable. It is a long time before she answers.

“Fine. You are permitted on Shadowclan’s land.” She shoots a death glare at every cat within sight. “But set a single claw out of place, and the whole agreement is off.”

Always the peacekeeper, Halfstar bows his head. “Fair enough. Let it be known to your clanmates tonight about the new border rules. Each Clan is to post two warriors at their borders to ensure that they are only crossed for the right reasons."

Clawstar dips his head. Spotstar nods as well. “Agreed”.

The Rockclan leader stands tall on the edge of her rock, proud of her ability to unite Clans so different from each other to achieve a common goal. “We will catch these rouges.” Dewstar’s blue eyes burn with a determination that hadn’t been there before. “I’m sure of it now.”