{Smothered!} [o]

[Shadow Da Smiffster]

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[atrb=background,http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p30/shadowolfdemon/Middle.jpg] The morning was still dark, the sun having not yet risen from its sleeping position under the mountains. In the distance, the tops of city buildings could be seen, and a breeze carried the scent of the warriors of the Clans past to the one lonely Feline making his way out of his hollow. Over the years, Silentstar had defended this place with all his being and soul, but his pride in his home was beginning to diminish. It was hard to keep up the age old tradition of protecting the boarders when there things had been going so... well. Not only that, but things were much more solemn around here, now that her age life had settled into an ordinary routine for the leader. Perhaps the loneliness of the silence he'd vowed to take was at last getting to the tom. A sigh escaped Silentstar's maw as he stared up at the horizon expectantly. Once again, insomnia had struck him late in the night, and so Silentstar did what he did best: run. He ran around the length of his territory many times in the hopes that he could at least find something living, but not even prey was present that this morning, leaving the tom not only tired and lonely, but hungry. Thankfully, Silentstar knew there was enough prey in the fresh kill pile that would satisfy him later and the Clan later. Another sigh and a few minutes later, and finally the sun rose over the mountains, sending warm rays of light that reached passed the treetops to Silentstar's fur. He closed his eyes in bliss, wondering if anyone else would ever be able to feel this kind of peace with him ever in his life, or if he was doomed to die alone. Even his few friends were much too different from him to truly understand how he felt most of the time. Understandable, for a character like Silentstar anyway.... A strong wind picked up, sending Silentstar out of his trance and crashing back down into reality. There was a strong scent of something foul in the air, no doubt coming from one of the boarders. Grimacing, Silentstar stood up, and wandered towards the source of of the rancid scent, wondering what it could be. Soon enough, if the strong smell wasn't enough to alert him, the sight of a rotting carcass would. What in the... The carcass was not of a cat, but of a bird. A large one, but it was shredded into so many pieces, that Silentstar could not figure out what species it was. Still, the sight sent shivers down his spine. Was it StarClan sending him an omen, or was it just nature playing its role of life and death? Silentstar took a seat a few feet away from the dead animal, breathing in its scent again. No, it was not natural. Something had poisoned this bird, and then when it fell to the ground, unable to fly, something else had tried to eat it. The smell of illness was strong on this bird. How to dispose of it? Silentstar thought as the sun rose higher into the sky. I'll be damned if the vultures from BlazeClan fly over here because of its rotting smell! OOC: Excuse my fail of a posting table. I'm working on figuring out how to make these things. XD

[Acez!]

GREYCLOUD

'It was the beginning of any other dream for Greycloud. The normality of her dreams began, watching from afar. She was an apprentice, but if it was when Cloudpaw was dead or alive in the time of this hunt, Greycloud didn't know. She tried not to let it badger her either. She stalked along the forest floor, looking. Looking for something but she didn't know what. Perhaps prey? Yes, prey for her clan. She nodded her head as if to confirm her doubts, before trekking forward with new-found energy. She flicked her silver ears as the tiny song of a bird appeared above. Greycloud purred to herself in satisfaction before crouching. Ready to run up the tree. But she paused. Just a hover of her tail as she bit her lip. A cloud of doubt had formed over her mind.. Have I been here before? She asked herself, narrowing her eyes in thought. And then she was falling.

At first the air around her was cool and as Greycloud frantically tried to get her footing in the darkness, she was no longer in the darkness, but in the blinding sunlight, her breath taken away by the frozen water. No.. She protested, going underwater, before using her legs to push her above the frigid water and into the air. Cloudpaw! She yowled, panic setting in. She could see her twin just moments away. If she could just get to her.. But her sister dived under, as the OwlClan warriors surged forward. NO! Greycloud protested, fighting the one who bit her scruff.

Hey! Watch where you're putting those paws! Someone protested when Greycloud accidentally kicked them in the head. Instantly, not even fully awake she snapped, fur bristling. Oh, shut it mouse-brain. Her voice quivered with anger and a senior warrior raised his head. Take it outside. He said softly, although in the night light, Greycloud could see his irritation. Gladly. She hissed, before stalking out of the the roots of the warriors den, muttering under her breath. She took a few uneasy breaths before looking over her shoulder.

Already, the den and the dreams that wiggled their way into their sub-conscious loomed over her head. There was nothing worse than waiting for sleep and recieving none. So Greycloud stalked away from the OwlClan camp, cursing under her breath. For StarClan's sake, the sun isn't even up. She snarled, breaking out into a run. Greycloud continued, ears flat against her skull, entering the shades, the hunting grounds of her clan. She stopped, a little winded but she exhaled as she sat down, raising her leg to scratch her ear. Greycloud paused, lowering her leg to sniff the air and grimaced. Foxdung. She swore, before heading off in the scent's direction.

Tail flicking in agitation, cautiously craning her head to see what was what. Eh? Silentstar? She mewed, eyes narrowed as she stepped forward before recoiling. She wrinkled her lips in disgust. What is that?

[Shadow Da Smiffster]

Though I've Tried To Find The Answers
To All The Questions They Ask
Though I Know It's Impossible To Go Living Through The Past

Pawsteps sounded behind the OwlClan leader, but he did not turn around to greet Greycloud. No, he already knew it was her coming. Because he rarely relied on talking to anyone in the Clan, Silentstar had become aware of the way each cat put down their feet, each movement to represent how they were feeling, because he would never ask them himself. It was this skill that he'd learned over the years that helped him rule his Clan without having to break his vow to the quiet too much.

However, he would have to respond at some point. When Greycloud asked him what it was, he dipped his head in recognition of her presence before saying, "It seems to be a dead bird. Smells of disease. It could mean trouble for OwlClan if this is contagious. We must be careful with our food, I suppose, though this is probably the work of a human, excuse me, a twoleg."

Silentstar slipped sometimes, though not often enough to confuse Clan members with his odd language mannerisms. His vast amount of knowledge that he'd obtained over the moons of his life had accumulated in the small area called his skull, and while he was a bigger cat than most, even he got his thoughts jumbled from time to time. In this case, it was probably the rancid smell and early morning hours messing him up, but a pang of worry washed through the leader as well at the carcass.

Deciding that the dead bird was better left alone instead of dragging it around and possibly getting some disease himself, he beckoned for Greycloud to follow with his massive fluffy tail. When they were several fox-lengths away from the sight and smell of the dead animal, Silentstar sat down, wrapping said tail around his front paws in a way that only felines seem to do.

The look in his eyes was clear, though he vocalized nothing. What brought this young warrior out so early? He may not be the nicest cat on the block, but each and every member of his Clan meant the world to Silentstar. He'd sooner give up a spot in StarClan than let any of them be held back and hurt, or worse, if there was such a thing. The thought itself sent bitter feelings rushing through the leader, but he suppressed them, his only movement being a wave of his tail.

I fear for OwlClan he thought. Something is just about to break the calm we've been experiencing since I took my role as leader.

[Acez!]

GREYCLOUD

Greycloud flicked her ears before finally, with a twitch of her whiskers, took a step forward, craning her neck to look over the poor bird. She stood for a moment longer, glancing at the feathers, pushed apart and ripped, as well, she didn't want to know, wriggled underneath.

As she stuck out her tongue in distaste, she followed Silentstar in silence, her anger disolving into nothing. Looks like their kind of work. She muttered, thoughts flying back to this morning.

She should have apoligized or at least dragged out the mouse-brain that hissed at her, but she didn't want to get into trouble. She was a warrior, for star clan's sake. She barely got away with that behauvior as an apprentice, what good would it do, now that she had gained her name.But still, the season was Leaf-Fall now, she couldn't go around losing her temper in once the snow hit. Although Cloudpaw often joked that her heat could melt any snow. The thought made her grin.

Once Silenstar sat down, she paused, blinking, a mixture of shock and perhaps, anger in her green eyes. The grin she was wearing on her face turned to a frown, ears flicking once more, a habit that showed her constant irritable behaviour. She looked back over her shoulder, tail curling and uncurling in thought. She felt something brush her spine, a cold claw that almost unbalanced her.

I've got a bad feeling. She muttered under her breath, before looking to the skies. She was simple warrior, her mother and sister in Star Clan. She'd like to think they watched over her, but she wasn't special. No nine lives and no complete connection to anyone important. A deeper frown set into her face. I think this is the calm before the storm. She said louder, glancing over her shoulder as she said, as though something dark and dangerous was to burst from the bushes as she spoke.