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Post by Snakey on May 5, 2013 21:44:45 GMT -5
Duskstar's whiskers quivered from the force of the Monster rumbling by. Crouched next to the Thunderpath, the massive grey tom eyed Highstones ahead of him. There his ancestors would give him a gift he could use to destroy the forest and rule it all on his own. He glanced at Shiverwing, wondering. Was she supposed to share tongues with Starclan as well tonight? Would she see what he saw? He wondered. The she-cat was capable, more so then most, and dedicated to his clan. He abhored medicine cats, thats why she stood next to him now. "Come on!" He dashed across the hot pavement, skidding to a stop on the other side, looking up at the great maw of Highstones. "Shiverwing?!" He called behind him, not turning to see if the she-cat had made it, but mildly concerned. Would he be able to find his way tonight, or would he get lost in the tunnels as he had when he was a young warrior, back when he was Duskpelt? Was she old enough to remember his return to the clans after two moons in the dark, drinking the sacred black waters of his ancestors, the ones that gave him the power to kill Midnightstar and drive Shadclaw from the territory, though no cat knew? Would Starclan judge him for this. His pelt prickled at the thought of being regetted his nine lives. He took a moment to steal a glance behind him, checking for Shiverwing.
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Post by Winter on May 5, 2013 23:13:31 GMT -5
Shiverwing A monster tore past them on the Thunderpath, ruffling her spotted coat and making her whiskers shiver, but otherwise she stood, unmoved. "Come on!" On her Leader's command, she was off, racing across the Thunderpath before coming to a full stop just behind the large grey tom. "Shiverwing?!" Though he called after her, he hadn't bothered looking back for her.
"Here sir," she answered, stepping up beside him, then glancing up at Highstones. It didn't look like too hard of a climb... from afar, but now that they were closer it looked just a bit more daunting. Shiverwing flicked her right ear in annoyance; it was nothing they couldn't handle. She'd climbed taller trees as a kit. Even so, she could feel some small amount anxiety from Duskstar. Yes, she remembered the time he'd disappeared from the Clan, for two moons he'd been lost to them. She'd headed one of the searching parties and had tracked him heading to this very place before they'd lost him. Her own heart was disquieted from the memory of it, but she knew there was nothing to fear here. Not anymore. As soon as he started to move again, she followed closely behind.
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Post by Snakey on May 6, 2013 18:13:48 GMT -5
(Bah, what is formatting?)
His pelt continued to bristle as he got closer. He stopped, shaking himself. "You've been here before haven't you?" He glanced at the odd-eyed bengal, hoping she'd say yes. Then maybe she'd be able to guide him through. Wait! What was he, mouse-hearted? He shook his head. "Just don't be afraid." He tried not the let his tail quiver as he raised it high, padded toward the darkness of the Mothermouth, engulfing himself in it's inky blackness. Here there were many treads, many prints of cats gone past. He followed this. "Stay close." He called behind to Shiverwing, hoping she would. His whiskered twitched as he sceneted. Here the scents of the clans were mingled and intertwined, the ground rubbed smooth and easy. It sloped down and to the north and he could smell fresh air coming from up ahead. His heart pounded. This was it. Now Starclan would bless him, just as they did before, long, long ago.
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Post by Winter on May 11, 2013 20:40:25 GMT -5
(Yep Formatting's lame) Duskstar asked her if she'd been here before. Shiverwing replied with a nod, "Once with the Medicine-cat when I was an apprentice-" but he cut her off with a shake of his head and told her not to be afraid. Shiverwing's whiskers twitched slightly in amusement. He should know better, it took much for her to fear, but she followed him diligently into the Mothermouth, staying close even as he ordered her to. She felt the pawprints in the path beneath them and remembered the only other time she'd been here, how scared she'd been then, though a determined young thing not to let her fear show to the Medicine-cat she'd accompanied. Now though, she was overcome by a powerful calm, if a little pride to be here once more in her lifetime. Shiverwing made sure not to speak, she had no desire to aggravate her Leader and needed to keep herself focused on the scents and sounds around them. Even if she felt nothing to fear here, she knew better than to trust other Clans and always expected the worst. 'Better safe than sorry' as the old saying went.
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Post by Snakey on May 18, 2013 10:55:35 GMT -5
((Just gonna go right into the ceremony if you don't mind? ^^)) He took his first few steps toward the Moonstone just as it lit up, sparkling brilliantly, turning his dusky gray pelt shining silver. His tail bristled, standing on end. He looked back at Shiverwing, momentarily resisting the urge to run. Then he stepped forward, into the light and dropped into a crouch next to the shining stone. Reaching out, he gently touched the cool surface with his nose and closed his eyes. His entire body went ridged and he felt as if suddenly the floor had been whisked out from under his paws. Yowling, his eyes shot open. But he wasn't in the cavern anymore.
"Hello, Duskpelt." The tom sitting before him was a deep yellow tabby, with stars sparkling on his pelt and bright blue eyes. Duskpelt looked around wildly. "Is this Starclan?" He mewed, suddenly feeling tiny and alone. He was sitting on a patch of silver grass, high and thin like the moorland and three foxlengths wide. It seemed to stretch on forever before him and behind him, but on either side of him were two forests. The one on the left was bright, in full greenleaf, and the sounds and scents of life abundant. The one on the right was dark, twisted and reeking of death. The tom infront of him sat calmly while the soon-to-be leader looked around fearfully. "Not exactly. This is the Nether, the boarder of Starclan's territory." The tom looked to the bright forest on the left, then peered to the right, his ears flicking back. "That is the Dark Forest. You have two choices, Duskpelt. Go to Starclan and they will grant you your nine lives, or go to the Dark Forest and they will grant you the strength you need to destroy the clans and rule them forever. I am here to guide you." Duskpelt flicked his tail and looked between the two forests. On one side, the Dark Forest, shadowy shapes moved through the darkness. He flexed his claws, wondering if the strength they would give would be worth his one life. Then he shook himself. No. He was the leader of Thunderclan.
"I see you've made your decision. Come." The tom stood and without waiting for Duskpelt, he leapt into the brush on the left side. Duskpelt followed him into Starclan.
"Wait up! What's your name?" The cat flicked his ear. "Thornbrook. I was medicine cat in Windclan long ago. I was with your mother, at the moment of your birth." Duskpelt's eyes widened as Thornbrook spoke, his neck fur bristling. "My mother was in Windclan?!" He exclaimed but Thornbrook shook his head. "Of course not. She was near the border when she went into labor, and I was the only cat there. I couldn't save her, but I saved you. Then I carried you into Thunderclan territory, but I went to Snakerocks on accident and an adder bit me. Imagine my surprise when I limp back into my camp, only to find out I'm already dead? And then, to see you grow from here, survive the adder bite? I've always watched over you, Duskpelt." The golden tabby shook his fur, which was sleek and glossy, it clung to him easily. They were entering a clearing with tall yellow grass and stars glittering above. "I must leave you now, but stay here, and your anvestors will come to grant you your lives." And with a dip of his head, Thornbrook was gone.
Another cat stepped out of the bushes infront of Duskstar. He was a huge dark tabby with deep yellow eyes. He padded over to Duskpelt, while other cats filed into the clearing around him. "Hello." The big tom said, standing before the younger gray one. "I am Thunderclaw. You're father. I'm here to ask you to make a promise." Duskpelt's fur stood on end, fluffing. He dipped his head, licking his lips nervously. "Do you promise to uphold the warrior code with your life, and to never betray Starclan for what they have given you, no matter how much bloodlust you have?" Thunderclaw flexed his claws, which were thorn sharp and black, just like Duskpelt himself. He nodded slowly. "Yes, I promise." Thunderclaw nodded, reaching out to touch noses with Duskpelt. "With this life I give you the courage you need to face your enemies in battle with tireless energy for your clan. Use it to help the weaker and younger and to keep your clan safe and strong for seasons to come." Duskpelt wasn't prepared for the searing agony of the first life. His vision blurred and was replaced by a burning hot reddness. His claws dug into the ground, tearing at the grass. When it subsided, Thunderclaw had taken his place among the other starry cats and was replaced by another she-cat, silvery-grey tabby and white.
"I am Silverflower, you're mother." She murmured in a sweet voice, her small white paws kneading the ground as she purred. "My son... you've become so great. With this life I give you a mother's love, to protect your clan as feircely as a mother would protect her kits." Duskpelt stretched to touche noses with the small she-cat, not expecting the white hot fury and need to protect and kill anything that got between him in his clan that surged through him. It left him gasping as she padded away. Another cat came forward, a snowy whtie she-cat with tabby patches. "Starsong!" He gasped, remembering how he'd let the medicine cat die, hating how she opposed him, taken by a fox while he watched from a tree. Now she was tranquil, smiling at him. "With this life I give you reason, use it to see where your loyalties lie and those of your clanmates." She touched noses with him and a calm, clear sensation filled him with peace and certainty.
The next was a deep ginger tabby with thick stripes. His green eyes and glossy fur seemed familiar. "I'm Cherryfur. You killed me in a border patrol with Shadowclan. With this life I give you justice, to know when to fight and when to stay at peace, so needless deaths like mine will never again occur under your leadership." Hatred rolled off of Cherryfur like a wave, consuming Duskpelt in a dismal, hopeless darkness. He blinked his eyes open to see Oak-kit, Rowanpaw's brother whom died because Duskpelt neglected to stop him from straying onto the Thunderpath. "With this life I give you the wisdom needed to train your apprentices to be warriors, and to teach you clan the love and loyalty that binds them together." The kit stretched up on his hind paws to touch noses with Duskpelt. A calming, nurturing peace spread over him, warming him down to his paws. The black kit walked back into line.
The next cat was Shrubwhisker, his first apprentice who'd died in a pointles battle against Windclan when they'd come over the border chasing a rabbit. Shrubwhisker touched noses with Duskpelt. "With this life I give you compassion, to know when to attack other clans and when to understand why they did what they did." Guilt wafted into Duskpelt's heart, guilt for all the cats they he'd caused to die, all the cats that would die because of him, guilt for where he was leading his clan. Shrubwhisker padded away and another cat took his place, a long-haired black she-cat. Terror gripped Duskpelt as he recognized Midnightstar. She padded toward him, a pleasent expression on her face when she sat down. She didn't touch his nose, but instead put her paw on his shoulder. "You killed me for your ambition, and for that I take from you your eighth life, like you took my life." Her claws scored down his shoulder, filling him with agony that pulsed straight to his heart. He opened his jaws to cry out, but there was no sound. She padded away without another look back.
Again, a cat whom he dreaded walked forward, Shadeclaw, the old deputy whom he'd driven out. "Because of you, I never took my rightful place as leader. I was driven out of your territory and again out of Shadowclan's territory, onto the Thunderpath, where I was struck. I laid, suffering, beside that retched thing for three days. With this, I take from you your nineth life, like you took mine." Shadeclaw's claws raked his other shoulder and suffering choked him with the acrid stink of the Thunderpath and a wild aching all over his body. The pain was so intense he pleaded silently for the release of death and only then did it stop. Shadeclaw took his place back among the other Starclan cats and Midnightstar stepped up again.
"I hail you now, Duskstar, and bid you to make your clan great without needless destruction and bloodshed." The Starclan cats began to chant his name, Duskstar, over and over but he was filled with an imminant dread. Rising to his paws, he bolted from the clearing.
He woke with a shock in darkness, feeling the blood from his wounds seeping into his shoulder. His paws scrambled frantically on the cold stone and he raced from the cavern, down the tunnel without a single look back for Shiverwing until he was out, into the cool night air, breathing heavily and blood oozing from his ghostly wounds.
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