(( no one will cry over me ))

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[atrb=background,http://i53.tinypic.com/30vyq83.jpg] [scrolly:h(166),w(275),sy] It had been the average morning for the tiger. He'd woken up just before the dawn, climbed up as high as he dared into the tree to watch the sun rise. Then, just as it came up enough to filter through the trees, he'd climbed back down and padded off for his regular run of the borders, far before the border patrol woke and began their duty. His pawsteps were silent through the forest edge as he reached the first border that wasn't shared with another clan. The very one he'd promised to check daily, in fact, though he saw no scratch marks on the trees. There would be no waiting today. He did paused, however, to roll his shoulders, getting out a stiffness. He rarely bothered to stretch before he set out, and this was one of the mornings he paid for it, it would seem. With a long yawn, he stretched out and extended like a house cat waking up from a nap. Then, his ears caught the sound of voices. They were voices he didn't recognize, and he stepped closer to the border, hidden amongst the ferns. His ears perked up, listening in, just because he could. They were near his border, anyway, he had a right. He could even see them through the leaves and branches, they weren't far. Daring, really, to come so close, but he didn't worry about it. They didn't seem like they intended to cross over, they just happened to be nearby. The words were difficult to hear at first, but enough slipped through. Won't believe it... old white tigress stopped me... seemed so sad... yeah, looking for a lost cub... looked pretty old, must've been seasons ago... His head shot up at that, making the branches and ferns waver in the gust of air that came from the rapid movement. The two froze and looked over, but he didn't notice. He was already moving toward them at a rapid, uncontrolled pace. For a cat who had learned to at least hide his emotions, even if he couldn't control them, he was doing a poor job now as he barreled toward them. One ran, escaping into the bush before he tackled the second, not caring how much he hurt the other feline, just pinning it down to the ground, claws out and probably digging into the other's flesh. His eyes were desperate; he'd never thought he would even have a tangible chance of finding his mother, and this sounded so perfect that it had to be - it just had to be! His mouth gaped open to reveal his razor sharp teeth as a terrifying mix between a roar and a growl slipped out and echoed between the trees. Where?! Where was she?! He was too impatient for an answer, dragging one paw down slightly, not caring if the claws ripped gashes in this beast's fur and skin. He was a clan cat, and this was a loner or rogue coming far too close to his border. That, along with the information he potentially possessed, gave Dragonstar enough reasonable doubt to act rashly, without even thinking of the consequences. [/scrolly]

[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i54.tinypic.com/2qxq1kk.png] TO say Willowleaf was nervous was a huge understatement. She'd never broken the warrior's code before and today owuld be the first time. In fact, she'd been so antsy she'd been unable to sleep properly and had left camp before dawn. She'd run into Thunderstrike on her way out, hurriedly telling the tom that she was going out to hunt, using the darkness to hide her pale coat. He'd seemed to understand and had let he pass. Once out on the plains though, she'd veered away. She made sure to follow the scent trail of a deer, just in case someone found and followed her scent. They would think she was following a deer, chasing down a kill. Everyone knew she was a relatively poor huntress, so they wouldn't be too surprised when her scent veered away. They would just assume the deer had gotten away, which, in this case, suited Willowleaf just fine. NOW, slinking through relatively unfamiliar woodland, she kept away from the borders as she moved toward the place where Dragonstar had told her to scratch the trees when she wanted to talk. She wasn't even sure why she was doing it. Nothing terrible had happened amongst the clan but there was a gathering looming near and she was nervous about it for the first time ever. In fact, Willowleaf was thinking about asking Blackstar if he'd let her go. She wanted to surprise Dragonstar but after so many days she'd begun to feel unsure, her resolve crumbling to dust with the barest touch. JUST as Willowleaf was nearing the area she heard the sound of crashing in the undergrowth and muffled growls followed by the sound of running paws. Coming to a halt, Willowleaf scented the air just a moment before a lone tiger cane barreling through the undergrowth. The male saw her, eyes lit up with fear. A growl rumbled from him and before Willowleaf could react, he lashed out. Sharp claws caught her muzzle, sending her head snapping to the right. Shock wore off as soon as Willowleaf felt blood drip down her face. Letting loose a snarl, the white lioness sprang at the loner. THE pair wrestled for a few tense moments, clawing at one another and snarling. As soon as he could however, the loner wriggled out of Willowleaf's hold and continued his flight, disappearing into the undergrowth before she could even get to her feet. Staring after the male, Willowleaf stood panting hard for a moment before she heard more crashing. Another fight. Bounding through the undergrowth, ignoring the blood seeping from gashes on her muzzle and a claw marks on her shoulders and forelegs, Willowleaf followed the sounds of fighting until she came upon something she hadn't expected. "I...I..gah..I don't...kn..know!" stammered the tiger pinned under Dragonstar, Dragonstar's claws digging into his pelt, the snarling leader looming over him with a snarl in his throat and fangs exposed. RAGE was so clear in Dragonstar's eyes that Willowleaf had no doubt he would kill the loner, for it seemed the loner's response had been wrong. What was going on, she did not know. She only knew that she'd just wrestled with a frightened loner and there was another one pinned under Dragonstar's claws, no doubt about to lose his life. WITHOUT thinking, Willowleaf leaped across the clearing. In one bound she was upon the white tiger. Sinking her claws into Dragonstar's shoulders, Willowleaf lunged for his scruff and attempted to drag the tom off of the loner. Dragonstar gave a frighteningly loud snarl and whipped his head around in time to catch Willowleaf's foreleg before giving a powerful shake, loosening her grip enough for her to let go. Leaping back, Willowleaf barely dodged a swipe from the white leader. Backing off, hopping on three legs thanks to the additional gash on her leg, Willowleaf gave a roar. It was no where near the roar a male lion could muster, but it wasn't anything to sneeze at either. "DRAGONSTAR! What are you doing?!" Willowleaf demanded. Tagged;; Dragonstar Word Count;; 672 Background Song;; "Cum on Feel the Noize" by Quiet Riot Notes;; Dragonstar's in trouble!

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[atrb=background,http://i53.tinypic.com/30vyq83.jpg] [scrolly:h(166),w(275),sy] He hadn't thought as he felt something slam against him. He simply assumed it was the tiger who had ran and he had spun with snarl and teeth ready to take a chunk out of whoever was attacking him. It was only as she leaped away that he realized it wasn't another tiger, but a lion - no, lioness. He didn't think about the white coat, not at first, tumbled to the ground on his side like he was, no thanks to her. He growled again as the loner sprinted away, scratched up but alive and generally in good condition. He shot to his paws, almost about to retaliate, nothing but pure rage on his face as he spun to face her, despite the bleeding gash on his shoulder from where her claws had dug in and bowled him over. The voice and the proper look at her stopped him in his tracks, completely stunned into a shocked silence, anger dissipating for a moment as he stared, slack-jawed. It was then, as the adrenaline began to fade, that his shoulder started to sting with the pain. He ignored it though, he'd suffered far, far worse, and his anger wasn't destined to stay gone. If anything, it rebounded and came back stronger, his ears flattening so far they couldn't be seen, the fur along his back standing up stiffly, his claws still out as a scowl crossed his face, another snarl starting before he spoke instead, a growl to his words. What am I doing?! I just about had something, something I never thought I'd have, and then you came in and ruined everything! There was another growling roar, eyes flashing with the rage he usually kept hidden, rage that was now doubled because it was more than just memories, but a broken opportunity that was fresh and recent. He nearly slashed out at her, but he had just enough self-control left to not go that far, inside whirling to stalk into the forest, intent on following the poor loner. Well, initially, anyway, until he realized the wound was far worse than it felt and running was put completely out of the question by the fact he could hardly walk without a detrimental limp that would ruin any stalking opportunities entirely. Claws reached out, slashing a fern into tattered shreds. So damn close! His anger had shifted rapidly over the past few moments. Initially, at the loner for not being able to tell him where. Next had come her, for ruining whatever chance he might have had for gleaning some information from the poor tiger he'd pinned. Now, however, he placed the blame entirely on his own shoulders. He had spent so many seasons learning not to get his hopes up, and now, in that instant, for a brief moment there had been a flicker of hope. Like he had braced himself for, it had been crushed. A reminder why it was so bad to hope in the first place; things never worked out, not for him, not when he wanted them to. This time was no different. [/scrolly]

[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i54.tinypic.com/2qxq1kk.png] SHOCK rocketed through Willowleaf as she watched Dragonstar. He was beyond mad, in a true rage, or as close to a true rage as she'd ever witnessed. Not that she'd known him long, she'd only met him once before. Now on their second meeting she was already gashed up and standing on three legs. What a mess. Apparently whatever fight she had broken up had been important, vitally so, to the white-furred TigerClan leader. Willowleaf normally would feel bad about ruining something that was apparently so important, but in the moment, her rage flared up at the male. Frowning firmly at the leader, she waited until he stopped moving and hobbled toward him. She didn't want to move her front left leg too much, but limped toward him and reclined on her haunches about even with his shoulder. She made sure she saw him, or at the very least, heard her approach to save herself from possibly losing some fur. Right now, with his anger so high, she almost didn't doubt that what she was about to do would still cost her an ear, but she would do it anyway becuase if she knew anything about him at all, it was that no one had done this before when he was so angry. LEANING forward, the white lioness rested her head against his shoulder, feeling the tense muscles under his fur, smelling the foresty scents of TigerClan territory and the masculine scent all males carried. She made sure not to lean on any gashes, chosing the shoulder that held no injuries. The last thing she wanted to do was cause him physical pain on top of his evident mental pains. "DRAGONSTAR," Willowleaf said quietly, voice barely a whisper. "The loner I met...he was afraid. The loner you had pinned, he was terrified. You can't...you can't just do that to other cats. He told you he didn't know anything, the one you wanted got away long before you got your claws on that one. He was just afraid. You would have killed him." WILLOWLEAF spoke slowly and calmly, barely above a whisper. Any louder seemed impossible. The sting of the gashes in her forelegs and the deepest one on her left shoulder but Willowleaf pushed down the sensations and focused instead on the white tiger in front of her. She hadn't expected to see him today but even in his anger, he was oddly comforting. The powerful muscles under his fur felt sturdy and strong, his scent strangely comforting. It was like meeting with a long lost friend after moons and moons apart, even though she knew it hadn't been nearly that long and they weren't even really friends. Curling her tail around herself, Willowleaf's baby blue eyes gazed at the ground, head resting against Dragonstar's shoulder, willing him to be calm or even explode in rage. Exploding outward would be better than what he was doing to himself. Even if that meant he exploded at her. Tagged;; Dragonstar Word Count;; 488 Background Song;; "I'm on My Way" by Phil Collins Notes;; loveydovey moment! :P

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[atrb=background,http://i53.tinypic.com/30vyq83.jpg] [scrolly:h(166),w(275),sy] He'd seen her coming, his muscles tensing up to keep himself from moving, from spinning and and taking out his anger on her even though he was mad at himself. Every now and then, a shiver ran through his muscles as they tried to react, tried to move again, but he held them back, a simple mantra repeating over and over in his head; It wasn't her fault. His jaws clenched, a growl still slipping through, though it was quieter now, much more restrained. So very obviously restrained, fought back. However, the effort of staying so still - of keeping his injured shoulder so still in such a forceful manner - it left the leg of his injured shoulder quaking, and the pain eventually forced him to jerk it up off the ground, his body leaning slightly into the head that rested on his shoulder just to keep his balance as he shifted the weight to that sole front paw. Her words were a shocking reality. He'd known, deep down, he would have fallen prey to the savage tendencies of those who had raised him. It was something he tried so hard not to do, the thoughts alone making him almost despise himself on occasion. Still, although he had known, he hadn't truly realized it, not until the words came from her mouth and he could no longer deny them. The knowledge he had stooped to such a low spot, that he had become like the ones he hated, and he had been caught by the only one who didn't turn and run the other way, it hurt. The anger faded, for the most part, though it was still greater than normal and left unhidden. Disappointment, at himself, flickered through, though he hid that. He fell away from the contact of her head, though that didn't mean he moved away. He just let his body drop to the ground like a rock, not even flinching as pain shot through his shoulder upon impact. His eyes still watched the trail the loner had taken. I just... I didn't mean to... He stumbled with his words, knowing there was no way to make right what he had nearly done, but knowing there was an explanation for it if he could just find the right phrase, the right terms, if he could, for once in his life, say something the right way. He grasped for what he could say, completely lost on how to explain the whirlwind that had rocketed through his brain like a tornado ripped across the plains. His head was held low, shamed at his actions, though he knew if it happened again he would react the same anyway, even with hindsight. They were talking about an old white tiger, I just... I thought... It might have been her. The mother I was taken from. His voice was a soft murmur, words a fraction apart from being blurred together they were whispered so softly as his ears relaxed, still flat, but not with anger. There was a pause of dead silence from him before five more words were uttered, ever so slightly louder, but far less thought out, more blurted out before he lost the nerve to say them. Thank you, for stopping me. [/scrolly]

[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i54.tinypic.com/2qxq1kk.png] "THEY were talking about an old white tiger, I just... I thought... It might have been her. The mother I was taken from." A shiver went down Willowleaf's spine as he spoke but he tried to keep it in. She could remember, laying drenched on the riverbank as Dragonstar confessed his worry about the rogues in this region. "They tortured cubs." The words had clung to Willowleaf like frost to a blade of grass when the weather turned cold. Such a thing was unheard of by the LionClan warrior. Knowing he was one of those cubs, though he had never said it aloud, had given her respect for him though she'd never pitied him for the experience. She was sorry any cub had to live through that, but she was glad that he had. Dragonstar may be gruff and mean to others but he wasn't so bad when you got to know him. She'd met him twice and been injured by him once. Regardless, Willowleaf knew she'd leap into a fight again for him. He thanked her, thanked her for doing something that she would do again if the chance arose. LOOKING at the sad tom as he slumped on the ground, Willowleaf smiled sadly, blue eyes half closed . Strange, how attached she was to him already. It was against the warrior code, but she knew she would jump into a million more fights for him. She had one life, he had nine. She would lose one to save him, from an enemy, from his clan, from himself. The revelation hit Willowleaf like a lightning strike but it didn't drive her away from him, though it made her smile that much sadder. It would never work out. She was LionClan and wouldn't always be there the next time his rage was out of control. TigerClan's finest warriors would run in fright and the only one that would run to him would be all the way in LionClan territory, unaware anything had changed. It was a sad, lonely thought. SINKING down to lay beside him, Willowleaf rested her head just behind his shoulders where the were no gashes breaking the black and white fur. For moments, minutes, hours, she was quiet. She didn't know what to say to him so she just looked at the scenery, listening to his breathing and her own, ignoring the pain of her gashes and not even bothering to think up how she would explain them to LionClan. AT long last, she had to speak. "Never thank me, Dragonstar. But always know, I would do it again. I won't let you hurt yourself." REMOVING her head from his back, she laid her head on her outstretched forepaws. She half expected him to get up and leave so, to avoid seeing it, she closed her eyes. Laying in the clearing, sunlight poured on her fur. The scarlet of her wounds stood out angrily against the white of her fur, the pale blonde washed away by the sun's rays. She let the warmth sink into her and waited for the warmth of the body next to her to get up and leave. Tagged;; Dragonstar Word Count;; 525 Background Song;; "Starstruck" by Lady Gaga Notes;; awww <3333

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[atrb=background,http://i53.tinypic.com/30vyq83.jpg] [scrolly:h(166),w(275),sy] He didn't shift as he felt the weight of her head on his back, not more than to shift the slightest bit so that his shoulder blades didn't jut up too much and dig in. He let his eyes close and let the moments passed, reveling in the silence but not counting the seconds. His mind flitted back to the wounds, the one across her nose from the running loner and the marks on her leg from himself. It didn't manage to stay there long, not at first. Her words interrupted that, telling him to not thank her. Even so, he knew he would again if this ever repeated. Her head stayed lifted from his back, and he only then peered an eye open to see she had rested it on her own paws, her own eyes closed. His eyes drifted over the red marks where his teeth had sunk in and, with no way of knowing what she expected, he shifted to stand up, ignoring the pain in his shoulder. He limped away, though with a purpose. He hadn't gone far, sticking to where he could still see her, whether she knew he was there or not. He gently swiped the paw on his injured side through what spiderwebs he could find. He didn't need the paw to get back anyway, and he hobbled back. He was no medicine cat, but he did know bits and pieces. He'd survived his fair share of injuries and knew the basic treatment of them. Settling back on his haunches, he pressed the webs, matting together now, against the wound on her leg, nose dipping down to push her head aside so he could wrap the strands around so that they would stick as he gently, as gently as he could anyway, prodded them into place. He didn't know what to look for to prevent infection, but this at least would keep the dirt out and keep it clean. In his experience, that was usually enough to help. He slid down to lay down again, head resting down on his paws as he watched her. You should see a medicine cat soon. He made no mention of his own injuries, hardly thinking of them. He was used to pushing aside the pain, working through it. He'd done so many times during his apprenticeship, much to the dismay of the medicine cat who'd rather quickly given up on trying to tell him what he could and couldn't do with whatever injury he so happened to have at the time. [/scrolly]

[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i54.tinypic.com/2qxq1kk.png] NEVER in a million moons would Willowleaf ever admit that when she felt Dragonstar shift and rise, that her heart sank in her chest. She knew that as he left, she'd never come back to this place. Well, not when he was anywhere near it at least. She'd come back and sigh and wonder what could have happened before high tailing it back to her own clan's lands. Right now though, she just laid in the sun and attempted to let it soothe her. Like all lions, she loved lounging in the sun and in any spare time she had, she would do it. The warmth was delicious but it was nothing compared to the knowledge that another cat was laying next to her. Well, had been laying next to her, but she ignored that fact. She let her mind drift until she was barely aware of the stinging on her face and the gash on her leg. She didn't try to think of excuses for Thunderstrike, doubted he'd believe any of them anyway, but just let herself rest. It always seemed like when she was around Dragonstar, she ended up exhausted. A sharp pain shot through her leg as something was pushed firmly over it making her hiss and jerk back to awareness. Blinking confused blue eyes, Willowleaf was surprised to see Dragonstar sitting beside her, gently pressing cobwebs into place on the gash on her foreleg. She had to force herself to stay still when he did the same to the gashes across her face, gashes that would probably leave scars. Thanks to her pale coat though, it was unlikely anyone would notice it once it healed. "YOU should see a medicine cat soon." THE advice brought Willowleaf out of her surprised stupor and made her scoff lightly. "Thunderstrike would never believe whatever lie I give him, it would only lead to trouble," Willowleaf informed the TigerClan leader. He could make others believe his lies, commonplace warriors weren't so lucky. "It takes more than a few scratches to keep me down." Peering up at the white tom, she saw the red marks from not only her own claws but the loner's as well. "You however, can't afford to waste a life on an infection," she told him in a slightly motherly fashion. "I don't know what you'll tell your medicine cat, but don't let those go untended. It looks like I grabbed you harder than I meant to..." IT was true, the rush of adrenaline had apparently given her a strong grip when she'd tried to haul Dragonstar off of the terrified loner. She hoped she hadn't hurt him too badly but with Dragonstar it was impossible to tell sometimes. He seemed used to pain, something she couldn't decide if it was good or not. It would be good in battle until he had so many wounds he died before he realized it. Even though he had nine lives, Willowleaf couldn't quite hold back a shudder at the thought of him, or any leader, dying in battle like that and then coming to life again as if nothing had happened. If it was one thing Willowleaf never wanted, it was to be a leader. Too much responsability for one, and too many deaths to die before finally resting with StarClan. As best Willowleaf could figure, one go around would be enough for her. Tagged;; Dragonstar <3 Word Count;; 565 Background Song;; "Suds in the Bucket" by Sara Evans Notes;; :)

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[atrb=background,http://i53.tinypic.com/30vyq83.jpg] [scrolly:h(166),w(275),sy] He couldn't stifle the soft chuckle as she jerked away initially in surprise. Had she honestly thought he'd just leave? Did she not remember his quiet, annoying persistence from last time? Soon enough, though, the chuckle faded to chuffing, the closest to a purr he would ever be able to come. When she brushed off his worry, he looked at her, unblinking. He wasn't about to let it go quite so easily. He growled softly, though it wasn't menacing like before. If anything, it's otherwise. I've got nine lives, and you but one. It is you who can't afford the infection, and I have lived through far worse before becoming a leader. Old Clouddance never could convince me to rest, and Nightshadow isn't about to get any luckier. He grumbled, though sounding amused while he spoke. Amused at the memories, of course, of the older medicine cat trying to handle the far younger Dragonpaw, so busy trying to prove himself that he'd ended up blacked out in the medicine cat's den a few times from his injuries. Nightshadow had been there too, as an apprentice. She knew there was no point arguing with the stubborn white tiger when he'd made up his mind. However, seeing a medicine cat is not an option. I will drag Nightshadow out here if I have to, and there's no need to lie; We were in a fight with loners. We just don't tell the details. It's really rather simple. It's close enough to the shared border that it could just be fighting against a common enemy. Anyway, I think they'd be shocked into silence just seeing me not biting someone's head off. So, it's up to you. Nightshadow or Thunderstrike. Yup, there it was, that stubborn streak again, but he meant well this time. He didn't always, but this time around he did and that was enough. He didn't care what she thought on the matter, she would be seeing a medicine cat even if he had to drag her, something he would do even with his injured shoulder. [/scrolly]

[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i54.tinypic.com/2qxq1kk.png] IT was odd hearing Dragonstar sounding so amused but considering his black moon only a little while ago, Willowleaf was glad to hear it, even if it was at her expense. She would never admit he was right on some level, that she only had one life and he had nine, but in her apprenticeship Brokenclaw had taught her about such things. The gangly-limbed lion had never failed to remind her that the life of a warrior was worth the life of a leader. Leaders needed to preseve their lives, especially if they were good ones, and if they refused to take care of themselves then their clanmates had to force it on them, even if it meant a clanmate had to be a sacrifice. Willowleaf would be the first to admit there were some flaws with Brokenclaw's policy, but in large she agreed. Dragonstar was a good leader and his clan needed him. No need to go wasting lives by risk of infection. She was only a warrior, one LionClan would barely notice if she went to StarClan. At least in StarClan she could watch over them and protect them. IF If Dragonstar was going to give her an ultimatum though, Thunderstrike or Nightshadow, she knew her choice. Thunderstrike wouldn't listen and it would be all over the clan in moments that she'd been in the company of Dragonstar. Nightshadow it seemed, could be intimidated into silence and kept under Dragonstar's gaze. Still...either one was dangerous when she and Dragonstar were together. Even if there was nothing going on between them, rumors would spread like wildfire and before long the plains would be burning with it, along with any accountability Willowleaf had ever had amongst her clanmates. "I will go back to Thunderstrike," Willowleaf told Dragonstar finally. "But I'll come back here tomorrow at dawn and see if you've been treated, even if I have to go to the camp itself and tell Nightshadow of your stubbornness, though I think Nightshadow's quite used to it by now. You getting infected from those wounds won't be on my paws if I can help it, especailly if it's from wounds I inflicted." SHE couldn't force him to see a medicine cat but she hoped he would humor her anyway. Wounds from the dirty claws of other cats was nothing to sneeze at. When Willowleaf had been an apprentice, there had been a border fight with one of the other clans. An apprentice named Viperpaw had hidden his injuries, Willowleaf had only known of them because she walked in on him pushing cobwebs into them. He hadn't wanted anyone to know because Thunderstrike was already so busy with the other injured warriors so, Willowleaf had snuck into Thunderstrike's den and stolen some cobwebs for him. A few days later, it had been feverfew. Infection set in and the apprentice died, even after he had been forcably taken to Thunderstrike by Willowleaf and the other appentices. DRAGONSTAR was physically stronger than any apprentice and a healthy cat, but Viperpaw had been strong and healthy as well. Infection weakened everyone without discrimination if one was a leader or one was a kit or elder or warrior. It didn't matter, it took them all if it had the chance. Willowleaf would never forget looking at Viperpaw's empty nest for days and thinking of how she could have fixed it just by tattling and telling Thunderstrike that Viperpaw had been hurt. Well, now if need be she would tattle on Dragonstar and hold him down for Nightshadow to treat if she had to, even if it meant going into the heart of TigerClan. If he threatened to do it to her, she'd do it right back to him. Tagged;; Dragonstar Word Count;; 621 Background Song;; "Forgiven" by Chris Botti Notes;; :)

[crush]

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[atrb=background,http://i53.tinypic.com/30vyq83.jpg] [scrolly:h(166),w(275),sy] He nodded. It was a fair agreement. In all honesty, he never avoided treatment. He simply made sure he was the last if it was a battle, and he never let it keep him down. He would be be forced to hole up in his den and have food and water brought to him like he was an incapable kit. Sure, he did not intend to help with hunting, but he could very well get prey from the freshkill pile himself without any help. He could walk to the river and get something to drink all on his own. No one would be stopping him from doing the simple things that, once done for you, degraded your pride. That could wait until he truly could not walk or was too old to care, neither of which applied. It's a deal then. Just give me time to show up first, I've little doubt Nightshadow will slip poppy seeds into my food so that I sleep longer. It had happened before, and he knew it would happen again. He noticed them half the time, but let it seem like he didn't. As long as he ate them, let himself get treated, and had a good long rest, he was generally left to do as he pleased despite whatever injury he had. It was an unspoken truce, one of those lovely things called a compromise. A compromise he could accept, and he didn't often accept many. He just knew that if the poppy seeds were there, he certainly wouldn't be awake just before dawn like he was today, and it would already take him longer to get here. He had to admit, although his clan may not necessarily talk to him, or perhaps even like him for all he knew, they cared enough to make sure he didn't make himself worse. It was far more than he could say for the "family" he could have known, had he not stumbled away into the forest as a cub. They were loyal to him, as he was to them, and although he wasn't sure, he was pretty certain that somewhere, deep down, each and every one of them knew he was loyal. Whether he left or stayed, no matter the circumstance, he would never betray their secrets or hurt them. He would do the same for Willowleaf, if not even more so for how reliable she was even when she shouldn't be. However, he finally turned his head to look at the gashes on his shoulder. He knew better than to lick them clean; it would only raise the risk of infection. He'd just wade through some flowing water, let the current wash them clean, while he was on his way back. For all he knew, it didn't help, but he'd never gotten an infection from the times he'd done the same thing, so there was no point in not doing it. However, even with the talk of going to see medicine cats and looking at his injuries, he didn't move to get up. He was in no hurry. It was hardly bleeding, if at all, anymore, despite how deep it was. It would probably start up again once he started through the undergrowth of Tigerclan territory, but he didn't bother thinking about that or mentioning it. No point making her worry, though he wasn't sure why she would or why he cared if she did. He just lapsed into silence, head laying back down on his paws, soaking up the sun and just resting. [/scrolly]

[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i54.tinypic.com/2qxq1kk.png] GLAD that he'd accepted her bargin with little complaint, Willowleaf nodded and offered a small, soft smile. For as grumpy and mean as he seemed, Dragonstar really wasn't that hard to deal with. His rages were straightforward, he wanted to cause something pain and when he did, he felt better and got ahold of himself. When he was pensive and thoughtful, his eyes had a faraway look despite the way he tried to guard them. Thoughts on the clan gave him a fierce gaze and, well, something would occasionally flow through his mind but Willowleaf wasn't sure what it was. Whatever it was left a soft cast to his eyes. He'd mentioned a lost mother before, she had to wonder if that was what he thought of. She knw that whenever she thought about Sunstreak, she could lay for hours and stare at the same thing and never see it. Her mother had been a wonderful, strong, bold warrior. Sunstreak had never let anyone pick on her white-furred kits, not when she could hear them anyway. As far as she was concerned, her kits were perfect. SADLY, Sunstreak had been the only one to think that. THE thought brought Willowleaf back to what she'd been planning to tell Dragonstar to begin with. She'd come out here at dawn with the full intent of sharing the news, though she didn't know why. Someone had to know the reasons why, she supposed. It semed fair. The clan would never ask him, but at least someone would know and maybe care enough to remember. "DRAGONSTAR, I...I have something to tell you," Willowleaf began quietly, head resting between her outstretched front paws. "I don't know who else to tell...I shouldn't tell anyone but I feel like I have to..." THE she-cat lapsed into silence, unsure of how to continue, blue eyes fixed on a fern across the clearing. Tagged;; Dragonstar Word Count;; 314 Background Song;; Notes;; gah parents are rushing me! jus reply to this the next one will be longer <3

[crush]

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[atrb=background,http://i53.tinypic.com/30vyq83.jpg] [scrolly:h(166),w(275),sy] Had she not spoken at all, he would have been lost in thought for hours. It had happened many a time before. The only difference was, it happened in Tigerclan's camp, where no one dared to interrupt his thoughts. They just assumed he would be angry, and so they left him be, though that was not always the case. He'd occasionally, in his head, thought about how cowardly they were in regards to him, though perhaps it wasn't cowardice at all. He never thought on it long enough to figure out. But, her words broke the silence and though it took him a moment to realize she had, indeed, spoken and he wasn't just making it up, he glanced over, ears perking a bit to catch her words better. She sounded hesitant, and that alone was intriguing, only becoming more so by the fact she thought she shouldn't tell anyone, but was intending to tell him anyway. He noticed how her eyes focused on something else, as his had that time by the cave when she'd learned his secret. The tip of his tail swung over, resting ever so lightly against her shoulder, a silent encouragement to continue, though he'd speak again a moment after. You've kept my secret. I'll gladly return the favor. She wouldn't have to worry about him telling anyone; not that he talked to too many others anyway. Even if he did, it was simple things. How the prey was running, the weather, the gathering, and such things that held no real meaning besides sharing of knowledge. There was no emotion behind those things, so he hardly counted them as true conversation. This was different, and he often held such things in the utmost confidence, even when they weren't all that unknown to the others. This would be kept in with the same fashion he kept everything in; unforgotten, but unspoken. [/scrolly]

[Bast]

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[atrb=background,http://i54.tinypic.com/2qxq1kk.png] WILLOWLEAF felt Dragonstar's tail rest against her shoulder and felt slightly more reassured. Still, she hesitated. What would it matter if she told someone? It had been a stupid idea to come here in the first place. He was the TigerClan leader! He had no time for her pitiful worries and whatnot. Willowleaf didn't doubt that he'd keep her secret, no doubt at all, but she feared why she was willing to tell him. She shouldn't even entertain such thoughts, much less confide them in the leader of an enemy clan! If Blackstar ever found out, he'd shred her for sure, if not something much worse. She should get up and go back to LionClan right now and forget about Dragonstar, forget her secret, forget everything and just go on living her life as a quiet LionClan warrioress. It wasn't a bad existance after all, she'd meet someone nice with any luck and bring cubs into the world and then continue her warrior duties until she was blind with age and retire to the elder den. DRAWING her tail around herself, Willowleaf tried to make herself content with that mental image of her future. It should be nice, having kits and then doing what every warrior before her did, growing old and sharing her wisdom with kits and apprentices. The thought of it made her oddly sick, her belly rolling at the thought. It wouldn't be a happy life but it would be a life. She'd still be ignored, she'd still be unhappy. Even if she brought kits into the world she'd still be lonely. They wouldn't look like her, they'd have the legendary golden pelt of Sunstreak and maybe the pale yellow eyes of Falconeyes. She would still be alone and just getting by with what she thought was enough, even though she knew better. TAKING a deep breath the white lioness looked down at her paws. "If I...if you someday hear at the gatherings that there's a deserter in LionClan, or that someone's gone missing...I just want someone to know that it's okay. No one in the clan would understand but...someday I think I'll leave. I don't want to live and grow old in a place where I'm not wanted..." IT was hard to make the confession but at the same time it felt relieving. Now someone knew. The clan would panic, but only because one of their own was missing. They would assume kidnapping or murder or treasion, assume she'd sold their secrets to another clan and then vanished into the nights. It was funny, the justifications they would give to their outrage. She didn't know any secrets and she wasn't important enough to kidnap or murder. Still, LionClan would say it and throw accusations around at a gathering because that was the face they had to show the world, that they cared for all clan members and would od anything to avenge them or get revenge if she was a traitor. Willowleaf almost laughed at the thought. After that gathering, they'd go back to camp and nothing will have changed except for one empty nest in the warrior's den, one less mouth to feed and one less cat to send on patrols to hunt and mark borders. Tagged;; Dragonstar Word Count;; 541 Background Song;; "Jumper" by Third Eye Blind Notes;; -pets willow-

[crush]

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[atrb=background,http://i53.tinypic.com/30vyq83.jpg] [scrolly:h(166),w(275),sy] He waited patiently, knowing if she was anything like him, it would take a while to sort out how to say it. Then she began to slowly tell him, and he listened silently as she spoke. His left his tail tip against her shoulder. So she was thinking about leaving. He couldn't say he was shocked. He thought about it too, often. He always had. He just knew that he was far less likely to leave now that he had responsibility. Still, if there was ever a chance he could find his mother, his real mother, he knew he'd leave in an instant. It wasn't like anyone would care, at least not past the annoyance their leader had up and left. I understand. It's nothing to be ashamed of. I've debated the same many times. He murmured softly. He would not judge her for something he himself had nearly done. Instead, he simply let her know that it was alright. And it was. Not all were made to be clan cats, or to fit in with them. That's why there were loners and not just rogues. If I had anything to say about it, Tigerclan would welcome you. He wasn't sure why he said it, what even made him think it would even be acceptable. They'd be on bad terms with Lionclan for quite some time, and his clan would probably take forever to accept it. Except the opportunists, who would see it as an advantage against the other clan. Not that he'd let them use her as nothing more than a source of information, or someone to tease like her clan had. At least he, unlike her leader it would seem, would try to stop them. No one could change the color of their fur, after all. [/scrolly]