Post by Lightstar on Apr 4, 2010 10:17:29 GMT -5
Lightstar had already begun to smile a little at Shirunai’s eager response when a feminine voice, rippling with the heat of anger, tore through the clearing beneath the Great Sycamore, so hot that the trees might have fried at the sound of it. The ThunderClan leader felt his fur prickle and half expected to find it charred from the blast that Littlebird offered. The tabby tom turned only slightly to see the petite she-cat squaring up to him, and with her eyes fiery with rage and her pelt bristling, she looked like she was about to launch into more than just a verbal attack. The smile faltered on Lightstar’s muzzle and fell, and the pale tom’s eyes grew very wide, like bright pennies against his creamy fur.
"What is your problem?! You stand her offering acceptance and pity to this useless loner, but can't even spare a second of your time to support your own deputy?! I can't believe you would stoop that low Lightstar. I'm going after Fadedmist right now to make sure he is alright. You and this pathetic cat can do what you wish." The words were hornet stings, but instead of marring the tom’s body, the bit straight into his spirit. It really hurt, feeling like he’d done something wrong. Of course, there was a part of the stocky tom that really did want to run after his deputy and ask him what was wrong, and Littlebird made it sound like that was what he was supposed to do as leader. However, Lightstar had chosen his course carefully, and he had chosen the right one. He was sure of it. Still, it took him a moment to remember that, and in that moment, the warrior female had turned on the loner.
When the she-cat finished making her threats, Lightstar’s jaws parted, for the leader fully intended on replying. The she-cat, however, raced off in the direction of Fadedmist, before the words could leave her leader’s muzzle. The tom tried fruitlessly, anyway. ”Littlebird!” he called, taking a few rapid steps after the petite she-cat, but she was gone, the sound of her footsteps receding into the forest. Lightstar could have easily caught her up, but again, he had things he had to do before that.
Once more, the leader turned his attention to the freckled tom. The cream-colored cat’s ears drooped a little in a dejected sort of way, but his eyes had resumed their calm and focused look. Lightstar padded back to Shirunai, his tail swaying a little to show his distress, but otherwise looking collected. ”I’m… sorry. That you had to see that,” the ThunderClan leader said slowly, keeping his steady eyes on the loner. Shirunai just had a very bad first experience with ThunderClan; the behavior of his deputy and warrior undoubtedly left a bad, even chaotic expression. Lightstar knew that he would have to punish the cats for their behavior, for they jeopardized the unity and strength of the Clan with their actions. The leader wasn’t fond of punishment, but it couldn’t be avoided, especially since a stranger had seen it.
Now, there were a few things that could happen. Firstly, Shirunai might be so bent on joining the Clan that he was unphased by the bad behavior of the other two cats. Secondly, the loner might be disturbed and decide against joining the Clan, based on the rudeness of its members. Finally, the stranger might decide that the Clan is weak and threaten it as a whole, or simply its leader, with attack. Littlebird and Fadedmist had behaved very, very stupidly.
It was left up to Lightstar to try to mend what had happened. ”I’m afraid you’ve seen us at our worst,” the leader admitted, regret and apology both ringing in his stable voice. ”There are tensions within the Clan, it’s true, and sometimes fights can break out. Life is hard for us, physically and emotionally.” The ThunderClan leader had decided that honesty was the best way to soothe Shirunai. Then, to prevent any temptation to believe the Clan was weak, Lightstar added, ”But we are strong, and there are many more members who are loyal, good warriors. When crises arise, we band together, and we are a devoted group, altogether. Dissent will be dealt with, as it must be. So will attack from the outside.” The poorly veiled threat for Fadedmist and Littlebird shone clearly in the air, as well the statement obviously aimed for the loner. ”We are fighters, hunters, runners, and climbers, all of us. We are wild, and strongly united.”
Lightstar’s intense copper gaze bored into Shirunai. They were so close now, barely separated by three mouselengths of air. The leader observed the loner, looking for weakness, searching for strength, wondering if this unfamiliar cat would someday be a true ThunderClan warrior. Lightstar allowed a few heartbeats of silence, then meowed, ”Are you so sure you want to join us?”
"What is your problem?! You stand her offering acceptance and pity to this useless loner, but can't even spare a second of your time to support your own deputy?! I can't believe you would stoop that low Lightstar. I'm going after Fadedmist right now to make sure he is alright. You and this pathetic cat can do what you wish." The words were hornet stings, but instead of marring the tom’s body, the bit straight into his spirit. It really hurt, feeling like he’d done something wrong. Of course, there was a part of the stocky tom that really did want to run after his deputy and ask him what was wrong, and Littlebird made it sound like that was what he was supposed to do as leader. However, Lightstar had chosen his course carefully, and he had chosen the right one. He was sure of it. Still, it took him a moment to remember that, and in that moment, the warrior female had turned on the loner.
When the she-cat finished making her threats, Lightstar’s jaws parted, for the leader fully intended on replying. The she-cat, however, raced off in the direction of Fadedmist, before the words could leave her leader’s muzzle. The tom tried fruitlessly, anyway. ”Littlebird!” he called, taking a few rapid steps after the petite she-cat, but she was gone, the sound of her footsteps receding into the forest. Lightstar could have easily caught her up, but again, he had things he had to do before that.
Once more, the leader turned his attention to the freckled tom. The cream-colored cat’s ears drooped a little in a dejected sort of way, but his eyes had resumed their calm and focused look. Lightstar padded back to Shirunai, his tail swaying a little to show his distress, but otherwise looking collected. ”I’m… sorry. That you had to see that,” the ThunderClan leader said slowly, keeping his steady eyes on the loner. Shirunai just had a very bad first experience with ThunderClan; the behavior of his deputy and warrior undoubtedly left a bad, even chaotic expression. Lightstar knew that he would have to punish the cats for their behavior, for they jeopardized the unity and strength of the Clan with their actions. The leader wasn’t fond of punishment, but it couldn’t be avoided, especially since a stranger had seen it.
Now, there were a few things that could happen. Firstly, Shirunai might be so bent on joining the Clan that he was unphased by the bad behavior of the other two cats. Secondly, the loner might be disturbed and decide against joining the Clan, based on the rudeness of its members. Finally, the stranger might decide that the Clan is weak and threaten it as a whole, or simply its leader, with attack. Littlebird and Fadedmist had behaved very, very stupidly.
It was left up to Lightstar to try to mend what had happened. ”I’m afraid you’ve seen us at our worst,” the leader admitted, regret and apology both ringing in his stable voice. ”There are tensions within the Clan, it’s true, and sometimes fights can break out. Life is hard for us, physically and emotionally.” The ThunderClan leader had decided that honesty was the best way to soothe Shirunai. Then, to prevent any temptation to believe the Clan was weak, Lightstar added, ”But we are strong, and there are many more members who are loyal, good warriors. When crises arise, we band together, and we are a devoted group, altogether. Dissent will be dealt with, as it must be. So will attack from the outside.” The poorly veiled threat for Fadedmist and Littlebird shone clearly in the air, as well the statement obviously aimed for the loner. ”We are fighters, hunters, runners, and climbers, all of us. We are wild, and strongly united.”
Lightstar’s intense copper gaze bored into Shirunai. They were so close now, barely separated by three mouselengths of air. The leader observed the loner, looking for weakness, searching for strength, wondering if this unfamiliar cat would someday be a true ThunderClan warrior. Lightstar allowed a few heartbeats of silence, then meowed, ”Are you so sure you want to join us?”
