lost in thoughts // private

[Rivershine]

Yellowburr

Rivershine left IceClan's camp on a mission to catch her brother on some sort of patrol. He was known to do that, so she heard from certain rumors. Oh, how she longed to see the tom once again, now a leader of TreeClan! Who would have ever imagined such a hot-headed cat to become the leader of a clan! The thought still left her amused, a quiet chuckle audible from her as she weaved down the cliffs and to the border shared with the tree cats.

The blue-gray she-cat reached the border, always a jumble of scents since it was unclear who owned which side. But surely he would not be upset if it was her sitting near the border instead of a stranger... Rivershine sat on one of the rocks closer to the IceClan side, her yellow eyes scanning the forest with impatience and nervousness. What if he did not show up? What if someone more hostile appeared instead? She'd find out soon enough...

Speaking of soon enough, she heard the sound of rocks rolling softly, like someone was climbing on them. Focusing again, she turned and spotted a cat... someone familiar, who she hadn't seen since she was a child.

"Yellow..." What was she supposed to call him? It was obvious he wasn't a kit.

[Yellowburr]

Pebbles rolled under my paws, and it took me a moment to realize I was nearing the IceClan border. I was lost in.. rather dark thoughts, if I had to be honest, and hadn't been paying attention. Still, it couldn't hurt to check out the border, see if anything was up. It wasn't like I had anything else to do anyway.

I slowed as my blue-gray eyes landed on a familiar figure sitting near the edge of our territory, clearly waiting for someone. I narrowed my eyes, not quite able to place who it was; I most definitely had seen her before. It wasn't until she spoke -- "Yellow.." -- that I realized who it was. Arrowstar's sister, although I hadn't seen her since the three of us were kittens. Before my mother had... died.

"Hey gorgeous," I drawled, padding forward. "Mm, isn't it always nice to see old friends," my face dropped, before transforming into one of my odd, crooked grins. "-burr, by the way," I said, moving towards the border. 

[Rivershine]

Rivershine had to take a minute to break out of the shock of seeing him again. She never thought she'd run into Yellowburr, as he said it was, ever again. He seemed older, which he was. Who was she kidding, all of them had grown older. They were all warriors of their respective clans, even though she wasn't with the two toms in TreeClan anymore.

"Yes, it is good to see you again..." she said in an almost quiet voice. Perhaps it wasn't so bad that she ran into him here. He had been a really close friend when Arrowstar and herself had been in TreeClan as kits. "Yellowburr, huh? Why burr?" she asked with a hint of humor in her voice, trying to bring out old times. Rivershine had also agreed with her brother that she wished she never had been moved from TreeClan, but she did have a rather peaceful life even when he had been taken.

"It's Rivershine now," the she-cat informed him, glancing behind him quickly in hope of her brother following behind him. "How are things? Is TreeClan well? Is... is Arrowstar alright?" she asked, allowing a small flash of worry fill her yellow gaze as she faced the tom. He was her baby brother after all.

[Yellowburr]

I tilted my head to the side and shrugged. "Oh, you know... they thought it'd be funny, suspected murder, all that fun stuff." I listed quickly, finishing with a grin and a loud laugh. I had no idea if River-whatever-it-was had known about the idea of me killing my mother. I assumed she did as it was, after all, her brother who had come up with the idea. Of course, he hadn't had any solid evidence and wasn't able to prove it. "Jokes on them, I quite enjoy the name."

"Is that all you care about?" I rolled my eyes. "I wouldn't know, haven't talked to him since he got back," I told her with a low chuckle. "TreeClan is crumbling and all that, yada, yada, yada." I rolled my eyes, not sure how much I should tell Rivershine. It would be nice to have her on my side for the things I was... planning, but I'd have to do so carefully.

aaa sorry this is short n gross

[Rivershine]

[sorry this was late aaa ily]

Rivershine held her tongue after he spoke, almost shocked he would say something like that. But she had no idea what he was referring to, given she had been in FireClan the time her brother had returned to TreeClan. "Are you a suspect of murder, then?" she asked hesitantly. "From what you say, you sound like you're innocent... plus you haven't been kicked out." The idea sent nervous chills down her spine.

The blue-gray she-cat snorted at him. "Of course not," she replied stiffly, turning her head away with contempt at the question. She had been asked that enough. But Rivershine did look back at him when he said TreeClan was falling apart. "What's happening?" she asked, a small glimmer of worry flashing in her yellow eyes. Surely nothing would happen to Arrowstar or TreeClan!

[Yellowburr]

(no worries <3)

So she hadn't known. I assumed that the two talked often, as they had been pretty close, but apparently not. He hasn't been able to turn her against me. Ideas poured into my mind like water, and a devious smile sat on my face. It was replaced a few moments later with a shrug and an expression to match. "Why don't you ask dear little brother," I responded nonchalantly, tail beginning to stir again. "He seems to think so." I wasn't denying it, rather jumping around a direct answer.

I narrowed my eyes as she turned away, before shrugging again. "If you say so," I replied, my voice rolling smoothly off my tongue. "What's happening? That clan is being overrun by outsiders: loners, rogues, the like," I responded, rising to my whole height as I addressed the issue. "More than half of our Clan isn't even our Clan anymore," I added, my expression turning dark in a matter of seconds. 

[Rivershine]

Rivershine gave him a small, narrow-eyed look. Yellowburr had changed a lot. Cats are supposed to change... but this gives me a bad feeling. "That would be possible if he was more diligent on checking this border instead of FireClan's," she responded almost bitterly. She quickly shook her head, regaining her composure. She shouldn't get angry at her brother. No, he had better things to do. "He must have his reason then..." He wouldn't just openly accuse someone... would he?

Yellowburr said that like it was something terrible. But, my mother had been an outsider. Ravenflame wasn't a bad cat. But maybe the wrong cats were joining? Is that what he meant? "TreeClan was always willing to let them in though," Rivershine pointed out to him. "Surely they aren't causing any harm?" We would know by now if they were right? Or has Arrowstar locked himself in his own clan now?

[Yellowburr]

I listened to what she said about Arrowstar checking the FireClan border, but didn't respond -- at least not out loud. I had to be careful what I said around her, until I knew where her loyalties lay. Hmm, so he's still caught up with FireClan, isn't he? I thought silently, wondering if I could use it against him in any way. I could easily twist it to my gain. I narrowed my eyes slightly. "You haven't talked to him in quite some time, have you?" I asked curiously. "He doesn't," I responded shortly with a frown, which was quickly replaced by a roll of my eyes and an audible sigh. "Hh, what can we do, y'know? Boys will be boys." 

My shoulders moved slightly under my pelt as I took a step towards her, tail swishing behind me. "It was alright at first," I admitted. I hadn't had anything against outsiders for a long time, but angry feelings developed towards them through personal experiences as I realized many of them weren't as the Clan that they were. Outsiders, the ones I met, were bitter to the core and disloyal. "But it's gotten out of hand, Riv," I threw in the old nickname in hopes to sway her, giving her a pout. "They're spreading like a virus through TreeClan."

[Rivershine]

Rivershine shrugged. "We haven't spoken since he was kidnapped. I just heard that some FireClanners saw him and said it was Dustpaw, except he was now known as Arrowstrike. Arrowstar now," she answered. The blue-gray she-cat heaved a small sigh and shrugged. "Maybe I just need to march into TreeClan to see him." Though she wasn't sure if she'd be welcomed easily or not.

Rivershine glanced at Yellowburr as he spoke, her tail twitching behind her. He called her Riv, which sent a wave of nostalgia down her body. "How so? Are they not helping like they used to?" Surely if they weren't doing what they were supposed to do, Arrowstar would know and do something about it. He wasn't the one not to care...

[Yellowburr]

I nodded slowly, remembering when he had been known which the prefix Dust. I found myself wishing, just a little, that he had never left TreeClan, which surprised me. Though I didn't feel any guilt for what had happened, only a twinge of nostalgia. When she mentioned his current name, Arrowstar, it disappeared and my face hardened further. "I wouldn't," I responded smoothly, my tail beginning to stir again. "I'll tell him you wish to see him," I said, a smile growing across my face as an idea formed in my head.

I sighed, a -- fake -- look of pain covering my face. "It's hard to explain, and I probably shouldn't," I lied. "You trust me, don't you?" I asked, my expression changing into a hopeful look. I leaned forward, my voice dropping to a whisper. "I'll let you in on a little secret," I said, the smile returning. Manipulation, one of my fine tuned skills. "TreeClan is resting on the shoulders of these outsiders, y'know? But they're selfish, and Arrowstar isn't doing anything about it, so we're falling apart," I murmured, before taking a step back.  

[Rivershine]

Rivershine gave him a look before shrugging. "Whatever you say, then..." She paused. But she didn't answer his question as he started speaking to her. "That can't be. He wouldn't let that happen," she objected, finding his words hard to believe.

[wow lazy and late]

[Yellowburr]

I grinned at her. "Thanks, Riv." I sighed as she argued with my, shaking my head slowly. A convincing look of sadness covered my face. "I'd show you myself, but that won't do, so I'll have to tell you instead." I raised my eyes to hers. "TreeClan is a disaster," I began dramatically. "There's fighting everywhere between clanmates, and half of the Clan hates Arrowstar, y'know?" I told her. Of course, I was at the root of these problems -- but she didn't have to know that. I needed her on my side. A dark look appeared on my face along with a smile, but when I began talking again it melted into a more upbeat look. Still, the smile remained. "Ah, and guess why? It's because of these outsiders, Riv!" I shook my head in disappointment. "Your brother is putting us at danger and now everything's going downhill because of it," I drawled. I sighed again, looking away for a few moments, before returning my gaze to hers. "You understand, right?"