Coming Back (o)

[Cloverstar]

It couldn't have been that long, could it? It had only been a few moons. She'd only meant to leave temporarily, but so much had gotten in the way. Far too much, actually. Cloverstar huffed as she staggered her way slowly up the rocky slope, occasionally tripping or stumbling over herself as she went. She was exhausted beyond belief, and all she wanted now was to go back to her den--if it even still was hers, after all this time--and collapse into the nest and never awaken. 

But she knew her Clan deserved an explanation for where she'd been all this time. Hopefully, Flamepath had told them where she was. He had to have, right? She'd left him in charge, after all. She hadn't had any time to tell anyone else but him about where she was going. 

The visions CloudClan had sent her, of boulders dislodging and crumbling in a fall towards the RockClan camp and destroying all in their path, had been enough to frighten her into severe action. She'd seen something of another land, a lake gleaming under the sun and surrounded by stones and thin trees, where the clan would be safe. Cloverstar had set out to find it herself, and only recently had she found it. Until then, she'd had to contend with all sorts of things: monsters rushing towards her, dogs, Twolegs, rain and hail and snow...

But it'd been worth it because she'd found it, and now she could tell the clan about it. If the visions were right as they usually were, then RockClan's camp would be still standing for only a short time after she found the new territory. She had to act and move the clan quickly. Normally, she'd run, but she was already so drained of energy that she was pretty sure she'd faint if she sped up even the slightest bit. She already looked like a mess, with her fur untidy and dirt streaking her pelt. 

"RockClan!" Cloverstar shouted as she lurched into camp. "Flamepath! I have news! Come at once!"

[Flintpaw]

Flintpaw emerged from the apprentice's den at the call. He expected Redfern, who had unofficially taken leadership of his clan. Not that it bothered him. What had bothered him was the disappearance of his leader. He finally had hope of a new, trustworthy,and reliable mentor. Then Cloverstar had vanished. 

When he saw Cloverstar stagger into the camp, his eyes widened in surprise. In childish excitement, he ran to her. The apprentice tripped over his own paws before he could reach the leader. "Cloverstar!" When the name Flamepath came to his ears, they flattened in sadness. Did she not know that their deputy was dead?

[Clove]

Clove was settled in a corner of the clans clearing with a keen interest in the feline that had just stumbled into the area despite the weakness that clung to the she-cats fur she seemed to hold authority. She blinked in surprise she new this feline... Cloverstar? it had been far to long since the leader had left. She blinked back a respons and she heard the name Flamepath... Clover was going to be devastated. She sat up and even padded forward a few steps offering her self willing to listen to the words that were about to be shared.

[Redfern]

Cloverstar's returning was surprising but not unwelcome. Redfern had had a lot on her plate since both Flamepath and Cloverstar had disappeared. She had been able to handle it, but now he wanted an explanation. The red tabby padded to the head of the crowd gathered, her tail held high, though her head still dipped in respectful greeting towards Cloverstar. She was still technically the leader of Rockclan - she thought.

"Flamepath isn't here anymore," she replied to Cloverstar's call, voice wary. The female didn't look to be in the best condition and Redfern found it hard to imagine what she had been through the past few moons. "And neither were you." Her words weren't supposed to come off as judging, but there was a definite question to them as Redfern waited. In the silence her gaze scanned around at the cats waiting. "Where is Anemonemist? Cloverstar should be looked to."

[Deleted]

i'm golden I'm out on the edge and I'm screaming my name Like a fool at the top of my lungs Sometimes when I close my eyes I pretend I'm alright But it's never enough Cause my echo, echo Is the only voice coming back Shadow, shadow Is the only friend that I have

Cloverstar had returned? Raggedwolf approached the gathering quietly, ears pricked and ready. He glanced from the commanding Redfern to Cloverstar, wondering how this was going to play out. Certainly not with any trouble he hoped, after all, Redfern had named herself deputy, not leader. Even if Cloverstar had abandoned them for a long time and nearly left them to die, she was still technically their leader and he could hardly believe the actions were done with malice. It would be foolish to return if that were the case.

The thick-furred tom paused beside Flintpaw and gave the tom's flank a flick with his tail. "Listen little one," he instructed quietly, nodding towards the two she-cats in the center. "There can be time for greetings later." For now he didn't think it was anyone else's place to interrupt, not until the power hierarchy had been sorted.

ISHY of THQ & ADOXOGRAPHY

[Cloverstar]

Cats were emerging from their dens, but Cloverstar noticed with slowly increasing confusion that there was no Flamepath in sight. Was he out in the territory? Someone had to go get him. He in particular needed to know the news. One apprentice—Flintpaw, she remembered—came running up to her, and she managed a small, if weary, smile at the sight of him. "Flintpaw," she returned mildly, looking around as she searched the camp for any sign of Flamepath. Where was he?

But a familiar voice answered that question for her. She whirled, blinking in shock as Redfern approached her. Something in her chest started to sink, a chill gathering with it. "What?" she managed, her voice almost cracking from disbelief. "But—he was here, when I—"

CloudClan, how long have I been gone? This couldn't be happening.

She barely registered the next part, an involuntary pang coming at the words. Redfern—and everyone else, for that matter—had every right to be angry with her for up and disappearing on them, but...had Flamepath not told them? Had he just...?

No, she couldn't think of that now. Whatever the reason, Flamepath had gone without telling the clan where she'd went. "No, I'm fine," she continued hurriedly. "Redfern, listen. The clan is in grave danger. I had visions of its destruction. I—"

Her throat closed up and she had to close her eyes and take a long, deep breath before going on. "I had another vision of new territory for RockClan, a safe place with a lake. I left in a rush to find that territory. I told Flamepath where I would be going, and I assumed he would've told you while he was in charge. It seems I was mistaken. I'm sorry."

She turned away, now anxiously pacing through the camp. "We need to leave, and quickly. My visions showed me that this camp will be destroyed only after I have found the new territory. Now that I'm back, it's only a matter of time before..."

Cloverstar looked up towards the rocky slopes and cliffs hanging over the camp. Once, they were a sign of stability, of RockClan's security in forging shelter from the solid and firm stone. Now they only looked ominous, ready to drop at any second to crush the cats below. "...Before they fall," she finished quietly, looking back imploringly at Redfern. "Please. We have to hurry."

[Flintpaw]

Flintpaw was surrounded by warriors now. He instantly felt inferior when Clove and Redfern arrived. But he was satisfied when Cloverstar smiled and said his name. She had remembered him and that was all that mattered in his mind. 

His tail twitched in worry when he saw how weak and tired she looked. He got distracted when Raggedwolf touched him. The warrior was right, so he looked down in defeat. Flintpaw would just have to talk to her later. He briefly thought about the lizard he had caught the day before. It was only big enough for a kit to eat, but surely his leader would still be proud of his achievement. 

When Cloverstar started mentioning the cliff and her visions, his head whipped to take a look for himself. The cliffside have never scared him. It had always been there. Unmoving. The thought of it falling and crushing his home terrified him, but at the same time he did not want to leave. Why would he want to leave the place he was born in? 

He narrowed his eyes. "I'll go tell the other apprentices that we should help out with moving everyone."

[Redfern]

Redfern remained suitably unimpressed by Cloverstar's apparent confusion. She'd always been remarkably unsympathetic though, and with the stress she'd been under she wasn't really in the right mindset to comfort Cloverstar. "When you left?" She guessed, finishing the sentence dryly. "Well he's here no longer; I am. I've been leading the clan in your absence." For just a moment she considered challenging Cloverstar for the leadership. Quite a few cats would support her, she suspected. But Cloverstar still had lives granted by Cloudclan, and Redfern had one. Besides that, when she was actually present, Cloverstar made a decent leader. Redfern just wasn't good at forgiving.

Her ears pricked when Cloverstar relayed her reason for being away. The tabby's nose crinkled as she debated silently. She'd kept the message from Cloudclan secret so as not to scare the clan, but Anemonemist and she had discussed it. Now apparently they had run out of time, and Cloverstar had answers. Answers that her clan needed. "Anemonemist received a warning from Cloudclan. I believe it was about Rockclan being destroyed. It appears we have less time to prepare than I thought."

She turned slightly, eyeing Raaggedwolf. "Relay this to Anemonemist and help her prepare to leave. Tell her to ready as much traveling herbs as possible, we'll need them." Then, she turned back to Cloverstar and bowed her head. "When do we leave? And...where are we going? We have kits as you know, they will struggle with this journey in leafbare."

[Flickerpaw]

_{"I want to go on an adventure!" Flickerkit declared, hearing Redfern's worries and surging forward. She had no recollection of who Redfern was talking to, but apparently she was someone important if the boss-lady was being respectful. As such, Flickerkit turned her bright, green eyes on Cloverstar and beamed. "I can help Anemonemist. I'm going to be a medicine cat someday after all!"
Hummingkit had told her she would make a great medicine cat after all, and she was sure she could as well. But more important than that, Redfern had mentioned something about a trip? It sounded incredibly exciting, and Flickerkit began looking around for Foxtwist. She wanted to tell her mother the good news and make sure she didn't get left behind.}

[Icepaw]

Icepaw had jumped to his paws the second he heard someone race into camp, on the alert as he always was. He relaxed for a second when he realized that it was Cloverstar, only to have his fear levels rise drastically when he was able to take in the condition she was in. Are we under attack? he thought, tensing his muscle and looking around frantically while straining his ears to hear if any more hurried pawsteps were approaching camp. He was pulled from this by Cloverstar's voice. The skinny tom wove himself into the crowd of gathered cats, feeling safer when he was surrounded by the warm pelts of his clanmates. 

Icepaw's veins froze as Cloverstar begun speaking. Danger? Destruction? In camp? his heartbeat sped up, going as fast as a rabbits as he looked upwards at the cliff that hung over the RockClan camp. He had always felt safe in camp--or well, as safe as the fearful tom had ever felt. He had contemplated the stability of the cliff a few times, but had always found comfort in the fact that it shielded them from birds and storms. Now his silvery eyes were wide in fear and he was rooted to the ground. His heart continued to beat faster and faster, his breathing speeding up at an abnormal pace as well to a point where he felt as though it was impossible for his lungs to keep pace. The tom felt sick, and didn't know if he wanted to vomit or just keel over.

[Clove]

The clan seemed to grow a bit tense as both Red and Clover seemed to be having a mental game. She picked up on the fact that as of this moment Red seemed more like a dependable leader but of course she had no reason to really doubt clover other than the fact she had abandoned them for a rather ridiculous amount of time. After it would seem everyone was becoming dismissed she stood to leave. She didn't question the warning though she didn't believe in the strange visions of powers of 'Cloudclan' she wasn't the one calling shots. She turned and went to make her self useful starting but giving a young tom a nudge he looked sick and she wasn't going to have his breakfast make an unneeded apreance. "Cmon," she hoped to lead him away.

-Icepaw-

[Cloverstar]

At Redfern's response, Cloverstar let out a long breath. "Thank you," she murmured, at a loss for what else to say. What did you say to someone who'd been forced to shoulder responsibility for an entire clan while you were absent? It was times like this when she wished she'd asked more of Hawkstar when he'd taught her his knowledge of leadership.

However, she didn't have time to dwell on that. Her ears pricked as Redfern continued about Anemonemist—the new medicine cat, she'd known that much before she'd left—and the other warning. "Yes, it seems so," she muttered to no one in particular. Her mind was already racing with plans on preparations: lining up all members of the clan in one orderly line in order to make it easier to keep track of them, having the younger kits be carried by their mothers and the warriors, having the elders be near the front in order for the warriors to more easily look out for them.

"We'll have to leave within the next few days, preferably tomorrow if we can," Cloverstar answered, glancing around the camp anxiously. "We're going to a lake. It's already melted, and it's surrounded by trees with a rocky island at the center. It's the territory that CloudClan showed me, and I've memorized the route there."

She paused, starting to pace the length of the camp again. "As for the kits, don't worry. Now that I know the way, it won't take long to get there. But for now, we should get ready. Everyone in the clan needs to be here, stat."

Of course, normally by now Cloverstar would jump onto the Stonefang and shout for a Clan meeting. But she was starting to stumble over her own feet at this point, and a severe ache had developed in her chest and feet. However, her mind was taken off of that when she abruptly remembered something, sharp as a douse of ice water. "There's a Gathering coming up, isn't there?" she asked sharply, turning back towards Redfern. "The other Clans will have to know about our move, as well."

[Rainpaw]

Leave Rockclan? Rainkit's face twisted with worry as she listened to her leader describe what terrible prophecy she'd envisioned, one of fear and destruction. She looked up at the cliff-face, and imagined the stones being set loose, crushing fully grown cats with ease. She had never gotten the chance to know this place as her home, and now just being in the camp caused her little body to stiffen with fear.

"But.." Rainkit whimpered, her voice fraught with anxiety. She didn't understand why Flickerkit was so excited to leave, when it was clearly an extremely dangerous endeavor. Surely her sister was that feather-brained that she thought leaving home would be fun. "How far is our new home? Will we be near the other clans? We can't just leave them.." The little she-kit sat at the edge of camp, her worries kept very quiet.

[Redfern]

Redfern flicked her tail thoughtfully. "There is a gathering tonight," she said eventually. It didn't seem important whether the other clans knew they were moving or not, her priority was to ensure Rockclan's safety. Surely there would be time later to inform the clans of their move. The thought of leaving some of their warriors and kits behind in the dangerous territory did not sit well with her. However, it wasn't her call to make anymore, though the displeasure remained on her face.

"Will they really have to know? Surely it can wait until we're safe." Redfern added the words as an afterthought, then swiveled her ears towards Rainkit. The child did have a point that Redfern hadn't considered till now. Clearly Cloverstar had traveled far, so were they to be alienated from the other clans? That couldn't work. There were always supposed to be four clans. She was certain they wouldn't survive alone. "We'll begin preparations to leave tonight as well, and leave tomorrow. If we are truly to attend the gathering, I suggest taking a small group of warriors only, leave everyone else to prepare and save energy."

Though Cloverstar was apparently confident in her ability to lead them to their new home, Redfern still had her doubts. "Where are we going? What clans will we border now?"

[Dapplecloud]

Dapplecloud

I stepped forward to hear better, having rushed out and listened since Cloverstar had called for the Clan. I frowned but didn't speak. My thoughts echoed most of the other cats' words. Leave RockClan? This place had been, and is, the home of every cat in the clearing. But I wasn't one to question authority, so I simply remarked, "We can only hope we'll still be close enough to communicate, even return when it's less dangerous." If the cliffs truly did come loose, crashing down on the camp, it would be a good idea to evacuate as soon as possible. However, I had my doubts about the new territory: like Rainkit had said worriedly, the new home couldn't be far, otherwise it would disrupt the remaining three Clans. There had always been four, after all.

(Sorry for being a little late jumping into the thread)