Dark Forest Territory

[Ever]

Originally Posted by hxneysuckle

[ @Ever ]

It was dark. Too dark.
It was cold. Too cold.
It was... strange. Too strange.
Tawnystep opened her eyes to see that she wasn't in the warrior's den, or even the WindClan camp at all. She was surrounded by darkness, an uncomfortable aura around her. It was silent and yet, so loud at the same time. Eyes watched her from every corner, shrouded in the murky undergrowth, hiding, waiting to attack. Entities lurked, their gazes hungry. She was scared.
The russet molly stood, looking around. Her tail was curled close to her body, her ears flattened to her head. Where was she? The last thing she remembered was laying down for a nice night's rest and... then she woke up in this sickly clearing. Tawnystep's paws almost seemed to sink into the slimy ground, causing her to grimace in disgust. She stepped back, turning her head to peer into the darkness. Was anyone there? She knew she wasn't alone... so many voices whispered from the depths of the forestry, but they were unintelligable. Had she died in her sleep? No, she couldn't have.
She began to wander, exploring the area, searching for answers. As she walked, her bi-colored eyes narrowed and filled with both fear and curiosity, she tried to think of a reasoning for her to have woken up here. No answers could be found, however, though one thing was certain.
This was not StarClan.

Blazing smiled from the murk of the territory. It had been so boring here lately and she was so pleased to have found an influencable soul. She slowly stretched from the treebranch where she had been perched for what felt like eternity. It was finally time for her to act a little and forget her wallowing despair. It was burried in a deep and unreachable place. The old self was gone and replaced with the original self that had led her to follow Bucknight. The one no cat had cared about and was hungry to make everyone sorry for the fact that they saw nothing in her.

"Welcome." She purred to the Windclan warrior. She'd always disliked Windclan the most, seen them as the weakest of all the clans. Too bad she couldn't have caused some chaos there before her death. She smiled sweetly at Tawnystep and cocked her head to the side, studying the other cat. "You'll do I suppose. Tell me, how is Windclan these days, what fun is happening there?"

Her golden eyes never strayed from the cat. She was like a ghost here, where as the rest of them were more solid in their final resting place. If this all worked out, Tawnystep would join them here as well someday. Blazingnight didn't care who watched the training either, what could some pathetic lurker do anyways to interfere. If anything they would only help. She waited, but flickedher tail impatiently for the other cat's response.

[lio]

Originally Posted by Ever

Blazing smiled from the murk of the territory. It had been so boring here lately and she was so pleased to have found an influencable soul. She slowly stretched from the treebranch where she had been perched for what felt like eternity. It was finally time for her to act a little and forget her wallowing despair. It was burried in a deep and unreachable place. The old self was gone and replaced with the original self that had led her to follow Bucknight. The one no cat had cared about and was hungry to make everyone sorry for the fact that they saw nothing in her.

"Welcome." She purred to the Windclan warrior. She'd always disliked Windclan the most, seen them as the weakest of all the clans. Too bad she couldn't have caused some chaos there before her death. She smiled sweetly at Tawnystep and cocked her head to the side, studying the other cat. "You'll do I suppose. Tell me, how is Windclan these days, what fun is happening there?"

Her golden eyes never strayed from the cat. She was like a ghost here, where as the rest of them were more solid in their final resting place. If this all worked out, Tawnystep would join them here as well someday. Blazingnight didn't care who watched the training either, what could some pathetic lurker do anyways to interfere. If anything they would only help. She waited, but flickedher tail impatiently for the other cat's response.

The russet she-cat whipped around, coming to focus on the source of the voice. Her claws unsheathed. She faintly relaxed, not wanting to disturb anything around her- it was clear where she was. But why had she been brought here? And who was this she-cat? Her eyes narrowed, lips pulling into an uncertain frown as she thought of the other's question.
After many heartbeats, she snapped from her confused daze, opening her mouth to answer. "WindClan is... faring." Starving. Dying. Being destroyed from the inside. Brightstar appointed a deputy that does absolutely nothing. Patrols are rarely sent out. I attacked my own leader while crazed from toxins. I ate a dead RiverClanner to sate my hunger... and I wanted more. The truth shone in her eyes, a dark glaze falling over them. But she didn't want to speak of the facts. She didn't want to come to terms of what was happening to her Clan, what she had done. Speaking it aloud, it would only make it too real.
But she was dreaming. Would she face the consequences of speaking the truth if she wasn't even awake? Tawnystep allowed her claws to sink into the murky ground, her tail flicking back and forth. She had questions of her own.
"Why have I been brought here? What use do I have to you?" she inquired, her ears flattening.

[Ever]

Originally Posted by hxneysuckle

The russet she-cat whipped around, coming to focus on the source of the voice. Her claws unsheathed. She faintly relaxed, not wanting to disturb anything around her- it was clear where she was. But why had she been brought here? And who was this she-cat? Her eyes narrowed, lips pulling into an uncertain frown as she thought of the other's question.
After many heartbeats, she snapped from her confused daze, opening her mouth to answer. "WindClan is... faring." Starving. Dying. Being destroyed from the inside. Brightstar appointed a deputy that does absolutely nothing. Patrols are rarely sent out. I attacked my own leader while crazed from toxins. I ate a dead RiverClanner to sate my hunger... and I wanted more. The truth shone in her eyes, a dark glaze falling over them. But she didn't want to speak of the facts. She didn't want to come to terms of what was happening to her Clan, what she had done. Speaking it aloud, it would only make it too real.
But she was dreaming. Would she face the consequences of speaking the truth if she wasn't even awake? Tawnystep allowed her claws to sink into the murky ground, her tail flicking back and forth. She had questions of her own.
"Why have I been brought here? What use do I have to you?" she inquired, her ears flattening.

Blazingnight smurked at the warrior's response. A pause and then her word made her suspicion correct. Windclan was probably still the weakest link, but at least it was somewhere's to start against Starclan. Not that the other cat needed to know that. So Blazing padded up to to the warrior cocking her head to the right and smiling softly. She looked up into the face of Tawnystep, staying about a foxlength away. Blazing had never been a large cat, quite the opposite. Weaseling had been her strength not the physical one.

"No, it's nothing like that. It's you who called upon me. Didn't you say it yourself? With your thoughts?" Her smile darkened, no innocent cat ended up here. So she could convince this one to do her doing. "You know you want more. I can help you. With whatever it is you desire most. Just tell me." She rumbeled, staring at the creature before her through smoldering golden eyes.

[lio]

Originally Posted by Ever

Blazingnight smurked at the warrior's response. A pause and then her word made her suspicion correct. Windclan was probably still the weakest link, but at least it was somewhere's to start against Starclan. Not that the other cat needed to know that. So Blazing padded up to to the warrior cocking her head to the right and smiling softly. She looked up into the face of Tawnystep, staying about a foxlength away. Blazing had never been a large cat, quite the opposite. Weaseling had been her strength not the physical one.

"No, it's nothing like that. It's you who called upon me. Didn't you say it yourself? With your thoughts?" Her smile darkened, no innocent cat ended up here. So she could convince this one to do her doing. "You know you want more. I can help you. With whatever it is you desire most. Just tell me." She rumbeled, staring at the creature before her through smoldering golden eyes.

Tawnystep's heart pounded in her chest. Can she- can she hear my thoughts? she questioned, a sense of discomfort rising within her. She swallowed the thickening lump in her throat, bi-colored eyes watching the cat in front of her with caution. "I can help you. With whatever it is you desire most." Each word repeated itself in the russet warrior's mind, making her almost feel dizzy as she attempted to wrap her head around it. She hesitantly took a step backward, hanging her head.
What do I desire? she asked herself. Power. Control. Make others fall to your paws, willing to do anything to please you. Make them all trust you before tearing them down bit by bit. Make them all notice you. Prove that you are the strongest, a voice, seemingly her own, whispered within her mind. She fought the desire that swelled in her heart, but its strength was almost overbearing. Tawnystep sucked in a breath, looking up to the unknown she-cat and nodding. It seemed like something almost snapped as she opened her mouth the speak, the desire overtaking her heart. And the truth was loose.
"Teach me how to make them all bow before me. Make them all cower beneath my paws. I will prove that WindClan is not made of complete fools." She stepped forward, bowing her head to the ghostly feline. "I will follow you as long as you help me."

[Ever]

Originally Posted by hxneysuckle

Tawnystep's heart pounded in her chest. Can she- can she hear my thoughts? she questioned, a sense of discomfort rising within her. She swallowed the thickening lump in her throat, bi-colored eyes watching the cat in front of her with caution. "I can help you. With whatever it is you desire most." Each word repeated itself in the russet warrior's mind, making her almost feel dizzy as she attempted to wrap her head around it. She hesitantly took a step backward, hanging her head.
What do I desire? she asked herself. Power. Control. Make others fall to your paws, willing to do anything to please you. Make them all trust you before tearing them down bit by bit. Make them all notice you. Prove that you are the strongest, a voice, seemingly her own, whispered within her mind. She fought the desire that swelled in her heart, but its strength was almost overbearing. Tawnystep sucked in a breath, looking up to the unknown she-cat and nodding. It seemed like something almost snapped as she opened her mouth the speak, the desire overtaking her heart. And the truth was loose.
"Teach me how to make them all bow before me. Make them all cower beneath my paws. I will prove that WindClan is not made of complete fools." She stepped forward, bowing her head to the ghostly feline. "I will follow you as long as you help me."

Blazing saw the other cat retreat for a moment, the hestitant step back, and a shadow passed through her expression. She needed someone more willing to comply, her days of convincing and pleasing wealhearted fools to get her ways were over. She was about to open her maw and tell the molly to get lost if she couldn't live up to the same desires as herself, but then fool opened her mouth and spilled the truth. Blazingnight chuckled to herself, the way Tawnystep said it aa if it was a threat too. That amused her.

"There isnt much too it. Truly. You are going to have to learn a lot about manipulation my dear friend. Your face is like an open book of emotion. Learn to harden those eyes a little." She said, finally sitting down and relaxing now that the other had confessed. If Tawnystep truly wanted the help of a Darkforest cat she would probably end up here herself, advice or not. "Ans you should really keep yourself in other cat's business but do not let them in yours. Get some gossip, get some details on other cats to use against them. Unfortunately, power needs a lot of things other than raw strength. You have to pretend to be charismatic in front of those foxbrains that need it of you want to rise to power."
There really wasnt much to it, gain friends and loyalty, then kill the leader. Well... the killing the leader is trickier, especially if there is a deputy... but it's what she did with Bucknight's help.

[lio]

Originally Posted by Ever

Blazing saw the other cat retreat for a moment, the hestitant step back, and a shadow passed through her expression. She needed someone more willing to comply, her days of convincing and pleasing wealhearted fools to get her ways were over. She was about to open her maw and tell the molly to get lost if she couldn't live up to the same desires as herself, but then fool opened her mouth and spilled the truth. Blazingnight chuckled to herself, the way Tawnystep said it aa if it was a threat too. That amused her.

"There isnt much too it. Truly. You are going to have to learn a lot about manipulation my dear friend. Your face is like an open book of emotion. Learn to harden those eyes a little." She said, finally sitting down and relaxing now that the other had confessed. If Tawnystep truly wanted the help of a Darkforest cat she would probably end up here herself, advice or not. "Ans you should really keep yourself in other cat's business but do not let them in yours. Get some gossip, get some details on other cats to use against them. Unfortunately, power needs a lot of things other than raw strength. You have to pretend to be charismatic in front of those foxbrains that need it of you want to rise to power."
There really wasnt much to it, gain friends and loyalty, then kill the leader. Well... the killing the leader is trickier, especially if there is a deputy... but it's what she did with Bucknight's help.

She listened intently, her claws tearing at the ground beneath her. "I will do whatever I need," Tawnystep stated. She observed the ghostly feline before taking a deep breath, attempting to guard her emotions as she stared at Blazingnight. "Who should I try to grow close to first?" she inquired, head tilting to the side in question. She blinked, sensing herself beginning to gain consciousness once more. They needed to finish quickly- dawn was coming, and she needed to know where to start, how to begin in her training.

[Ever]

Originally Posted by hxneysuckle

She listened intently, her claws tearing at the ground beneath her. "I will do whatever I need," Tawnystep stated. She observed the ghostly feline before taking a deep breath, attempting to guard her emotions as she stared at Blazingnight. "Who should I try to grow close to first?" she inquired, head tilting to the side in question. She blinked, sensing herself beginning to gain consciousness once more. They needed to finish quickly- dawn was coming, and she needed to know where to start, how to begin in her training.

"Find someone who is a bit standoffish, preferrably some cat with a few things against authority. You'll want to start forming your closer relationships first. Unfortunately, you'll have to try to form some bonds with some of the... more loyal cats as well. Don't get to close to them though." She looked around, Blezingnight could see the other cat fading. Dawn was approaching.

"I'll be watching you. I won't bring you back unless you are truly willing and wanting to take my advice. Understood?" Then Blazing stepped back, giving her apprentice a dark smile. She was very, very much looking forward to working with Tawnystep. There was promise in her, especially if she was a quick learner. "Oh and brin back some tasty information about the clan." She gave the cat a wink before turning to climb back in her preferred tree and watch the Darkforest's glum afterlife go on.

[lio]

Originally Posted by Ever

"Find someone who is a bit standoffish, preferrably some cat with a few things against authority. You'll want to start forming your closer relationships first. Unfortunately, you'll have to try to form some bonds with some of the... more loyal cats as well. Don't get to close to them though." She looked around, Blezingnight could see the other cat fading. Dawn was approaching.

"I'll be watching you. I won't bring you back unless you are truly willing and wanting to take my advice. Understood?" Then Blazing stepped back, giving her apprentice a dark smile. She was very, very much looking forward to working with Tawnystep. There was promise in her, especially if she was a quick learner. "Oh and brin back some tasty information about the clan." She gave the cat a wink before turning to climb back in her preferred tree and watch the Darkforest's glum afterlife go on.

Tawnystep thought for a moment before a cat came to mind. She nodded in agreement, watching Blazingnight climb the tree before she faded from the Dark Forest, waking up in the real world once again. Her tail lashed as she stood and stretched, slipping from the warrior's den. She knew exactly who to find.

[BEAR.]

"What the hell was that?"

His voice was a snarl as he approached her, Wolverine's eyes a dark, angry glint in the shadowy light of the Dark Forest. What a disappointment! "I thought you were a strong leader, not a weak kittypet. Have you gone soft, Icestar? Did those StarClan wimps make you pathetic? Or was it your mother?"
@Casper

[pidgeon]

Originally Posted by BILL.

"What the hell was that?"

His voice was a snarl as he approached her, Wolverine's eyes a dark, angry glint in the shadowy light of the Dark Forest. What a disappointment! "I thought you were a strong leader, not a weak kittypet. Have you gone soft, Icestar? Did those StarClan wimps make you pathetic? Or was it your mother?"
@Casper

Icestar's eyes blinked open slowly, taking in her surroundings. Had she lost a life? Was she in StarClan? It didn't take her long to piece together what had happened, the memory of that insufferable yellow creature draining the life from her body flooding back into her mind, causing her lip to curl back in a snarl. She flicked an ear as her senses whirled, and she realized...she was not in StarClan. There was only one cat who could have pulled her here.

"...Father?" She called out as her eyes at last focused, and she could hear his voice booming above her. She was on her feet in moments, staring directly into his eyes that mirrored her own.

"Gone soft? How dare you!" She growled, taking a step closer to him. "This is my first loss in all my moons as a warrior. I have climbed the ranks, drawn countless drops of blood, even killed my own to protect my clan, and you have the nerve to compare me to Owlfeather?"