RiverClan Leader's Den

[Zero]

- @spade || @Ziera

The "rambunctious little snot" that was Iris barely contained herself to the warrior's commands as they entered the confines of what she assumed to be RiverClan camp - any tiredness she had felt had left like it hadn't even been there to start.

How exciting this place was. Her momma and papa had grown up here! They might even know some of the cats still living here. She knew so many stories with this as the setting, so seeing it in person was quite surreal. Thus, the kitten wanted nothing more than to check every inch of the place out. And there were so many cats of so many different sizes and colors and genders off doing their own things. She wanted to talk to them all. More like drill them with questions. But that was all the same to Iris at the moment.

She bumped into the Stormtalons hindquarters when he suddenly stopped before the leader's den, her eyes glued to some other kits playing a few yards away instead of on the path before her. Kits her own age. They were playing with a ball of moss! She knew that game!

The she-kit pouted as the warrior ushered her inside of the den before she could dart off toward them. "I wanna go say hi!" She whined as she trudged inside, at least listening to his orders - although begrudgingly. She had quickly learned that this tom was really all seriousness all the time: aka he was lame. The kitten obviously hadn't picked up on the fact that he was barely holding himself together with the news she had dumped on him earlier.

After a pause, she turned her attention from Stormtalon to this Kestrelstar dude, her pout vanishing like it hadn't even been there in the first place once she realized her tactic wasn't gonna work. Though, it didn't help that the tom seemed to refuse to look at her!

[spade]

Originally Posted by Angelique

Petuniakit nodded. She understood he was having a bad time and she didn't want to make it worst, so she was going to place them down and leave. Maybe one day she could try and be just like Petuniaflame. She so badly wanted to be. She was amazing and she had heard how god of a sister she was to her father.

The kit placed her things around his den. There it looked nicer. She glanced at him, seeing him in his bad state. She felt a bit sorry for him. When she was an apprentice and learned how to fight she was going to avenge her aunts death. Thunderclan will pay. She padded over to the entrance, but then stopped.

"Before I leave I want you to know that I agree with you 100%. Your a great leader. Thunderclan will pay for what they did.", meowed Petuniakit. She knew she had been trouble, but she really wanted to change. "Thanks for everything you do and I hope one day I'll be able to fight alongside you.", she finished.

// @spade; \\

The soft spoken words that came from Petuniakit's mouth probably weren't meant to hold as much weight as they did - but regardless, they shook Kestrelstar like ice cold water. The blood in his veins seemed to freeze, movements paused and tail suspended in the air next to him.

She was young. So young that she couldn't possibly understand a fraction of what was going on other than anger and violence and talk of bloodshed.

Lifting his yellow gaze, the leader let it dance from each trinket the young molly had placed around his den. It did... bright then place up, Kestrelstar supposed. Something about the delicateness of it, the fragility of the young kit and the hope that seemed to ooze from every faucet of her... A piercing light that cracked through the shrouds of shadows that had poisoned Kestrelstar.

"You will be one of RiverClan's greatest warriors, Petuniakit. I'm certain of it." Warm, insightful, gentle... the tone that the leader spoke with would be unrecognizable to those who knew him. After a moment of silence, he nodded to the young kit in farewell.

Originally Posted by Dizerel

She was beginning to get really worried right now. It was clear that he was starting to lose his grip on reality. All the stress was building up and he couldn't handle it. Was this her own fault? It had been a while since she last checked in on him. Maybe she was a horrible friend. Maybe if she had just been more attentive and careful, all of this could have been prevented.

Junipersong usually looked very confident. And while her happy smile could waver from time to time, this was the first time Kes would have ever seen her look scared for her own safety. Her deep voice faltering. "R-right. You're right. I uhh.... I like it. You are deserving of such a.... prestigious den." Practically cowering as he inched closer to her.

She winced at his mentioning of Thunderclan. She still had firm beliefs that peace was an option, but even suggesting it she felt like he would slit her throat on the spot. "P-p-please Kestrelstar. I d-dont want any h-harm to befall to you. I j-just.... I wanted to talk... As f-friends. No worrying ab-bout the outside world" She looked like she was on the verge of breaking down. Eyes wide. Conflicted feelings that have never clashed so heavily before inside her mind. All the appreciation she felt from him, as well as the love she was constantly battling and trying to work over, now with a heavy dose of fear sprinkled all over. Fear for herself. For her clan. But most of all, fear for him.

The fear in Junipersong's eyes... was delicious. Kestrelstar found himself wanting to drink it all in, let it resonate within him, fill him from ears to tail tip. The power that fear gave him, it kept cats in line. It kept him in power. Power. That's what he knew he needed in order to strike ThunderClan down. An army of those who followed him, who believed that justice would not be delivered unless it was at the claws of his Clan. He needed his cats under his control; they needed to unify to destroy ThunderClan, to... to -

For a moment, something inside the leader faltered. A misstep in the calculations of Blossomclaw's rigorous training. The endless nights in the shadowy forest, learning move after move until his pelt dripped with blood and each muscle ached and threatened to give out under him.

It was fleeting, there for just a moment in time and then... gone.

"Of course I deserve it. With everything I put up with? I never asked to be leader, no. I took the mantle after being leader when I was under the impression that Lionstorm would be here to fall back on if I needed it. But no!" Anger riled him up as the gray tabby shifted his gaze onto the den floor, swiping at it with unsheathed claws. The fur on his neck was raised, fangs barred. "Those murderous, fox-hearted crow-food eating squirrels had to take him away. And Fawnsqueak. And Firehawk. Peonypaw, Petuniaflame!." By now the leader's sides were heaving with each breath, ragged and uneven.

Turning now to lock his yellow gaze with the molly, Kestrelstar let out a laugh. Dark, yet melodic, and suddenly his fur lay flat and his composure returned to normal. "No harm will come to me. Or you. Or RiverClan. Ever again. The days of the other Clans pushing us around are over. I will contnue the strong Clan that Lionstorm built," he vowed, nodding along with what he said. "Now, are you with me, or are you against me?" What if Junipersong found it in her heart to sympathize with ThunderClan? What if she was working with them? Kestrelstar didn't want to make an example out of her, she was like family to him.

But sometimes even family couldn't be trusted.

Originally Posted by WarriorzFan

“Ok, if that’s how you wanna play it...” he thought to himself. “Well...yeah! What else could “How was your day” mean?” He said sarcastically.

With each passing word Kestrelstar could feel his patience faltering, blacking out a bit as it wore thin. Perhaps he should announce it at the meeting that his den was closed. He'd call those he wanted in his den, but until then the leader just wanted to be left alone.

"If I want to... Pikefluff, to be quite blunt, I don't want to "play it" anyway with you, mouse-brain," Kestrelstar spat, glaring yellow daggers towards the tom. He'd already had enough on his plate to deal with, and one resident idiot in the Clan. He didn't need two. "I don't care what it means. I don't wish to discuss how my day is with some awstruck slack-jawed idiot. Now unless you've got information on ThunderClan or a report of disloyalty, get out of my den."

Originally Posted by shaded shadow

yes said rainingpaw i heard her say that riverclan might try to take some of thunderclans territory and that thunderclan should send out for patrols, that you were a incomplete leader, and that even thought you have been freaking out about the thunderclan issues you haven done anything about them, she also said that riverclan is a total mess and how it has been ages sience their were new apprentices, and how you exiled 3 warriors and killed quietclaw for being a traitor.
@spade

Stars, where were these cats getting these ideas from? All Kestrelstar had said at the meeting was to kill ThunderClanners on sight. Which still held - the time for holding back was through. But territory stealing? That was an idea that had only circulated in his brain and been relayed to Snakeneart in the privacy of the medicine cats' den. No prying ears, no matter how desparate, could've overheard that.

"Thank you, Rainingpaw. You've done well," he told them young molly, nodding to her as his yellow eyes seemed satisfied to take in the news. Goodness, wasn't it something that as much as he despised kits and young apprentices, they seemed to never be able to keep a secret? Lips curled in a grin, the leader dismissed the molly with a flick of his tail.

Originally Posted by Riverfly

"I have great news!" She meowed happily, walking into the den. "Willowvine has had her kits!" She couldn't help the pride in her voice. She still couldn't believe it! She finally had kits of her own! @spade

Kits. New kits in the Clan. Why on earth his Clanmates thought he'd care about helpless little hairballs in the midst of war preparations was beyond Kestrelstar; that's why the Clan had queens. Once they proved themselves to be a valuable asset to RiverClan, then he'd lend them an eye or ear to keep track of their progress, until finally they were made a warrior, all of their kitten-esqe smushed down into being a loyal commrad.

"That's fantastic, Ivywing. Is there a reason you're telling me this while I've got quite a bit other important matters to think? Do I look like a queen you to?" The words were bitingly cold, sharp with pointy edges. The leader, eyes still annoyed, stared blankly at the molly. He wasn't too familiar with Ivywing other than the fact she was a warrior... and now in this moment a bit of an annoyance.

Originally Posted by ~Kitty~

@spade
“Excuse me, are you in there?” Willow song asked. She knew what rainingpaw had said and would do her best to contribute to the clan. She din’t want to be attacked like QuietClaw.

Ah, so the traitor had returned. Following his conversation with Rainingpaw, Kestrelstar watched as she announced her arrival. "Come back with your tail between your legs, have you?" the leader snorted, obvious disgust evident in his gaze and tone. It made him revel in satisfaction to look upon the face of a cat who knew she had messed up. Perhaps if this were before his kill onsight order, Kestrelstar might've been lenient.

But he'd made himself pretty clear, he knew. Side with ThunderClan, and the fate that the traitors met would be a replica of Quietclaws.

"Any reason why an apprentice seems to think they saw you at the ThunderClan border conversating with our enemy?" It was merely a trick. Kestrelstar already knew. He was already ready. Perhaps catching her in a lie though... now that would be something to add fuel to his already blazing inferno.

Originally Posted by Ziera

// @spade | @Zero - set pre-angst <33 don't worry about matching length, just setting the scene a lil.

Silverfish. Iris. Sky.

"Stay close to me," Stormtalon mewed over his shoulder, thinking wryly to himself that the last thing he needed was Iris getting herself lost in one of the RiverClan dens. She was young, after all - he'd guess three moons or so - and Storm knew from experience about the flighty attention span of a kit; Brightpaw never listened to him for more than three sentences at that age.

...the mental comparison had him stiffening, tension knotting in broad shoulders as Storm reached Kestrelstar's den. Thankfully he'd managed to get himself under control, at least outwardly. But inside? The grey tabby's mind spun with those same three names over and over: Silverfish. Iris. Sky.

Sensing no tricks, Stormtalon accepted that Iris was really his little half-sister (even if the resulting puzzling emotions sent him into a tailspin.) Try as he might to dismiss Iris' claims, if just for her own sake - who else knew what she did? Only Storm heard their mother call his little brother Sky, the secret name he replaced with Bright. Not to mention Iris reeked of Silver's scent.

No. He had no doubt that Silverfish left the rambunctious little snot alone, defenseless in the heart of RiverClan territory and then hightailed it back to whoever's nest she kept warm these days. Stormtalon wished he could be surprised by that turn of events, but her actions now were her actions then: leaving Brightpaw and Stormtalon behind, abandoning RiverClan as if her loyalty meant less than dirt. It disgusted him.

Less than happy thoughts churned tirelessly in his mind but this was...not the time.

Stormtalon nodded toward the den's entranc, not looking at Iris (the resemblance to his mother was uncanny) when he said: "Go on." Following his own orders, the tabby padded inside, feeling the temperature drop a miniscule degree. "Kestrelstar." The tom's head bobbed in a respectful nod, his voice sounding cool yet restrained. "I have a favor to ask."

Originally Posted by Zero

- @spade || @Ziera

The "rambunctious little snot" that was Iris barely contained herself to the warrior's commands as they entered the confines of what she assumed to be RiverClan camp - any tiredness she had felt had left like it hadn't even been there to start.

How exciting this place was. Her momma and papa had grown up here! They might even know some of the cats still living here. She knew so many stories with this as the setting, so seeing it in person was quite surreal. Thus, the kitten wanted nothing more than to check every inch of the place out. And there were so many cats of so many different sizes and colors and genders off doing their own things. She wanted to talk to them all. More like drill them with questions. But that was all the same to Iris at the moment.

She bumped into the Stormtalons hindquarters when he suddenly stopped before the leader's den, her eyes glued to some other kits playing a few yards away instead of on the path before her. Kits her own age. They were playing with a ball of moss! She knew that game!

The she-kit pouted as the warrior ushered her inside of the den before she could dart off toward them. "I wanna go say hi!" She whined as she trudged inside, at least listening to his orders - although begrudgingly. She had quickly learned that this tom was really all seriousness all the time: aka he was lame. The kitten obviously hadn't picked up on the fact that he was barely holding himself together with the news she had dumped on him earlier.

After a pause, she turned her attention from Stormtalon to this Kestrelstar dude, her pout vanishing like it hadn't even been there in the first place once she realized her tactic wasn't gonna work. Though, it didn't help that the tom seemed to refuse to look at her!

[takes place pre-deranged Kestrelstar for those reading]

For once, Kestrelstar had actually listened to his brother in bonds and was resting his paws. With his searches for Frozenberry still coming up with less results than fish swimming in leaf-bare, the leader was starting to devise other ways to track the stubborn feline. They couldn't have fun off far, yet they were nowhere to be seen, leaving the leader with only wisps of their memory and the recollection of their time shared by the cliffside.

It still gave his heart shivers that could only be described as warm. Trusting. Urging the leader to look within for happiness... blegh. Kestrelstar hated all of it.

Commotion at the entrance of his den captured his attention, however, and the leader glanced up from where he was just finishing off a water vole. The morsel was the first piece of prey the leader had eaten all day and as he felt strength flow back into his muscles, he pushed himself to his paws. "Stormtalon," he greeted the warrior, relaxing as it was revealed to be a cat that he not only sort of liked but trusted.

Of course, those cats were not without their faults. This one being in the form of a tiny pip squeak.

"...And company." Curiosity piqued his interest as Kestrelstar stared down at the little kit, wondering where she had come from. "A favor you say. I'm assuming it involves this little scrap of fur?" he snorted, looking up from the young kit and back to the warrior. He let his words end there, waiting for whatever explanation was behind one of his trusted warriors bringing an unfamiliar kit into his den.

[Dizerel]

Originally Posted by spade

The fear in Junipersong's eyes... was delicious. Kestrelstar found himself wanting to drink it all in, let it resonate within him, fill him from ears to tail tip. The power that fear gave him, it kept cats in line. It kept him in power. Power. That's what he knew he needed in order to strike ThunderClan down. An army of those who followed him, who believed that justice would not be delivered unless it was at the claws of his Clan. He needed his cats under his control; they needed to unify to destroy ThunderClan, to... to -

For a moment, something inside the leader faltered. A misstep in the calculations of Blossomclaw's rigorous training. The endless nights in the shadowy forest, learning move after move until his pelt dripped with blood and each muscle ached and threatened to give out under him.

It was fleeting, there for just a moment in time and then... gone.

"Of course I deserve it. With everything I put up with? I never asked to be leader, no. I took the mantle after being leader when I was under the impression that Lionstorm would be here to fall back on if I needed it. But no!" Anger riled him up as the gray tabby shifted his gaze onto the den floor, swiping at it with unsheathed claws. The fur on his neck was raised, fangs barred. "Those murderous, fox-hearted crow-food eating squirrels had to take him away. And Fawnsqueak. And Firehawk. Peonypaw, Petuniaflame!." By now the leader's sides were heaving with each breath, ragged and uneven.

Turning now to lock his yellow gaze with the molly, Kestrelstar let out a laugh. Dark, yet melodic, and suddenly his fur lay flat and his composure returned to normal. "No harm will come to me. Or you. Or RiverClan. Ever again. The days of the other Clans pushing us around are over. I will contnue the strong Clan that Lionstorm built," he vowed, nodding along with what he said. "Now, are you with me, or are you against me?" What if Junipersong found it in her heart to sympathize with ThunderClan? What if she was working with them? Kestrelstar didn't want to make an example out of her, she was like family to him.

But sometimes even family couldn't be trusted.

She could feel her heart breaking. She saw it in him. The narcissistic, power hungry glare that often was used by all sorts of abusers. Rulers, leaders, and loved ones alike. Fear may be a good way to control people, but its still abuse, and hurts a relationship more than helps it, even if you are trying to scare someone into doing something good. Seeing it in his eyes was just shocking. Had all that power really gone to his head? Was he becoming one of the corrupt leaders, like told from the stories that elders pass down?

She felt like she was partially responsible for it. Her naïve nature leaving her vulnerable to this abuse, and instead of putting the blame on the abuser, it was all on herself. Even worse is that now she was determined to fix him, but she had no idea where to start. It was hard to think when her heart was pounding out of her chest, backed into a corner by him. Logic didn't work as good as it usually did when one was afraid.

Worst of all, she really wanted to speak out. To tell him to calm down. Think straight. Realize what he is doing is harmful to everyone around him and even himself. But the words wouldn't come to her mouth. She just stood there, mouth open, looking dumbfounded as much as she did frightened.

The mention of Petuniaflame really struck at her heartstrings. The pain from that loss was still recent. But what hurt even more was the loss of Kestrelstar. Him losing his sanity like this. She could barely even recognize him with how he was acting. Then it struck her. Exactly what to say. "No harm will come to us. But what is the price for that? What have you lost along the way?"

She didn't stop there. Standing all the way up again so that she was towering over him. No longer cowering against the wall, her whiskers mere inches from his. Even with her boost in confidence, her eyes still looked watery. "What have you become? I used to love you. I don't know who you are anymore. But I am with you. The real Kes that I know and love. The one that I know is deep down inside you. But I have no allegiance to this... thing that you have become. Its already so hard for me, trying to tell myself not to love you because I know you would be better with someone else but even then.... I want my friend back."

Holding back tears, standing proud in front of him. If wanting her best friend back was heresy then she would die for it.

(Power play permission to attack her)

[~Kitty~]

@spade
“Well, than that apprentice has bees in her brain. Why would I want to meet a thunderclan cat?” every inch of her shivered in fear. She would make RainingPaw pay!

[Riverfly]

Ivywing stepped back a bit in surprise. "I-I'm sorry, me and Willowvine just thought it would be a good idea to tell you..." She meowed, still inching back. @spade

[Ziera]

// @spade | @Zero

Stormtalon’s half-ear swerved toward Iris’ grumbling mew. “After,” he said with a dismissive flick of his tail. If all went well, Iris would have plenty of time to play with the RiverClan kits.

Call him soft-hearted, call him whatever, but no: Stormtalon wouldn’t leave her to fend for herself. He wouldn’t leave any kit to that sort of fate; ever since Silverfish abandoned her family, the blood of a protector ran in Stormtalon’s veins. It didn’t matter what happened to him, didn’t matter that finding Iris shook the tom’s foundation, pulled ghosts from his past to live again; Storm would deal with it and ensure Iris was safe and cared for to the best of his ability. It was that simple.

Kestrel’s comment had the tabby’s brows arching. “No, it involves something else.” A little deadpan snark. He shared a mutual respect with Kestrelstar that might border on friendliness, although Storm didn’t know if he liked hearing sass from anyone other than Snakeheart. Oh well.

“This is Iris,” Stormtalon continued, and this time, he looked down at the kit in question. She didn’t know their connection yet because he never said his name. Storm briefly considered whether Iris would overreact, maybe throw a tantrum because how dare she be related to such a boring character?

It was still all so...strange. Suppressing his thoughts felt like trying to stuff them into a tiny box; they kept leaking out the sides. “I’m asking you to accept her as a full-fledged member of RiverClan—under my supervision.” A pause as Storm debated about saying everything in front of Iris. Hell…what does it matter? “I have some reason to believe we share the same mother - Silverfish, a deserter from moons ago.” Twenty-two, to be exact. “I’m confident I can turn Iris into a productive member of the clan.”

Now Stormtalon went quiet, waiting for the penny to drop.

[Zero]

- @spade || @Ziera

Iris watched Kestrelstar curiously as her eyes adjusted to the darkness of the den, wondering about the cat that led all of RiverClan. She had a basic understanding of clan dynamics from her parents, but definitely had quite a few questions about the leadership role. But, that'd have to wait until later - she was too distracted as she took in the den around them. It was kinda like back home in here!

It was Kestrelstar's greeting that really caught her full attention, her gaze snapping back from where it had been staring curiously at Kestrelstar's nest. There was only one, which was totally weird to her. She had been wondering if it was kinda lonely, sleeping in this den all alone. But, that'd have to wait now.

Stormtalon. As in Storm, her brother? The kitten's gaze fell back to the tom who had brought her from the territory. He confirmed her suspicions moments later as Iris stared, slack-jawed. "You didn't tell me?" She questioned, not really knowing what to think about that quite yet. Did this mean he hadn't been happy to meet her? But, she'd been so excited. The she-kit definitely didn't understand how much of a shock it was to suddenly learn you have a sister through the mother that had abandoned you moons ago.

That would have to wait, though, because she thought back to what Storm had been saying originally. She could always grill Stormtalon later, anyways. "Full member?" She mewed suddenly, popping up. "No- no, my mom is gonna come back to get me." Her gaze returned to Kestrelstar. "I just wanted to meet my brothers, and learn a little bit more about my heritage!" She assured him.

Though, had her mom mentioned when exactly she'd be coming back? Iris had been so consumed with excitement at the prospect of such a trip that she'd either ignored when her mom had said anything about that or she hadn't said anything at all. But, obviously, she'd just missed that part! Her mother wouldn't have left her here without saying anything... right? There was no way that could happen, that wasn't the kind of cat her mother was.

"I can pull my weight in the meantime! I'm plenty productive already-" A side-eye at her brother. "Mom tells me I'm really good at chores." A tiny lie - but with good intentions!

[Abyssopelagic]

Palepaw shook her head.
"No, but I had planned to after I was done here. I thought I should tell you first, he does have a tendency to complicate things."
She was grateful he wasn't asking why she'd been in the territory alone, or asking who had been with her when it happened. She'd already convinced herself to tell the truth and she knew she'd no doubt receive some sort of scolding. It was, after all, against the warrior Code for apprentices to leave on their own.

//I'm so sorry that I kind of never got back to this until now
@spade

[spade]

Originally Posted by Dizerel

She could feel her heart breaking. She saw it in him. The narcissistic, power hungry glare that often was used by all sorts of abusers. Rulers, leaders, and loved ones alike. Fear may be a good way to control people, but its still abuse, and hurts a relationship more than helps it, even if you are trying to scare someone into doing something good. Seeing it in his eyes was just shocking. Had all that power really gone to his head? Was he becoming one of the corrupt leaders, like told from the stories that elders pass down?

She felt like she was partially responsible for it. Her naïve nature leaving her vulnerable to this abuse, and instead of putting the blame on the abuser, it was all on herself. Even worse is that now she was determined to fix him, but she had no idea where to start. It was hard to think when her heart was pounding out of her chest, backed into a corner by him. Logic didn't work as good as it usually did when one was afraid.

Worst of all, she really wanted to speak out. To tell him to calm down. Think straight. Realize what he is doing is harmful to everyone around him and even himself. But the words wouldn't come to her mouth. She just stood there, mouth open, looking dumbfounded as much as she did frightened.

The mention of Petuniaflame really struck at her heartstrings. The pain from that loss was still recent. But what hurt even more was the loss of Kestrelstar. Him losing his sanity like this. She could barely even recognize him with how he was acting. Then it struck her. Exactly what to say. "No harm will come to us. But what is the price for that? What have you lost along the way?"

She didn't stop there. Standing all the way up again so that she was towering over him. No longer cowering against the wall, her whiskers mere inches from his. Even with her boost in confidence, her eyes still looked watery. "What have you become? I used to love you. I don't know who you are anymore. But I am with you. The real Kes that I know and love. The one that I know is deep down inside you. But I have no allegiance to this... thing that you have become. Its already so hard for me, trying to tell myself not to love you because I know you would be better with someone else but even then.... I want my friend back."

Holding back tears, standing proud in front of him. If wanting her best friend back was heresy then she would die for it.

(Power play permission to attack her)

[ Powerplay has been approved! ]

The wildfire that raged inside of Kestrelstar's chest only grew and expanded, charring whatever feeling or emotion that had been left over. In its wake were the ashes of anger, of a need for vengeance. Yellow eyes were ablaze as he stared at Junipersong, lips curled back into a snarl as she spoke. Before him was not the friend who had stuck by his side, but yet another doubter. Another disloyal RiverClan warrior who couldn't see past their own nose to what ThunderClan - and the entire forest - was doing to RiverClan.

With her standing tall, hovering over him, Kestrelstar felt his anger rise to a fever pitch. A challenge to his authority was what it was. It was a shock to him, her confession of love, but not enough to cause him to falter in his steps. "If you have no allegiances to me, you have no allegiance to RiverClan. That makes you a traitor like the rest of them," he growled, ears going back as his eyes narrowed. A hunter, focusing in on his prey.

It took everything for the leader to restrain himself from slashing a claw across her face. Drawing blood from a traitor that refused to shed hers in protection of her Clan. To honor the commitment she had made during her warrior ceremony.

Suddenly, the rising tides felt like too much.

It was only a second, but the leader lashed a claw out, scoring it across Junipersong's muzzle. The satisfaction of claws ripping through fur and flesh exhilarated him, and his own mouth contorted into a sadistic grin. "Get out of my den before I shred you," he spat, the fur along his back rising with each word as his unsheathed claw hung in the air, scarlet drops dripping from it.

Originally Posted by Riverfly

Ivywing stepped back a bit in surprise. "I-I'm sorry, me and Willowvine just thought it would be a good idea to tell you..." She meowed, still inching back. @spade

Kestrelstar couldn't stop the roll of his yellow eyes, his frustration rising to a fever pitch. A headache was soon on its way, and the gray tabby waved a paw towards the entrance of his den. "Well, it's not. I'm the Clan's leader, and if you haven't noticed I'm trying to stop the squirrels across the border from slaughtering us all. So why don't you go back to your little family and enjoy what little time you probably have left with them." His words were bitter and sharp as he turned his head, obviously done with this conversation.

Originally Posted by Ziera

// @spade | @Zero

Stormtalon’s half-ear swerved toward Iris’ grumbling mew. “After,” he said with a dismissive flick of his tail. If all went well, Iris would have plenty of time to play with the RiverClan kits.

Call him soft-hearted, call him whatever, but no: Stormtalon wouldn’t leave her to fend for herself. He wouldn’t leave any kit to that sort of fate; ever since Silverfish abandoned her family, the blood of a protector ran in Stormtalon’s veins. It didn’t matter what happened to him, didn’t matter that finding Iris shook the tom’s foundation, pulled ghosts from his past to live again; Storm would deal with it and ensure Iris was safe and cared for to the best of his ability. It was that simple.

Kestrel’s comment had the tabby’s brows arching. “No, it involves something else.” A little deadpan snark. He shared a mutual respect with Kestrelstar that might border on friendliness, although Storm didn’t know if he liked hearing sass from anyone other than Snakeheart. Oh well.

“This is Iris,” Stormtalon continued, and this time, he looked down at the kit in question. She didn’t know their connection yet because he never said his name. Storm briefly considered whether Iris would overreact, maybe throw a tantrum because how dare she be related to such a boring character?

It was still all so...strange. Suppressing his thoughts felt like trying to stuff them into a tiny box; they kept leaking out the sides. “I’m asking you to accept her as a full-fledged member of RiverClan—under my supervision.” A pause as Storm debated about saying everything in front of Iris. Hell…what does it matter? “I have some reason to believe we share the same mother - Silverfish, a deserter from moons ago.” Twenty-two, to be exact. “I’m confident I can turn Iris into a productive member of the clan.”

Now Stormtalon went quiet, waiting for the penny to drop.

Originally Posted by Zero

- @spade || @Ziera

Iris watched Kestrelstar curiously as her eyes adjusted to the darkness of the den, wondering about the cat that led all of RiverClan. She had a basic understanding of clan dynamics from her parents, but definitely had quite a few questions about the leadership role. But, that'd have to wait until later - she was too distracted as she took in the den around them. It was kinda like back home in here!

It was Kestrelstar's greeting that really caught her full attention, her gaze snapping back from where it had been staring curiously at Kestrelstar's nest. There was only one, which was totally weird to her. She had been wondering if it was kinda lonely, sleeping in this den all alone. But, that'd have to wait now.

Stormtalon. As in Storm, her brother? The kitten's gaze fell back to the tom who had brought her from the territory. He confirmed her suspicions moments later as Iris stared, slack-jawed. "You didn't tell me?" She questioned, not really knowing what to think about that quite yet. Did this mean he hadn't been happy to meet her? But, she'd been so excited. The she-kit definitely didn't understand how much of a shock it was to suddenly learn you have a sister through the mother that had abandoned you moons ago.

That would have to wait, though, because she thought back to what Storm had been saying originally. She could always grill Stormtalon later, anyways. "Full member?" She mewed suddenly, popping up. "No- no, my mom is gonna come back to get me." Her gaze returned to Kestrelstar. "I just wanted to meet my brothers, and learn a little bit more about my heritage!" She assured him.

Though, had her mom mentioned when exactly she'd be coming back? Iris had been so consumed with excitement at the prospect of such a trip that she'd either ignored when her mom had said anything about that or she hadn't said anything at all. But, obviously, she'd just missed that part! Her mother wouldn't have left her here without saying anything... right? There was no way that could happen, that wasn't the kind of cat her mother was.

"I can pull my weight in the meantime! I'm plenty productive already-" A side-eye at her brother. "Mom tells me I'm really good at chores." A tiny lie - but with good intentions!

The little quip from Stormtalon caused a wide eyed look from Kestrelstar, and something resembling a laughing snort came from his nose. Prickly, this one. Reminded him a bit of Snakeheart - perhaps that's why he found himself taking a certain liking to the warrior. The leader didn't bother to comment on it though, since there seemed to be other important matters at paw Stormtalon wanted to discuss.

Yellow eyes traveled from his Clanmmate down to the tiny kit. Iris. What a peculiar name - then again, all those who were born outside the Clans had unique names, and Kestrelstar found it rather tiring trying to keep up. "A little sibling, hmm?" Inquisitive eyes studied the scrap of fur, ears pricking at the mention of Silverfish. He faintly recalled such a warrior, back when he was an apprentice. At the time, he hadn't really paid any mind to it.

Apparently this wasn't only news to Kestrelstar, but to the young kit as well. Tsk. Stormtalon. Not explaining the reasoning behind finding this kit might've prove to become a thorn in his side, but it wasn't the gray tabby's place to judge. "Oh yes, I'm certain your mother will come back for you at any moment," the leader replied with the smallest hint of snarkk that might've flown right over the kitten's head, but would definitely be detected by Stormtalon.

Lifting his head and straightening up, Kestrelstar glanced to Stormtalon. "Will this interfere with your training of Mistypaw?" he questioned, his tone taking on that of a more serious nature. Clanborn can first - if this would cause any disruption to the apprentices' training, Kestrelstar would have to select a queen to perhaps take watch over the young kit.

[versailles]

@spade //

➸ daisybird

her walk back to camp had proven her hopes wrong. hawkkit wasn't okay. hawkkit was dead, and she wasn't sure what to do other than stumble her way towards the leaders den, sobbing and feeling bile rise in the back of her throat when she fully realized that she was carrying her kits corpse.

one kit missing, one kit dead. was she really that bad of a mother?

"ke-kestrelstar," daisybird choked out as she stepped a paw into the den, gently laying hawkkit on the ground. "hawkkit, shes..she's" she paused, feeling her legs shake. "dead." she whispered, chest tightening - what if greykit suffered the same fate? "and greykit..he's - he's missing..i just.." she didn't even know where he'd gone off to, if hawkkit had convinced him to follow her outside of camp, or if he just wandered off himself.

was she even meant to be a mother? was this her fault or just some terrible curse?