Spoke Too Soon (closed_week 4)

[harmony]

The large ebony paws padded lonely through the forest, nothing but the world to keep him company. That may seem large, but to this tom the world was very small. The world was very small indeed. Four clans, one of them a potential enemy and the other two somewhere between neutral and alliance. He sighed. What business had he ever gotten himself into, becoming clan leader? Then again, it really hadn't been a decision made by him. And he loved his job, for the most part.

Hiddenstar's paws ached as he decided, with no luck at hunting, to head to Ember Mountain, where he'd promised to meet his mate. Hopefully Cinderheart was already there. A small smile threatened to upturn the corners of his mouth at the thought. Cinderheart, the most beautiful she-cat in AshClan, waiting for him. He'd never really thought it possible. And yet it was, and there she'd be. He let his smile grow a little. Though the leader was usually a reserved cat, he didn't mind when it came to his family. He loved Cinderheart more than anyone, and it was hard for him to admit it at first. He chuckled at the memories as he walked, recalling the day he first realized he liked her. He was deputy then, rather shy about it, too. But he got to know her soon enough. He'd been a bit skeptical at first, knowing that she was in love with a SoulClan cat before, but he learned to deal with it. It was of the past, and she was of the present. And when she was pregnant with their first litter, he was so excited. After they'd died... well, it had been rough, to say the least, but she was expecting kits again anyway, and he was just as thrilled as the first time.

The leader stopped suddenly and stared around him. Something wasn't right. He couldn't let it shake. He stared again. What was wrong? Whatever it was, he couldn't put his paw on it. But it was so familiar... and then it hit him. He was standing in a pile of dead plants. And among them there were two live ones, just sitting in the dead. He gasped. He'd seen the exact same thing in SoulClan the other day! It was as if someone had killed the others, while skipping over a select few. He shook his head, closed his amber eyes, and looked again. But it was still there. Words popped into his head, as if someone were directly speaking to him. But they were blurred, and he couldn't hear them. They only spoke once, and that was it. He assumed they'd clear up through dreams, for they were obviously sent from StarClan.

Hiddenstar stood absolutely still for the next couple of moments, taking in the exact detail of the scene before stepping out once more. How bizarre, he thought as he walked. His paws braced themselves for the steep trek, then pushed up the hot mountain side. His dark pelt soaked up the heat, and it felt great. How could those FrostClan cats ever stand the cold? He'd never know.

When he made it to the top, joins aching, he searched around, the leader's amber eyes trying to find his mate. She had to beat him. Unless the kits were slowing her town, in which case he would let her take all the time she needed. So he sat patiently and kept and eye out for the gorgeous she-cat.

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[Juniper]

The dusty amber she-cat slowly ambled out of the nursery, her luscious fur slightly matted from her afternoon nap. The beating sun streaked her pale fur gold; neat paws stepped daintily towards her destination. It was a quiet day. A few particularly brave warblers sounded from a distance, as if afraid that Ember Mountain would again erupt just like it had a mere moon ago. Thick clouds marred the white sky, an untimely and ferocious sun searing the cool air, creating wads of mist all about.

Dark ember eyes searched the paleness around her, paws close to her belly, as if guarding the unborn kits. Cinderheart was worried that another catastrophe would occur to Hiddenstar’s kits. She briefly wondered why he had chosen such a dangerous location to meet her. After a time, she paused to examine the pads of her paws. Could they withstand the heat of the mountain’s soil? She also self-consciously began grooming herself, aware of the mess her fur was in. Methodically she licked her paws and as much as she could of her back. Then, lapping up a few drops of dew on the sparse grass around her, she picked up her pace a little.

Cinderheart was quite anxious see her leader. All these rumors of prophecies and omens were tearing her with grief. What horrible fate awaited her beloved Clan? Would she be able to protect her Clanmates or her kits? Finally she reached the base of the mountain. Eyes slanted, she peered up to see a huddled black shape. Hiddenstar!

She quickened her gait as she scaled the rocky mountain, reaching the top with some time. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw how thin Hiddenstar had become in contrast to what she had imagined. It had been some time since she had seen him; she still reminisced about the moments they had met when he was just a deputy. How young and fresh he had looked! He had such a handsome midnight coat and strong muscles. He also had that powerful air about him. You could tell he would bring great change to their Clan, great change.

Somewhat nervously, she inquired “How are you?” With that preliminary and awkward question done with, she greeted him more warmly with a tender brush of her tail. “It’s good to see you. I just hope you weren’t too busy keeping up with all the demands of the Clan. With all the starvation and sickness…” She paused to recollect her thoughts before plunging on to a more pressing topic. “I… I have heard tell of rumors of omens… Tell me, has StarClan spoken to you directly? Mind letting me know?” Her concern was obvious by the way her facial features wrinkled with emotion.

Word Count 458
Tags Hiddenstar
Ooc Hopefully this post isn’t too bad.

[harmony]

Her tone was taught when she first showed, but she softened up, and so did he. He padded up to her and nuzzled his nose into her thick fur, craving to scent her sweet smell. Then he stepped back and sat down, looking at the kits she was carrying. His kits. He grinned, still amazed that he had ever landed a she-cat like her, and stared at the small lump where the kits would be.

"I'm so excited, Cinderheart," he whispered gently in his deep voice before turning his eyes up to hers. They shimmered in joy and hopefulness. "I'm so excited... but you know that if anything happens, I love you all the more, okay?" If there was one thing that Hiddenstar didn't want, it was for his mate to feel like she was going to fail him. He sighed, straightening up again and assuming his leader-like posture. It was time to get down to business.

"The rumors are right, for once," he grunted. "I have been getting some interesting signs... and dreams... I have vivid dreams of walking in a shadow coming over us. And recently I've been seeing live plants among dead ones...." He brought his gaze over, staring at a small dot on the mountain and thinking of everything. Hiddenstar's amber eyes were lost in thought.

But suddenly he shot them up to her, a thought forming in his mind. "Cinderheart, how is that Lifekit doing? I mean, is he doing all right?" was all he said, not even explaining why he said it until after she answered.

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[Juniper]

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[atrb=background,http://i437.photobucket.com/albums/qq95/amanda1472/cin2.jpg] The pale amber she-cat closed her eyes as her mate embraced her, tenderly rubbing his muzzle against her pelt, which glowed a fiery hue. She managed a small smile as he voiced his excitement about the soon-to-come kits. She kept her pale, attractive face blank, not wishing to convey her concerns. Hiddenstar just seemed so… happy for once. Happy? He was practically giddy with the thought that at last she could bear kits that were his. “I hope they look exactly like you. Strong, handsome, and fine kits. What shall we name them I wonder?” she mused, angling her muzzle to the wide skies, almost as if she were conversing with StarClan themselves. Brilliant dramatic eyes searched the heavens before turning to gaze at the midnight coat of Hiddenstar. Yes, she would have it no other way. They would have sooty black coats and perhaps dark gray patches on them. Maybe some light dapples as well? She did always enjoy a dappled coat. And short muzzles, long tails with fur like rippling water, soft-looking faces… there was simply so much to consider, and to hope. Still pondering this, she barely registered the fact that her beloved had already briskly moved on to more pressing concerns. A worried look crossed the dusty she-cat’s beautiful face as she listened to Hiddenstar detail the odd omens he received. Dreams of walking in a shadow? Live plants among dead ones? “But what… What could this mean?” Cinderheart stammered, troubled. Something huge was coming to AshClan for sure. “Have you talked to Ermineheart about this?” Surely the Medicine cat would have answers. He always did. She peered closely into his dark eyes, wondering what he was pondering. Suddenly, he inquired about Lifekit in a blunt and rather accusing way. Cinderheart’s umber eyes narrowed into slits. Hiddenstar’s tone suggested he suspected that her beloved, adopted kit was somehow tangled in this mess of dark omens and dreams. “He is perfectly fine. Nothing wrong with him whatsoever. Why do you ask,” she half snapped, her dark eyes seemingly touched with fire. She glanced at him warily, almost expecting him to banish her kit from the Clan. However, she herself had those nagging doubts… Perhaps he was right. He was the leader after all. And yet Lifekit seemed so young and innocent… The silence seemed prolonged; Cinderheart’s nerves grew with worry. “Please…! Please, he’s alright, really! You wouldn’t get rid of him would you?” she pleaded desperately. Her pricked ears were lowered and her tail flattened against the blackened terrain of the hill they were on. She knew her mate wasn’t of a cruel nature, and yet he cared so much about his Clan. So much, that it was rather frightening. "Cinderheart speaks" Cinderheart ponders Cinderheart does Word Count 454 Tags Hiddenstar Ooc She’s so defensive sometimes, ha.

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