Never Wanna Be [Rose!]

[Shadow Da Smiffster]

It's The Beginning Of The End
And I Don't Know Where We Lost Control
It's The Beginning Of The End And I
Know That I Am All Alone

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Morning, a foul hour if could say so himself. What the hell was Silentstar thinking with making him a mentor so soon after returning to the Clan? Everyone just expected him to screw up because he'd spent so long on the streets, that he was some unjust, stupid, brat that wouldn't take a Warrior name.

And it was with that state of mind that Chazz emerged from his den that morning. Yes, his den. So many other warriors had given him dirty looks when he tried to sleep with them that he left one night and built his own nest of moss in a hollowed out tree. It wasn't as if anyone missed him during the night. They all probably slept better without him.

Chazz let out a yawn, and stretched his muscles before making his way down the branches and to the forest floor. At least the morning exercise woke him up everyday, but now he had to deal with something much worse than grogginess... an apprentice. Quickly, Chazz made his way into camp, nodding once to Silentstar, who's gaze seemed to be the only one without malice for him these days. Still, he wasn't too fond of the ThunderClan leader. But then again, this was Chazz, the Black Thunder. He wasn't fond of anyone.

"Whitepaw!" he yowled into the apprentices' den, startling the young cats still inside out of their restful sleep. They groaned audibly and hissed some insults to Chazz, but he didn't care. "Get a move on. You have fighting practice today!"



[/blockquote][/blockquote]

[♥Rösε]

Whitepaw was laying out in the middle of camp, her body was semi sprawled out as she let full relaxation take over her. The pureness of her fur was illuminated in the new sun light and she basked in its glow. Her eye lids were closed as she let her ears flattened against her skull. It was only moments when she could hear the sound of paw steps coming in her direction. Paying no mind to the sound she continued her rest until the sun's light was blocked behind her lids. Her face scrunched up a bit to show her discontent before one eye opened revealing a brilliantly orange colored optic. Lifting her vision skyward she could see the pale grey shape of her mother, Ashpetal. Just who she needed to see miss prissy kill joy. Opening her other eye she lifted her head from her paws, clearly seeing her mothers disgust on her face. "What?"

she asked grumbling and wiping her paws over her eyes. Her tail swished around her form and tickled her side.

Her mother snorted and Whitepaw's eyes rested back on her form. From what she could tell she was clearly agitated about one thing or another, not a surprise. Her fur was perfect, as usual, not a strand out of place which she could never figure out why it was kept so nice. If your going to laze about at least look proper. You should spend your time more wisely, I need some grand children. You are past the age. Whitepaw rolled her eyes, not this again. When would she get the picture that she wasn't looking for a mate. Plus she wasn't sure she even wanted kits, though if she spoke as much her mother would have a heart attack. "And if I don't want kits?"[/color] she mewed innocently, yes she was bad, bad for testing her mother like this but it was amusing. Her mother's eyes widened in alarm and Whiteflicker's lips twitched trying to keep the smile off her face. Tucking her bodice in toward her stomach she pushed herself to her paws, she was about the same height as her mother, and she looked her straight in her eyes.

She could see the anger starting to form in her green eyes. Before she could object to her statement Whitepaw pushed past her, gently. And headed for the camp entrance her white fur was slightly shaggy but otherwise it was pretty clean. Her ears perked forward to straight straight on the top of her head, her spider web like whiskers flowed gracefully from her cheeks and blew with the breeze. Her tail swished and she turned back in time to see her mother huff and shake her head before walking off, most likely to find her father to start complaining again. It was the same thing every-time, why couldn't she be more like her, why couldn't she act like a female instead of a tom boy, why is she so stubborn really her mother's list was endless. Turning she headed back into the apprentices den, though right when she sat down she heard a familiar voice call in. "Whitepaw!"[/color] She felt her ears flattened defiantly, jeez could he be any louder? Shrugging her shoulders she pushed her way out of the bramble and into the camp again. She was almost his height as she was seventeen moons of age, their lack of proper leadership in the past left her far to old for this den. When he mentioned battle training her eyes lit up, she was one of the best fighters in ThunderClan despite being a girl.She raced past him already heading to the proper spot out of camp.

The sunlight barely peaked through the thick canopy of leaves above. Her orange gaze watched the many beautiful colors of the fall leaves, oranges, reds, golds almost resembling her own orange iris's. A small smile was placed along her lips as she watched the light show through them. It really was a nice day, to think that the trees would be dead for winter, the only good part of it was that she would be able to blend into the snow. Which meant hiding and scaring Smudgenose, just because he was deputy didn't mean he was an exception to her playful teasing. Besides he was her best friend, he was obligated to it. The thought made her mouth twitch up into a smirk, she could always find some fun in every season of the year. Turning she continued on her way while she walked she noticed scruffs of fur, small fur. Must have been a killing recently, seeing the scratch marks meant it was buried here. Blinking her orange optics at it she would leave it, someone worked hard for that prey.

Lifting her gaze she suddenly spotted a uniquely colored leaf it seemed to be red but blended with orange. Curiosity overcame her and she raced towards the tree and clawed her way up the trunk of the tree, she balanced gracefully along the branch, using her tail as a balancing method. Her ears flattened in determination, she would get this leaf or at least get a closer look. Hopping down to a lower branch she dug her claws into the bark, just as she pawed her way along the branch she noticed a familiar dark pelt. "Hey Black Thunder!"[/color] she called she was just about directly over him. Taking another step her paw slipped and she slid off the branch, landing on her side in a pile of leaves they all flew up at her impact. At least she wasn't super high up, it was an average tree not a large one, thank StarClan otherwise she might have broke something. In this case she only had a scratch fro the branch on her leg, and the leaves cushioned her fall. So no harm done, at least thats how she saw it. Shaking her head and moving into a sitting position the leaves laid beside her paws. Her orange gaze landed on Chazz and she smiled, slowly the leave she had wanted floated from the tree and landed on her nose. She laughed and blew it off allowing it to float to her paws.[/blockquote][/blockquote][/sub][/color]

[Shadow Da Smiffster]

The Black And Cold Reminds Me
Of All The Distance We Have Crossed
And If Your Darkness Blinds Me
I Could Never Be More Lost

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Enthusiastic much? Chazz thought to himself as his apprentice whizzed passed him towards the training grounds. Not that he was complaining. The more willing his apprentice was to listen to him for once, the better. Whitepaw had an attitude, and... considering he too portrayed an air of venomous disdain for just about everything, they quarreled... a lot. Still, Chazz had to admit, she was talented in her own regard. Talented enough to be a Warrior in his opinion, but apparently not in the eyes of Silentstar. Honestly, if I didn't know any better, I would think he's keeping her an apprentice to torture me....

But as soon as Whitepaw came tumbling down from the tree, he realized... no, she truly was not ready. Not if she thought she could chase leaves up trees, be noisy about it, and of course plummet to what could have been something worse than a scratch. As she laughed at the leaf on her nose, Chazz grimaced. However, the expression didn't last long, as Whitepaw called him by the wrong name, "If I've told the Clan once, I've said it a thousand times. My name is Chazz. My days as Black Thunder are well behind me. Now Whitepaw, show me what you got. If you do well, maybe I'll teach you a bit about climbing trees too."

The black tom smirked, flexing his unsheathable claws into the dirt. Ah yes, he was ready for a good fight. The problem was that he had to be extremely careful because of this disorder. Since he couldn't retract his claws like most other cats, battle training became a bit harder. Thankfully, Whitepaw was tough enough to handle the occasional scratch.

Her mother always does give me glares, he thought. Though she wouldn't be the only one. Heh. What was the point in coming back here? Oh right, because the streets were hell, but this hardly counts as a heaven. Sabrefang is keeping his eyes on me, I can feel it. He's gonna kill me while I'm asleep....

But he pushed the thoughts away for now, instead tensing his muscles and getting ready for Whitepaw's first round of training. She knew all the basic moves. Now was just more about mastering them. But... but Chazz knew moves beyond those of a Clan cats'; he was a feral after all, knew the city, the ropes. Perhaps he should be teaching her those moves too?

No, the Clan would kick me out for teaching her something so... heh, they'd probably call it vulgar!



[/blockquote][/blockquote]

[♥Rösε]

Whitepaw glanced down at the leaf on her paws, why did she go to that much trouble for it she wasn't sure it just seemed like fun. Sure not everything could be a game but if it could then why not add some spice to life? Not many others shared her, well belief of seize the moment, carpe diem. Sure it made her look somewhat childish, but so be it they could think what they wanted of the older female. Really it was probably this that kept her from being a warrior as she did already have training. She was always treated differently than her other clanmates and she did not like it. Her ears flattened with these thoughts and she flicked her orange gaze up at the black tom cat. His eyes were dull, disapproving. He suddenly reminded her a lot of her mother wishing so dearly that she was different then how she turned out.

She heaved a sigh and got to her paws, shaking off a few leaves that clung to her pure white pelt she glanced back at him. A small frown placed on her lips but soon evaporated. "Smiling won't kill you, you know."

she said and walked past him continuing on her way to the normal training hollow that as not to far off. Her ears perked up at the sounds of songbirds above her, and she stopped to watch them. She wondered what it would be like to fly, to be free to go wherever you wanted to just by opening your arms. The whole thought was fascinating, but she tore her gaze away in time to keep moving. To make the walk more interesting she pushed past some undergrowth and towards the river, walking along side the bank that lead up to the training hollow. Her tail swished behind her like a small cloud drifting across the sky.

Whitepaw froze as she saw something, flicking her orange optics into the river. Streaks of red flowed through the waters, sure it was pretty deluded but she could still see the bits and swirls of.... blood. Her eyes widened, but she kept her trap shut, her mind already working out possible scenarios. Though none of them added up, RiverClan didn't come this fat up the river because it was far to close to ThunderClan. And ThunderClan only went to the river to drink, not for anything else. But then... where was the blood coming from? An animal maybe? Though all of the animals here were to small and so there blood would have been washed away instantly. Rouges could have a been a possible option , but even he blood of one cat would not have lasted this long down river.

She could see as the river was slowly dissolving the blood, it would be gone in a matter of moments now. How would she have proof, would anyone believe her? Probably not, she was just some head in the clouds should be warrior. Just that thought put a bitter taste in her mouth and her eyes narrowed. Claws digging into the earth, her own clan didn't trust her, didn't believe in her. Her own mentor didn't like her, though she could say the feelings were mutual. Since they would always get in arguments about one thing or another. "How... is this possible?"[/color] she whispered still watching the blood disappear into the crystalline currents.[/blockquote][/blockquote][/sub][/color]

[Shadow Da Smiffster]

But I'm Not The One Who Needs Your Protection
I'm Not The One Who Wears A Disguise
And I'm Not The One Who Reeks Of Rejection
I'm Not The One To Turn The Same Way Twice.

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Chazz didn't respond to Whitepaw's comment about smiling. Why should he fake a smile when he was nowhere near happy? However, he held himself back from snapping at his Apprentice today. Why even bother? If she kept up these shenanigans, she'd never become a Warrior. However, he soon realized that the quiet between the two of them filled with a tenseness he was not used to. They hadn't argued yet so... so why? And then, his Apprentice whispered something....

Chazz turned around to stare at her, his eyes flashing with some kind of untraceable emotion between anger and concern... until his eyes saw the distress on her face. Now he was worried... because even Whitepaw couldn't be making something up with that look on her face, "What happened?" he asked seriously. "Did you sense something?"

His stony gaze was not any less hard, but his voice was softer than usual. However, before the she-cat could answer, a gust of wind blew scents from downstream up to where they were standing... and just barely, Chazz could smell the faint scent of his brother, Sabrefang. His eyes going wide, he already had assumed he worst. His older brother had murdered another cat behind his back.

While he wanted to go dash to the location of the scent to find solid proof, he couldn't do so with Whitepaw around. No, his first line of duty was to keep her safe. With a swish of his tail he whispered, "Whitepaw, don't say a word and follow me."

Instead of going to the training hollow, Chazz lead her back into the forest where his den was located inside the tree, "Come on," he spat out. "Go up to the hole in the tree and stay there. Don't kick out any of the moss either, it took me a while to get it all collected. I'll spot you... I mean, follow you."

Even though he'd been with the Clan for a number of moons now, he slipped up sometimes and went back to what he called "Normal Language", rather than "Clanspeak." This most often happened when he was angry and let out a swear word... but it hardly mattered since nobody knew their meaning....

[♥Rösε]

Whitepaw had her orange colored optics drawn to the river now. You would think she was afraid and yet she only found a burning curiosity flowing through her, something she had yet to discover. Though part of her felt like it might be to dark to handle at the moment, it was weird. Her ears flattened to her skull as she tried to think of all the possible solutions, but she found none that made very much sense. She sighed softly before taking one paw step back, her ears perked up as she could hear the sounds of pawsteps coming from behind her. Of course she had a guess of who it might be, sense he would not just leave her. Well actually he probably would, still shaking her mind of these thoughts she turned to look over her shoulder.

As she had guessed Black Thunder, or whatever it was he preferred to be called was walking towards her. Though for once she was shocked to see what was in his eyes, worry. Was he really that worried about her well being? Pushing that thought to the back of her mind as she always did with any meaningful glance, or hint of affection of any sort. She glanced back at the now cleaned river bed and then back to the dark colored tom cat. "What happened?"

she shrugged her shoulders lightly, in truth she really didn't know what had happend."Not sure, it could be ma..."[/color] "Did you sense something?"[/color] Her ears flattened to her skull, he didn't have to interrupt her. Still she tried to avoid another mouth fight so she tried her hardest to keep herself calm.

"I sensed blood, or rather saw it in the river. The water masked the scent apparently, but as to the origins of this blood... its still a mystery."[/color] she mewed her voice was surprisingly serious at the time as she glanced back out to where the blood used to be. She wondered who's blood it was, or what if not a who. Before she could think about it anymore the tom cat looked a bit uneasy and frantic as he started to nudge her in a different direction. "Hey, I'm not a kit you don't need to nudge me around.[/color] she snapped her brows pulling together in confusion. "Whitepaw, don't say a word and follow me."[/color]

Her eyes narrowed , but she followed him anyways towards a larger tree. She paused to look up, spotting a hole part ways up the tree. She could hear him snap at her from behind her and she turned around, glaring at the tom before snorting. Turning around she bunched up her muscles and leapt onto the bark, easily clawing her way up the tree, her slender and well formed body easily slid through the hole, and she pushed her way to the back. It looked like there was just enough room for two cats in here. She waited until she could see his head and narrowed her optics. "What is your problem?!"[/color][/blockquote][/blockquote][/sub][/color]

[Shadow Da Smiffster]

You Push From The Inside
Smothered, You Push From The Inside Out
I Will Never Win, I Will Never Win With You

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"What's my problem?!" he hissed as soon as he'd heaved himself into his private nest. His glare was meaningful, and again, he realized why Whitepaw hadn't been made a warrior. Now wasn't the time for her to be asking what his problem was. Now was the time to think carefully. Did she even realize what blood in the river could mean? "Whitepaw, shut your trap and listen to me. Maybe I'm not too much older than you, but what you just told me is serious. Very serious. ThunderClan is not safe from things such as murder. But what would you know about death huh? Pampered little kit, I doubt you've lost anything important to you!"

His fur was standing on end now, both panic and fury flowing through his eyes. Chazz was... as much as he hated to admit it, scared. Scared of his own flesh and blood, whom he suspected to be behind this madness. Realizing how out of character he was in front of his own apprentice, he took a breath to compose himself. "You said you saw blood trailing down the river? That means that whatever died, cat or not, is upstream, caught in something, maybe branches...."

Chazz trailed off, his tail thumping against the moss inside his nest as he huddled towards one end, as if to keep as far away as possible from Whitepaw. It wasn't that he thought she was disgusting, no, nothing like that, but he had a fear of being close to anyone if it wasn't in combat. Well, maybe fear is the wrong word, but discomfort. I dread whoever was unlucky enough to land in my brother's claws.... he thought, suppressing the shudder that threatened to go down his spine.

At last, his gaze became stoic, normal again, and he glanced at Whitepaw, "Come on then, we'll let Silentstar know so he can send a patrol later. If it's a badger or fox that killed something up that way, it'd be foolish to take it by ourselves." In truth, Chazz just wanted to get as far from the river as possible, away from his brother. "How about some tree climbing then? We're already here."

Though his voice didn't hold the same edge as usual. He was still worried, still paranoid. One more thing spooking him, and he'd probably not hesitate to swipe his unsheathed claws at the next thing that moved....

He just hoped Whitepaw wouldn't pick up on his sudden lack of confidence. Without waiting for his apprentice to respond to his idea, he stepped out onto the branches, and quickly wove his way onto another, and another.... until he was about ready to jump to the next tree. But he stopped at the edge, a movement on the ground catching his eye....

Sabrefang, he thought. And indeed, it was his brother, lumbering back towards camp with a snide look on his face. Chazz froze to one spot, backing up slightly on his branch and crouching close to it as if he could melt into the bark. His fur rose again, and his tail swished behind him wildly as he watched Sabrefang scamper through the undergrowth. So petrified was he of his brother, even from this high ground, that he let a whisper escape his maw, "He's gonna kill me...."

[♥Rösε]

Whitepaw tucked herself in the back of the den, making sure there was extra room so she wouldn't have to be pressed against him. She didn't have a problem with sitting close to other cats, but him, she just did not want to. Her orange optics gleaming in the shadow of the den as he pulled himself in, snapping at her like usual. She rolled her eyes, she had wanted to say, yes what was your problem you look like a kit who saw a bird killed for the first time. Yet she kept her trap shut, she knew it would not do any good in the situation, and yet he seemed ready to pick a fight. Her ears perked forward as he tried his best to stay away from her, no worries here. She was not like other she-cats who needed comfort, and always wanted to press against some tom, really she could care less for that mushy stuff.

She had bigger things to worry about, like what was happening now. She was not all fun and games, though she tried to keep her clanmates spirits up during harder times. Some saw it as hopeful and others saw it as her being childish. When he started on again she started to just push his words from her mind and ignore it, but the last part caught her focus.ThunderClan is not safe from things such as murder. But what would you know about death huh? Pampered little kit, I doubt you've lost anything important to you!"

Hurt showed briefly in her fire colored eyes before her eyes narrowed. Her body was tense, "You know nothing about me."[/color] she hissed, her melodic voice was like venom seeping through your veins, and stopping your heart. "Try having a mother who is disgusted with you for not being the way she wanted. A father who could careless about me. And for your information, I lost of best friend Redpaw, the only she-cat that ever mattered to me. Or have you forgotten that?"[/color] her voice was cold as eyes as she averted her gaze, she couldn't even bear to look at him in the face anymore.

She was hurt, disgusted, she just didn't want to be in here anymore. He had called her pampered, a life of a warrior was far from. She had seen more than her share of blood, not that he noticed, all he cared about was himself. Why he was made a warrior she didn't understand. For he lacked the selfless quality one should have as a warrior of any clan. When he started speaking again about the seriousness of the matter, she still didn't look at him. She just stared out the hole of the den, watching a leaf fall past them. "Come on then, we'll let Silentstar know so he can send a patrol later. If it's a badger or fox that killed something up that way, it'd be foolish to take it by ourselves."[/color] Who said anything about taking care of it ourselves? She had thought bitterly, still she didn't want to go anywhere with him right now, it was her who saw the blood, so she should be the way to report it. He could stay here and be alone, thats what he really wanted. Her ears flattened when he talked about trees and climbed out of the hole. She got up shaking a bit of moss from her pelt and exited out, stepping out onto a branch.

"Im done. You can be alone like you want, I'm talking to Silentstar."[/color] her voice was dull as she clawed her way down the tree, not even noticing Sabrefang as she landed with a soft thud on the earth floor. Her body movement was tense as she stalked past Sabrefang, still in anger the white female had a grace and beauty that exceeded many in their time. Her ears were flattened o her skull when she stopped, dipped her head to Sabrefang and walked past him. Her tail tip flicking back and forth as she walked back into camp, perhaps the leader was in his den. Making her way back towards his den she stopped at the den entrance. "Silentstar?[/color] she called in, forcing her voice to be soft as she called in to the leader. [/blockquote][/blockquote][/sub][/color]

[Shadow Da Smiffster]

Though I Tried To Find The Answers
To All The Questions They Asked
Though I Know It's Impossible To Go
Living Through The Past, Won't Tell No Lies

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Chazz snapped out of his trance within enough time to see Whitepaw dismiss herself, but he felt too petrified to do a thing about it. Not even a flash of anger passed through his system as he watched her go towards camp, his heart pounding in his ears. Eventually, after several moments of sitting there, breathing heavily, the tomcat heaved his body up, and retreated to his nest, the edges of his maw twitching between a snarl and a frown.

As if I want to know a thing about her anyway, Chazz spat in his mind as he curled up in a tight ball. Whitepaw is an immature brat. What would she know about the horrors I've seen? What would anyone in this Clan know?!

***

Silentstar was staring at the back of his den in deep concentration, contemplating many things. Ironically, his thoughts were focused on the apprentice that would come to his doorstep in mere moments. He had his reasons for pairing Whitepaw with Chazz, or Black Thunder, his true warrior name. Both of them had seen the rougher sides of love, and both needed to buck up and get over it. With conflicting personalities, eventually they would have to learn to get along and move on if they ever wanted to be rid of each other.

But his thoughts were abruptly broken as the apprentice he had in his thoughts said his name. It was unlike Silentstar to call someone into his den when they came, so instead, he lifted his large frame from its spot, and went to the front of his den to greet the should-be-warrior. He dipped his head to the youngster before saying, "Greetings Whitepaw."

The rage coming off her in waves was so clear to the leader that he couldn't help but frown. Usually, when Chazz and Whitepaw fought it was laughable, but he had an ominous feeling as Whitepaw's eyes bore into her own, "Do you want to talk? You seem agitated."

[♥Rösε]

The white pelted female waited ever so patiently at the den entrance. She knew he didn't like people just going in so she waited, hoping she wasn't wasting her time sitting here and he not be in. Sitting back on her hunches she waited, taking this time to try and calm herself, that one comment from him struck her in her weak spot, and she had few of those. Most comments just bounced off her or in other words through one ear and out of the other. Turning she started to lick at her chest fur, just to calm her nerves some more, not to really clean herself up. Since she was usually always clean, and her fur silky, her ears perked forward as she heard some rustling deep inside the den. Her orange eyes narrowed curiously as she lifted her nose to scent for the leader. She caught it in her glands as he pushed his way to the entrance, his face right next to hers, she blinked and scooted back.

She dismissed the closeness, he stared at her for a moment before mewing a greeting to her. She dipped her head to him, "Hello Silentstar."

she mewed again keeping her voice cool as he again looked over her, what was he a vulture? Still she kept her face pretty calm, though she knew her irritated expression was probably still in place. "Do you want to talk? You seem agitated."[/color] Whitepaw did what to say something, say that she was miserable still being an apprentice for so long. Irritated that she had a heartless shrew as a mentor, he knew they would clash and yet he threw them together like it was nothing. What should she be happy about? Still she sighed and shook her head, she wasn't one to go on and on about feelings. Her tail curled over her paws as she got herself mentally prepared to tell him the news.

"Actually I've come to report something to you. Just a bit ago I was walking along the river when I noticed something. There was swirls of blood being carried in the currents. I'm not sure from what but there must have been a lot of blood to have made it down river this far."[/color] she mewed her tone was serious for once as she knew when it was needed. She had proved herself a warrior for many moons, and still even this probably wouldn't change his mind. It made her bitter to think about, but for now she pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind, this was important. More important than her stupid thoughts and rants.[/blockquote][/blockquote][/sub][/color]

[Shadow Da Smiffster]

There's A Natural Mystic
Flowing Through The Air
Can't Keep Them Down
And If You Listen Carefully Now, You Will Hear

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"Blood from the river," Silentstar repeated, his eyes clouding over with an icy coldness that was unlike him. He was lost in thought, in rage, as his first thoughts were similar to those of Chazz. Had someone been murdered? "Was Black Thun- I mean Chazz -there with you?"

Silentstar prayed that Chazz had not gone ahead alone to seek out the cause of this mystery, which would be most like his hasty brother, Sabrefang. Silentstar was no idiot though... he could feel the underlying tension between the two toms, and had often pondered why this was late into the evenings he couldn't sleep. Well, at least pondered on the days he was not thinking about other cats in his Clan. If there was one thing Silentstar was, it was loyal; he wanted only the best for ThunderClan, and he hoped his leadership would prove useful.

"Take me to the place you saw it," Silentstar finally decided, his voice stern. At once, he started padding towards the entrance of camp, and with a flick of his tail, summoned two Warriors over to him: Willowpelt, and of course, the infamous Sabrefang, who stood almost as tall as the leader.

As they padded out of the Camp, Silentstar let Whitepaw take the lead... but to get there, they had to pass an oh-so-familiar tree... one that Sabrefang wouldn't let go unnoticed. As they approached the tree where Chazz still lay moping in his own mind, the elder of the two brothers let out a yowl, "Hey Chazz or whatever you call yourself. Why don't you stop being a kit and bring your mousebrained self down here where you could be useful?"

Silentstar looked over his shoulder, sending a warning glance at Sabrefang, one that clearly said, I won't allow such behavior in my presence. Before Sabrefang had time to react however, there was a rustling in the branches, and the looming black tom came out hissing, "Would you fucking piss off Sabrefang?!"

Though the message was pretty much lost to the group of cats below, the tone of voice Chazz used pretty much gave away the meaning of his words. Without waiting for Sabrefang to speak again, the younger of the two brothers quickly made his way down the tree, almost flying over the branches as if it was second nature to him.

He's a talented warrior, even if his language and attitude need working on, Silentstar thought.

However, Chazz didn't seem quite as confident as he did up in the tree as soon as his paws touched the ground and he was forced to join their little patrol. In fact, it took all he had to not go dashing up ahead like a nervous kit to get away from the crowd of cats who he didn't even trust. Well, it was mostly Sabrefang he didn't trust, but that wasn't the point....

As they padded along the riverside, Sabrefang pulled in close next to Whitepaw, smiling his half charming, half vile smile at her, "How's my loser of a brother treating you? I bet he's such a mouse-brain that he hasn't taught you anything worth a piece of fox-dung. How about I teach you some moves and get you moving into that warrior den soon, huh?"

Chazz stayed silent, half torn between saying, "Please, take her off my hands," and "Get your fluffy ass away from her."

"If you keep learning from this idiot, you probably won't be a warrior for another twenty moons!" Sabrefang continued, laughing his heart out and bumping Whitepaw with his massive shoulders playfully.

That was it.

Chazz let out a hiss, and then dashed forward, hooking his claws onto Sabrefang's flank and pulling him away from the apprentice, "Don't touch her. She's my apprentice, and she will follow my training. Whether you and the rest of this fucking clan think I'm worth garbage doesn't mean anything to me, but I'd rather train her the rest of my pathetic life then let you make her into a mur--" he cut himself off, and Sabrefang looked at him with a meaningful glare, as if willing him to spit out the accusation.

"I smell something," Silentstar said, breaking the soon to be fight completely. "Blood. Up ahead...."

((OOC: Had to get some brother tension going XD. I'll let you bunny whoever you want for the next post, since I'm not sure what you want us to find.))

[♥Rösε]

The snow colored she-cat searched the leaders gaze for any reaction to her words. She sure hoped that he believed her everything she had said was true, all of it. Yet she had doubts that they would even listen to her, she hoped there would at least be some evidence. Her body was tense as she waited for anything, a look, a gesture anything. Suddenly his face grew serious and he repeated her words. She nodded confirming what she had said, blood in the river she had seen it clear as day. When he asked about Chazz being their she shrugged slightly. "More or less, he came just as it was fading."

she explained wetting her lips from the cold, before she tucked her body in ever so slightly for warmth.

"Take me to the place you saw it,"[/color] He said suddenly and Whitepaw nodded and got to her paws once again, her head reaching his chin in height before she turned around and started sprinting off towards the camp entrance. She paused for a moment when he motioned for two others to follow them, and when he gave her the signal to lead, she dipped her head and lead the way out of camp. Her white fur blowing beautifully in the breeze, she felt some sense of pride being able to lead the cats out towards the river bank. Her tail swishing like a cloud, soft and delicate though anyone who knew Whitepaw knew she was far from a delicate princess. She beat most of the toms in battle training, still did. When Sabrefang's voice rung out of the blue she stopped, the others apparently did to and she looked up at Chazz. The two hissed at each other like an old married couple, she shook her head. Though they weren't any better at times, still she could not get his words out of her mind. And every time she thought about it she would feel hurt and angry so she tried not to.

Still she kept her mouth shut and continued leading the way towards the river. She flicked her gaze up at Sabrefang as he came to walk beside her, part of her wanted to say who asked you to lead with me? Still she had no quarrel with him so she smile lightly and continued on her way. Her eyebrows lifted as he pulled in close to her, his pelt touching hers. His dark fur mingled through her white pelt, she didn't know how to react to this so she just stared at him. "How's my loser of a brother treating you?..."[/color] she looked at him in surprise, did he actually care about how she felt? That was the first, still she let him finish his sentence, when she heard the word warrior her eyes widened, he could really do that? Whitepaw was not an ambitious cat, but when it came to finally getting her warrior title, she couldn't help but feel it.

"As long as you don't mind getting beat."[/color] she teased, flashing him a charming yet challenging smile. She couldn't help it,she was always up for some friendly competition. She couldn't help but catch a gaze from Chazz, and she rolled her eyes to the front. Im sure he wouldn't mind me being gone. she thought bitterly, but snapped out of it as he spoke again about not being a warrior under his training. She let a small smile pierce her lips to be polite, but she did not laugh because she did not find it that funny. When he playfully nudged her she smiled and nudged him back she couldn't help it, for once she felt like she was being treated like an equal rather than some little kit. "Well, if your ever in the mood for good competition, I get up pretty early."[/color] she mewed shrugging her shoulders.

"Don't touch her...."[/color] suddenly claws grabbed onto Sabrefangs back and Chazz now stood in the way of the two cats. Her fire colored eyes were wide with surprise, but narrowed as he finished the rest of his sentence. "Since when do you care about what happens to me."[/color] her voice was cold, but before anything else she walked past the two brothers, and froze just as Silentstar spoke. Her nose had caught scent of it just before he said anything and she pushed past some bushes out to the river bank. There caught on a branch of a piece of fur and blood, it wasn't a huge scent of it but it was enough to be noticed. Whitepaw waded into the water,and pushed off the side. Kicking to legs to fight against the current, her mouth grabbed onto the clean end of the stick before she swam back to ThunderClan shore, pulling herself out of the water she placed it on the ground. Her wet fur tugged at her well formed body as she sat down, shivering lightly from the cold. "The fur.. it smells odd. It doesn't smell like any cat from the clans around here."[/color] she noticed and lifted her orange gaze to the others. [/blockquote][/blockquote][/sub][/color]

[Shadow Da Smiffster]

This Could Be The First Trumpet
Might As Well Be The Last
Many More Will Have To Suffer
Many More Will Have To Die

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"Don't mistake what I said," Chazz spat lowly, his voice almost inaudible. "I don't give a rat's ass about you... but I do have a duty to do... otherwise...." he trailed off as the group pulled ahead of him towards the scent of blood, and turned his fiery eyes to Sabrefang's flank. One day I'll have the confidence to beat you, brother....

Silentstar watched Whitepaw as she took the duty of bringing out the evidence herself, admiring her headstrong attitude. She was so close, so close to being ready to becoming a Warrior, and this display of maturity on her part confirmed it for the leader. However, he couldn't force Chazz to say she was ready. He still complained about her, and Silentstar did not want to play favorites within his Clan, even if he believed Whitepaw to be ready.

He sniffed the piece of fur, his nose scrunching up in disgust. It seemed that Whitepaw was correct. The cat whom this flesh belonged to smelled nothing like the Clans. However, he couldn't place the scent itself....

It ended up being Chazz, the Black Thunder, that came forward to confirm exactly what the source of the smell was, "Sewage," the tom spat. "This cat was murdered in the underground tunnels that the twolegs build to get rid of their waste. It must have washed downstream quite a ways to get here. But this cat is certainly from the city; that smell is too putrid to forget..."

He turned his gaze to Silentstar, wondering what his position would be on this. Chazz personally wanted to leave it be. He had no reason to go back to the city. He came back to ThunderClan to escape the streets after all. Besides, this had nothing to do with the Clans. It was a street cat problem....

"Black Thunder," Silentstar said at last. "I want you to go investigate with Sabrefa--"

"Absolutely not," he spat immediately, his fur bristling in both rage and fear. He couldn't be alone with his brother. Sabrefang would take the chance to kill him for sure, away from the Clan so he could say some dog on the street did it. "This isn't ThunderClan's problem!"

Silentstar stared at Chazz for a long time, his gaze flashing with the icy coldness of snow in a blizzard. He'd had enough of being defied by this Warrior, "Might I remind you who opted to take you back in when you came crawling back to us desperate to get away from your previous life? I don't usually condone cowardliness Black Thunder, and if that is why you won't go back to the city, then leave ThunderClan. You have no use here."

Chazz stared, shocked, and then growled lowly, "Fine, I'll go. But Sabrefang is not coming with me. He's too large and hasty to make it on the streets. I'd know. He'd be dead in five minutes." Sabrefang let out a hiss at that comment, but Chazz cut him off before he could retaliate, "Besides, better him survive then me right? No cowardice in the Clan that way...."

With that he turned around and stalked off, "They'll be sorry when they find out about Sabrefang without me," he grumbled.

Silentstar watched him, and sighed in frustration, "Whitepaw, you better go with him.... I'm sure he won't admit it, but someone else with him will make him feel safer."

[♥Rösε]

Whitepaw stared looking down at the fur stuck to the branch, she wondered whom it belonged to. She felt a wave of pity for the poor soul who had his or her fur ripped clean off. Still the smell was hard to ignore and she found her nose scrunching up each time a new wave hit her glands. The pretty all white she-cat sat back on her hunches, slightly away from the smell, her orange optics flicked up to Silentstar whom seemed pleased with her. What did she do? Well whatever she did it was something right, for once so she smiled lightly and continued to inspect the evidence she had retrieved. Still a constant reminder of her efforts every time a breeze passed her way, causing chills to roll down her spine.

When Chazz spoke up, her eyes flicked up to him, for once that little squabble earlier not in her mind as she was curious to know what the smell was. When he spoke of the city her eyebrows lifted and she leaned forward to examine it more. So this was city cats huh? No wonder the first time Chazz came to the clan he smelled terrible, she smiled lightly keeping that thought to herself. Lifting her head back up in time to catch Silentstar asking him to investigate, good maybe some piece and quiet for a moon or so. She might also be able to take up Sabrefangs offer as well, perhaps he could finish up her training, and she would be a warrior by the time Chazz, or if Chazz came back. Her ears flicked as Black Thunder snapped about not having Sabrefang along, and she tilted her head.

Well I guess not every sibling got along, she wouldn't know she never had siblings. Though she considered Redpaw a sister before she.....before she. Wow she couldn't even bring herself to think it even after all of these moons. Pushing that rather depressing thought aside she continued to watch the rest of there bickering for the time being. When the dark colored tom got up and stalked off, she shrugged. Silentstars eyes met hers, and she could see a question forming in his gaze. She had a feeling she was not going to like what he had to say. "Whitepaw, you better go with him.... I'm sure he won't admit it, but someone else with him will make him feel safer."

Her gaze narrowed, "You can't be seri..."[/color] she started to protest, stop acting like a kit! she hissed inwardly at herself. She sighed, she did always want adventure..."Yes, sir."[/color] she mewed softly and got to her paws. Nodding her head to both toms she sprinted after Black Thunder, when she feel into step beside him, she mewed. "The bad news is, Silentstar wants me to go with you, but lets make the best of it ok?"[/color] her voice was surprisingly thoughtful and gentle, before she turned her gaze forward letting him lead the way.[/blockquote][/blockquote][/sub][/color]

[Shadow Da Smiffster]

Don't Fret Precious I'm Here
Step Away From The Window
Go Back To Sleep....

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Chazz didn't even comment on the fact that Whitepaw had come with him. No, he was more focused on just putting each paw in front of the other, getting there and getting back. He hated the city with all his heart. He hated the fame, the dangers, the cruelties....

It was a long while before he stopped and sat down. They were now at the edge of ThunderClan territory, ready to cross over into the darkest hour their lives might ever see. Chazz let out a sigh he didn't even know he was holding, "Last chance to go back Whitepaw. You do realize you might not ever see the comforts of home again if you leave with me, right?"

He turned his head to stare at her, his eyes holding some kind of unplaced emotion. It wasn't kind, nor was it of malice, but one thing was for sure... he was frightened. Frightened of where he was about to go. An involuntary shudder rippled through his pelt and he whispered, "I have a feeling I'll be marching to war drums as soon as I set foot back there...."

Memories flooded him of his days as a tyrant leader of a gang of cats. They adored him, feared him... but they mostly obeyed him. He could have whatever he wanted... but there was something wrong. His nightmares.... his nightmares of a figure looming over him, sending disappointed eyes and disapproving glares his way. He was the best.... why would anyone look at him in such a way?

And then he woke up to find his claws stained with blood... and he realized what he'd turned into, what he'd left behind back at his real home.... ThunderClan. He'd left in the dead of night, an act of treason in the city. Chazz knew if he ever set foot back, he'd be killed as soon as he was recognized....

And if I somehow survive this.... I still have Whitepaw to worry about. I have to return her safely or they'll never let me back into ThunderClan, he thought grimly. A huge weight seemed to fall on his shoulders, pinning him to the spot. Never had he shown such vulnerability to anyone, as suddenly, he felt something moist fall down his face. A tear?

And then he snapped out of it, a hiss forming from his maw, "Let's get this over with."