Along the black river...

[Daystar]

[glow=gray,2,300]The evening was cool, with a light wind coming from the east. The hard-packed earth resounded softly with the light pawsteps of a solitary striped tom. His hackles lifted instinctively as the acrid odor of the Thunderpath's solid surface entered his nostrils. Pausing at the edge, the efficient leader of LightClan growled lightly to himself. The monsters stir early this night, he murmured, testing the air with his mouth open to better locate potential visitors or foes.

And the lands lie empty of fine warriors. LightClan is barren. Discomfited, the brindled male shook out his lengthy pelt and stifled a frustrated hiss. The question is...why?[/glow]

[Thistlestar]

[shadow=black,left,300]Silver eyes peered silently out from the shadows beneath the undergrowth at the edge of the Thunderpath. The quiet eyes belonged to a well-built, brown she-cat. She stared at the tom with unblinking eyes. The she-cat silently cringed as a monster raced by, the horrible stench stinging her nose. The breeze created by the monster pulled at the ferns she was hiding under. She pulled back. Half because of the smell and half bacause she was waiting. Waiting for the best time to show herself to the other clan leader. She thanked StarClan that she found him right next to the Thunderpath, otherwise, the tom would have been able to read her scent.[/shadow]

[Daystar]

[glow=gray,2,300]The brindled tom twitched, feeling eyes on his back. As there were few cats living here, and fewer still daring enough to brave the Thunderpath, Daystar gave himself one guess.

However, the biter scent of billowing monster breath and blood spilled from one coughing monster hid the other's aroma, and she could not be seen at this angle. Daystar judged his companion close enough to pounce upon, if he had guessed wrong about her identity. His amber eyes glittered faintly, perhaps with ironic amusement, or maybe a slight frustration that nobody these days could approach him directly.

Come out, the LightClan leader rasped as he lifted a forepaw and licked at it thoughtfully. I suspect we've a chat ahead of us.[/glow]

[Thistlestar]

[shadow=black,left,300]The dark she-cat stood up, the ferns dancing around her legs. She dipped her head in a greeting to the other clan leader. Her smile was sly as she greeted the tom.

“’Ello, Daystar. Nice to see a familiar face.”<br>
She dipped her scarred nose. She had known Daystar for a long time. They had been friends as apprentices, but have slowly drifted away. She assumed he wished to be more loyal to his own clan. It’s how she used to feel, though she missed his friendship.

Thistlestar snapped back to reality. She had come to accept the fact that they were no longer friends. She glanced down the black river, then back at Daystar.

“I see you’ve lost many, as well.”<br>
Her voice was grave now. The sickness had killed more than half of her clan. Her deputy, her best friend, was among them... [/shadow]

[Daystar]

(My poor kitty. Sorry if he sounds mean - he's just so sad.)

[glow=gray,2,300]Familar, yes, he purred lightly. The leader's eyes remained cool however, and his posture was guarded. He did not want to send mixed messages to his old friend. Lowering his paw, the pale tabby flicked his tail and added, But yours is the only face I've seen in these parts for a long time.

Daystar sighed, his voice bleak. I have lost them all, Thistlestar. Those not slain by the sickness lie with rogues' marks on their lifeless pelts. Or else they have run off to the Twolegs. May they be happy there - I was no leader to them. Remoteness grew in his golden orbs, snuffing out their light as he added, And Rosethorn...she is gone. I received a life from her, you know. If only I could give it back....

The tomcat's voice had been distant, but it returned now as he flicked back his ears and stood straighter. I did not come here to speak to you of my pains. StarClan spreads pain evenly these days, after all. His eyes glinted almost coldly as they fell upon her once more. I came here for answers, Thistlestar. Have you anything to share? [/glow]

[Thistlestar]

[shadow=black,left,300]Thistlestar silently looked at him, the pain she felt ebbed away as she felt the sorrow for her friend. She glanced back down the river then strode across to meet her old friend. Thistlestar paused then stepped forward to rub her cheek against his. She stepped back.

"Aye, Daystar. I understand. Rosethorn...Rainclaw was my Rosethorn..."

She broke off, looking down. Slowly she looked back up and into his pale gold eyes.

"You know...I don’t like this idea…but…we could”<br>
She paused, glancing around nervously.

“We could bring back PantherClan..."

She looked up at him, waiting for his reply. She didn't really like the thought of the larger clan, but it would be like one clan. There were so few cats in the forest...But she couldn’t just live alone in her clan camp, and he in his. What about the other two clans? How hard have they been hit by this terrible plague?

She looked back to her feet. This was not a good thing. Her clan had lived through a lot, but nothing like this. And they got over it. Now, there weren’t any cats…She didn’t know how they would get over it. She looked back up at him.

“Never mind. That was a stupid question.”

She paused then continued.

“I’m going to speak with StarClan. I need to ask them why they have cursed us with this pestilence.”<br>
She stared into his face, looking almost desperate.

“I need to know, Daystar!”<br>[/shadow]

[Daystar]

[glow=gray,2,300]He was trying so hard to be strong. But as she rubbed his cheek, the facade melted away. A low purr of sorrow and gratitude for her kindness rumbled in his downy throat. Then Daystar pulled gently away and nodded. Rainclaw had been a brave warrior. I remember him well enough as Rainpaw...quite the spirited hunter, he was. He sighed. And Rosethorn...she was like no cat I'd ever seen before.

His gentle reveries were gone as PantherClan was mentioned. I miss the old way, yes, the tom's voice hovered through the air. His tones faltered as he thought, wondering what was best for his few remaining Clan members. Wherever they were....

But a melding of the Clans leads to nothing but violence. StarClan has decreed nothing of the sort. He soothed her, adding, And you're not stupid - just inexperienced. Maybe yours is the right idea. But I need more proof that this is our last chance for survival.

The wind ruffled his coat as the brindled male looked away into the distance, his intense gaze resting on Twolegplace. I too will speak with StarClan tonight. And then I will go to where the Twolegs reside, to seek out my old comrades. Perhaps StarClan yet possesses mercy. Perhaps they will return to me.

Daystar straightened and lifted a paw, making as if to take off. Shall we travel to Mothermouth together? I know a back way, through LightClan camp, and I will make an exception of the boundaries for now. A thin smile brushed his maw. I could use your company.[/glow]

[Thistlestar]

[shadow=black,left,300]Thistlestar nodded, but not to anything in particular. She didn't know if she wanted to travel with Daystar, so she ignored his last comment, for the time being. She looked up at him.

“You know, I never said I was stupid. I just said the idea was stupid.”<br>
She turned from him, not wanting to talk anymore. She wanted to just run. Just run away from all responsibility she still had. She sat down with her back to Daystar. Quickly her eyes became watery and began to get misty.

“It’s just too much to handle…so many dead…”

Thistlestar looked up at the sky. It had gotten darker and some stars had come out. She pulled her eyes away from the sky and hung her head, not looking at anything.

(sorry, got to go. Bye! I'll be on later. I'll call you.)
[/shadow]

[Daystar]

[glow=gray,2,300]He looked sadly to her, noting the she-cat's disquieted expression. Must have cobwebs in my ears, Daystar murmured, almost to himself. Desperate to lighten the mood, the feline added, Soon I'll be an elder, without hearing, sight, or smell, huh? But that only reminded the leader that he had outlived all his friends.... And why? Because he'd been a coward.

But humor had never been the striped male's strongpoint. And Thistlestar was in no mood to laugh. Instead, she'd started to cry. With a heavy heart the LightClan leader brushed his tail against her flank and bounded down into the reed-filled ditch without a sound, content to let her be. There was nothing more the he-cat could do for her now, unless she asked it of him. StarClan's incessant tug on his mind had strengthened, and Daystar knew by the tingling in his paws that it was time to go to Mothermouth. With or without the grieving femme.[/glow]

[Thistlestar]

[shadow=black,left,300]"Daystar..."

Thistlestar turned. She had not felt the presence of her old friend. She lowered her head once again, her ears pulled back. The she-cat stood up and looked down the black river. Seeing nothing, she slowly walked across, not truly caring if she got caught or not by a monster. Then maybe she’d have some peace of mind.

Thistlestar looked up at StarClan once more, wishing she had some cat from her own clan to share tongues with, but not tonight. She would return to her camp to find some herbs from her old medicine cat’s den and set out for MotherMouth the next day. If she timed her arrival correct, she would arrive at MotherMouth just as Daystar was leaving.

With a soft rustling of ferns, Thistlestar disappeared through the shadowed undergrowth on her way back to her own camp.[/shadow]