come && find me [open]

[ogrins]

^{RIFLE...
a flare in the dark...}


the lean tom halted, his weight recentering itself, balancing the gaunt tom. he had walked for... nearly forever; the lights provided by the sun and stars had grown dim to his eyes. hte colors had lost their touch, thier bright, satisfying glow. he no longer held the same admiration for life as a kit does, the smae adventure. he was no longer filled with just the feeling of owning his life. because he slowly was losing it. he was slowly losing his life; becoming owned rather than owning. the world had definately taken its deepest, most tragic toll on him yet.

the red tom looked into the sky. the sun set fire to the sky, coloring it in colors unseen throughout the day. how it matched him; a sky ablaze and a creature tormented. tormented by loneliness.

dusk. what a haunting time.

by his reckoning, he had been traveling south ever scince his mother had left. he felt so alone. no one to share his food, no one to sit by your side at night and fight out the cold. it nearly drove him to insanity. but the thought of others. the thought of other cats; living in groups; perhaps willing to take him in. it gave him the hope he needed to hold on to life and think it as a better place. a better place than what his mother had thought. he had been alone for almost three moons now, and lonliness was not one of his strong suits.

take his mother for example. she went tumbling into depression because she relied too much on (Rifle's) father. she went to roam the mountains and live out her insanity alone because of her hopeless dreams. Rifle hated the thought of his mother like this. he had vowed not to ever become like her.

Rifle sighed. the sun dipped its head down to the red tom, slipping below the tree line. Rifle closed his eyes and imagined. but swiftly a sharp breeze blew by, stirring the quiet toms peaceful relaxation. opening his eyes, he stood. scowling at the grass - for no reason. it had never done a single thing wrong against him. and yet how he just wanted to rip it up, pull it out of its earth. and then he wanted to scream 'how does that make you feel?!!?' of course, he made no move to do such a thing. and yet, how desperate he must have looked just then. standing there; completely unaware of everything. staring at the ground; lost in the shades of green surrounding him.

of course it was impossible for him to see this, but his eyes then were the truest green possible. the shades of green found in one simple strand of grass were mimicked then in his eyes, and if one were to look at him; not just as a passing glance, but to really look at him... they would see him. they would see his past, his conflict, his life, his soul. and perhaps that was all he wanted. someone to see him for who he was. he didn't want to be a possesion. he wanted to be himself.

_{...heard by one; only one
...RIFLE}

[S!LVER {not posting for now}]

A broad-shouldered calico tom padded easily in the forest. However, his pale green eyes flashed with irritation despite his smooth gait. He was fed up with his Clanmates! Every time he turned around his Clan were competing against one another playfully at first, but then the little hunting competitions would turn serious and the losers would hold grudges against the winner. He'd had enough of the furious glares between the apprentices, the uneasiness of their mentors' gazes, the exchanging glances between the Clan leader and deputy. He had to get out, get away from the tense atmosphere. Sure, not all of it was like that, but he, being one of the cats without an apprentice, didn't understand why they had to hold grudges like that. With light of the setting sun to guide him, he trod through the bracken and brambles that surrounded him. It cast an eerie red shade to everything and brought the orange patches in his fur, his emerald eyes standing out brightly against the black-and-ginger fur around them. They glanced around as if expecting one of his Clanmates to jump out from behind a tree and say "boo!" His jaws parted as he tried to catch scent of any other cat around him, but all the scents were stale. At first.
But after another moment, he smelled another scent, one he thought he'd never smell as long as he was alive. The warrior's eyes widened, the crossness gone in a heartbeat, and he stopped dead in his tracks. The tom's jaws parted eagerly, his hopeful mind screaming to find her, yet his sane mind tried to squash the hope, shouting that she was dead. He'd seen her die. How could his mother be alive? The tom's jaws parted again and he inhaled deeply, but sure enough, his mother's scent was in the air and very close indeed. Shock stilled his heart for a second as her familiar silver-and-black pelt flashed in the woods, her teasing cerulean eyes focused on him. After a brief hesitation, he darted forward to her, tail sticking up in the air like an excited kit's. He didn't notice her starry outline at first, didn't notice that she wasn't quite solid-looking. Her calming lapis lazuli eyes swallowed him up as she reached over to lick him between his ears. Solareclipse, you've grown so much! It's hard to believe you were once a kit, she purred affectionately. He blinked at her, her voice stirring memories from within his mind.
You don't look the same as when I saw you last, either, Brinesight, he murmured to her. When he'd last seen her, she'd been a little older looking but not old enough to join the elders. But that wasn't all. She'd also been wincing in pain until a few moments before her untimely death after a brutal dog attack, her pale fur wet with bloody crimson gashes dying it a bloodstone color. Solareclipse's celadon eyes clouded and he shied from the gory recalling.
Brinesight rested her tail tip on his back. Don't worry, my kit. The past is behind us. Look at me now, not then. She used her tail tip again, this time to lift his chin so that he could meet her ultramarine eyes with his grassy ones. I've come to you for a reason, dear one. Follow me. With that, the she-cat leapt away into the bracken. Solareclipse bounded after her, his white hind legs flashing brightly against the brown-and-green forest. He searched for his mother with his eyes at first, but when he couldn't find her he opened his jaws and followed her scent trail, strong and fresh. Where was she leading him?
After a while of this, Brinesight's scent began to fade. Solareclipse's eyes widened in alarm and he quickened his pace to a hurried run. But his step faltered when he suddenly realized the area around him. He was not in ThunderClan territory any more... But he wasn't in WindClan, ShadowClan, or RiverClan territory either. Where was he? He decided to continue following his mother's scent trail, but with more caution. Her scent crossed another one and then disappeared completely a few tail-lengths away. Solareclipse's back fur bristled. Brinesight! he howled into the wind. Brinesight, come back! The breeze around him whistled softly in his ears, carrying Brinesight's comforting scent on it, and her voice breathed Follow the new scent, my kit... Solareclipse tried to chase the breeze that held his mother's scent instead of listening to her at first, but he realized his attempts were futile against the power of StarClan. He sighed, gazing up at Silverpelt, then closing his eyes. Come back, mother! Berryfrost and I want you back...
When he opened his eyes, he found his nose to the ground at a scent trail that was still vaguely fresh in his mind. He saw that his paws were following it, but as soon as he realized what he was doing he stopped for a heartbeat, then continued on, figuring that this is what his mother had brought him here for.
The trail belonged to a tom, and a loner by the look of it. Why did Brinesight want him to find some loner? Confusion pulsed through his pelt as he continued on the path. The path led to an area with few trees and lots of emerald-green grass. From here Solareclipse could see the outline of the tom. He was staring angrily at the ground beneath his paws. Maybe he'd found a tick.
Careful to stay downwind from the loner, Solareclipse darted behind a tree. After a moment more, he stepped out from behind the tree and padded calmly up to the tom, clearing his throat so that the loner would know he was being approached. When he was about four or five tail-lengths away, he stopped. Greetings, he mewed, diping his head politely. He didn't know what to say after that. So while he waited for the tom to reply, he clawed at the ground anxiously and looked at him. The tom had a ginger pelt and green eyes... But his eyes seemed sightless. Was the tom blind? Curiosity prickled his fur, but he kept his mouth shut, though the tip of his tail twitched.

OOC: Color links::
Green
Blue
Red
Purple
I added some more links than what I used, for both of us to acknowledge for future usage.

[ogrins]

^{RIFLE...
found him have you? understnad him will you?}
Rifle looked up, his bright, almost unseeing forest green eyes shining in the fading sunlight. He panicked at least for a moment, until the form of another cat cleared itself. How long had I sat like this? Quickly he glanced up, noting the sky. Dusks's colors had left; the sky was a lonely midnight blue. Little stars started to reveal themselves in the great abyss, little pricks of creme in the great sky above.What secret lie up there? One star shone particularly bright, at least to his eyes, and seemed to glint as he turned to look at the newcomer.
Scenting the air quickly to drink in the newcomers scent, Rilfe gulped. In front of him, about four tail-lengths away sat another feline. A tom, by his scent. He was built rather sturdier, or so Rifle concluded from the tom's broad shoulders. The other toms eyes were a green shade, much like Rifle's own, but in a fuller hue. Rifle blinked. The other tom's coat was a calico, but definitely unusual. Most of it color was based on black, but mixes of orange protruded as well, though randomly along the coat, not staying true to any visible pattern or whatnot. It took him a few moments to drink all this in, his eyesight was fading in the dark. But what was worse was that even in the light all the colors of the world dulled themselves. Am I loosing my sight?
Greetings
The calico tom made a friendly remark, dipping his head in a show of courtesy. He seemed to have nothing else to say, and so closed his mouth, watching Rifle for a word in reply. After a moment, Rifle smiled. His mince frame stood upon his gaunt legs and he slowly made his way closer to the tom. Stopping at about a tail-length away, he lowered himself gently to a sitting position upon the myrtle grass.
"Greetings."
Rifle mimicked the toms greeting, then paused. What should he say next? The other tom had sat down, clearly having nothing to add. So many thought came to Rifle all at once. Who was this cat? Why was he here? Does he know other cats? Is he a loner? Or is he another one of them clan cats? Would he show me the way to other cats? Would I meet his friends, the other cats, peacefully? Or will I be taken as a trespasser? Would they welcome me, or stare at me ruthlessly, with that sort of glint in their eyes, the hint of evil that the world seemed to unleash on me all at once...Rifle blinked again, gulping down the flow of questions that had burst from his lonesome volcano. Well, where to start? Rifle glanced down at the ground. What a gift the world seemed to throw at him. Just on the verge of madness, the world brings him a cat, a tom, a feline, to talk to. Again he glanced up. The creme stars of different shades flickered in the midnight sky, but the one star that he had sighted before seemed to shine ever brighter. He smiled. It seemed like someone up there was watching out for him. Looking back to the tom, his smile didn't falter.
"What's your name?"
Rifle added. He barely knew this cat, but if he planned to become good friends with him, he might as well start with the name. I hope this cat... I hope he wants me as a friend as well.Rifle silent and soulful, awaited the tom's response.

[ogrins]

ooc: ok, thanks!

[S!LVER {not posting for now}]

The sturdy tom's ears twitched as they heard the loner's reply. Greetings, he mewed, and then he sat down. The look in the loner's eyes said that he was relieved to be talking to another cat. If you don't like being alone then why are you a loner? Solareclipse felt odd thinking that. It was a mean thing to say. The calico tom did not like saying those types of things. Instead, he studied the loner, but more thorughly this time. He had ginger fur and jade green eyes-- this Solareclipse already knew. But looking into those green eyes he could detect more. Loss. Family. Yearning. I wonder what he's so despratley trying to find...
What's your name? The calico tom blinked. Should he reply right away? But he had no need to fear this cat. He looked friendly enough... And he looked kind of how the legendary Clan leader Firestar had been described to him and Berryfrost in the nursery, with the setting sun seeming to make his pelt look like fire... My name is Solareclipse, replied the tom warily, keeping in mind that cats outside the Clans often thought their lengthy names were odd. But then again, most Clan cats thought that kittypet and loner names were odd, too. The tom's eyes sparkled as he remembered once meeting a kittypet when he was an apprentice who's name had been Kitty. The tuxedo-colored fool had managed to escape from her house but couldn't get back in, so she had wandered off to TunderClan, where Solareclipse (then known as Solarpaw) had spat at and threatened her, though he'd only been but a scrap then.
Solareclipse looked up sharply, meeting the loner's eyes as he spoke. And what is your name? he asked quickly, so his forgetfulness in asking hopefully wouldn't be taken for hesitation. He held the loner's gaze while he waited for a reply, and after a moment surveyed the land around them. It was spotted with trees that looked decent for climbing and in the distance he could see the shilouett of a Twoleg nest. The tom shivered slightly at the eerie feeling it gave him, looking at that Twoleg nest that seemed to have strayed from Twolegplace. His tail fluffed out a little, but he forced the hairs back down and gave his chest fur a quick lick to hide any sign that he'd been nervous, if only for a heartbeat. He didn't want this loner to think he was weak. But then again this wasn't the usual loner that the Clan cats usually found. The loners that he'd met thruout his life had been vicious and hissy and really touchy. They liked to keep to themselves. That's why they were called loners. This tom, however, seemed to enjoy another cat's company. Solareclipse blinked as he realized the possbility of taking another cat into the clan. Then there might be enough warriors for the apprentices finally! The shortage of warriors in camp hadn't been very helpful lately, and he would gladly take on his own apprentice as soon as he could. And this loner, if he knew how to fight and hunt, he could become a warrior and take on an apprentice himself. Solareclipse's heart fluttered at the thought of a starry-eyed newly-apprenticed cat staring up at him and touching his nose, the cerimonial acceptence of a warrior and his apprentice. He really loved those little cats!

OOC: oh he's not half blind or something? xD sorry I thought he might be because I thought this ('Rifle sighed. the sun dipped its head down to the red tom, slipping below the tree line. Rifle closed his eyes and imagined.') meant that he imagined the sunset and could feel the warm sun sinking behind the trees. lol and once again sorry! xD

And sorry for the shortness. Museless! xD lol But I PROMISE the next post I do will be MUCH longer than this! lol

[ogrins]

ooc: tis no problem, i understand. i will definately reread everything i write too, to make sure its not confusing, so thanks!

and I know all about muse problems, no worries there mate! hope you'll catch it {your muse} again though! sorry, if my post seems very short as well... sort of muse-less here too.

IC:

Rifle: can you help me?

"My name is Solareclipse"
Rifle marveled at the name. How long it was compared to his own. What a strange name. But it seemed to fit the calico tom, with his coat being so dotted as it were. Rifle's ear twitched. Darn bugs.
"And what is your name?"
Rifle studied the tom again. He had spoken the words quickly; they had almsot pooped out of his mouth after he had stated his own.
"Rifle."
The tom stated plainly. His name was rather short compared to Solareclipse's. Plain, and simple, fitting Rifle rather perfectly. For indeed the tom was plain, and rather simple. How he would seem to another he had no clue, for he had not the power to look at himself from another view. This was where the toll of loneliness had struck him hard, and had struck him deep. The internal wound might never leave him completely, and especially not if he ramained alone as he did.
Rifle smiled inwardly at his sudden stroke of genius. What if this tom was part of the fabled clans? He had heard about the clans from passing-by loners, more like small talk, rumors, than actual conversation. But still, there was a chance. The winds had often carried the scents of mulitple cats to his nose. The air had grown more, well, untrustworthy, amongst the loners that he had met along his travels. And that was not a great many cats. Faint memories of a dark she-cat that had taken his heart echoed through his mind, but soon they fadded away as Rifle spoke.
"You sound like your from the clans. Am I right?"
Rifle asked, cocking his head to the side as he often did. It was an unknown habit of his, perhaps becaue of his lonesomeness. He probably did many things out of the ordinary, at least in the view of a clan cat. The tom laughed at himself inside his head, shaking off the fact that he hated being totally alone and separated from all other cats. Or so it had seemed over the past few moonths.

[S!LVER {not posting for now}]

Solareclipse watched the other cat's reaction to his own long name. His eyes seemed to show inward marveling at it. Solareclipse blinked. The last loner he'd met had laughed out loud at his name, when another cat had been calling him, asking him to leave the rouge alone. But the rouge had been on ThunderClan territory, and didn't seem likely to leave anytime soon. So Solareclipse had chased him off.
So why wasn't he chasing this loner off the territory?
To tell the truth, Solareclipse himself did not know. Perhaps it was his mother's influence, leading him to the tom. Perhaps she'd known of some skill this cat possessed that ThunderClan needed. Now he eyed the tom slightly warily. Would he ask for a battle or be looking for a home? Rifle. What? Rifle? Huh?
After a moment of brief confusion, Solareclipse remembered that he'd asked the tom's name after he'd said his own. Rifle. Now he considered the name. It was fairly simple, like loner's names usually were. No surprise there. But there seemed to be some deeper meaning to it... Rifle. The word made him think of the long, shiny, metal stick-things that Twolegs carried sometimes. They made loud noises and could put holes in trees from distances away, sometimes hitting cats, though it was rare that they did. Rifle.
You sound like you're from the clans. Am I right? The tom tipped his head to the side as he asked the question. Solareclipse blinked his pale green eyes and stared in wonder for a heartbeat. How had this Rifle known that they were called Clans, not groups or families or mobs? No matter. Solareclipse turned his crown up to face Silverpelt, which was now peeking out from behind the clouds and shimmering gold-silver starlight down around them, the bloodred sunset was now purple and the rest of the sky was a deep navy blue, Starclan winking at him. Solareclipse almost winked back, but he remembered that he wasn't alone, so he solemly nodded as he considered telling the tom that yes, he indeed was from the Clans. During this thoughtful moment, because the clouds didn't cover the moon, but instead let it shine brightly down on the two cats, Solareclipse settled for saying the truth. Yes, I'm from ThunderClan. How do you know about us?His question seemed to hang in the air, dangling off an edge, and Solareclipse briefly wondered if this was a wise thing to ask. But he could't see any reason why it wouldn't be. The most likely answer was that Rifle had been passing by and seen them or overheard some conversation that used the word 'Clan' in it. Then the loner had probably decided he was tired of his lonely life and wanted to join them. But as Solareclipse studied the tom, he could see some yearning in his eyes, like a hunger that needed to be fed. And this yearning was for companionship. So this cat never wanted to be alone, but to be with others. Than Clan life was perfect for him. Now he waited for Rifle to answer the question lurking in the shadows. How do you know about us?

[ogrins]

rifle.

Rifle smiled in the bathing moonlight, so clean and bright he could have relaxed. And he did. He had never felt more happy, more content, in what seemed like ages. And his smile must have been completely true. He meant exactly what he meant. He returned his side-tracked gaze to the tom, Solareclipse, as he spoke in answer to his inquiry.
Yes, I'm from ThunderClan. How do you know about us?
The question was not offensive, nor intruding. It was simple and strong. Bold and very well-placed. How did Rifle know about them? Well, was it his parents? Other loners? No, it was fate. It had to be.
"Call it fate, or call it a strange beginning. See, my family was rather a band of cats roaming this land. That is, we were, earlier, before your lot, the clan cats, came in. But it's no matter now. My family has all passed on but me."
ooc: sorry about the shortness... im in a little bit of a time squeeze.

[S!LVER {not posting for now}]

The Clan cat's pale emerald eyes sparkled with interest when Rifle spoke. Call it fate, or call it a strange beginning. See, my family was rather a band of cats roaming this land. Solareclipse's ears pricked, eager to hear the rest of what the loner had to say. That is, we were, earlier, before your lot, the clan cats, came in. But it's no matter now. My family has all passed on but me. His eagerness fled when he heard the last lines the Rouge spoke. 'But it's no matter now. My family has all passed on but me.' How can he say that doesn't matter? Family is sometimes all a cat has in the world. Family members won't reject you for so many things. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't know that my sister was OK, and that I could see her at the border during Gatherings, because she can't come otherwise... Yes, I know what it's like to have family... Pass on. Whether they're alive and simply somewhere else or dead, Solareclipse replied sympathetically, letting his gaze drop for a moment. Then, realizing he had more to say, the Clan cat looked up again. So you know about the Clans. Interesting... We didn't scare your family off, did we? When we came here at the end of the Great Journey? I hope not. He paused, not knowing how to phrase what he wanted to say next. He pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes at his white hind legs, which were glowing eerily in the pale moonlight. Hmm.... And you are on ThunderClan land because you want to join, perhaps? It wasn't exactly an invitation, but more of a simple question. Sure, he knew that his mother wanted him to do something with the loner, but there was a whole process Rifle'd have to go through to join. Solareclipse would have to ask the Clan leader, the leader would maybe take a few days to have an answer, then Rifle's name would have to be changed to a warrior name unless he wanted to keep the name Rifle, which Solareclipse wasn't sure if was even allowed (though he'd heard tales of a kittypet and a mountain cat joining ThunderClan long ago and keeping their names, Millie and Brook Where Small Fish Swim), then Rifle would have to learn Clan life, like how the warriors hunted for the elders, queens, kits, and fellow Clanmates. And that they had to sleep in the Warrior's den, not by themselves, etc. etc. It would be a complicated task, but if the cat wanted to join, there really wasn't any objection Solareclipse had, no rules in the Warrior Code stating that he couldn't, so... The warrior waited for the loner's answer.

[ogrins]

rifle: a place to call home?

Rifle watched the tom carefully as he replied, then droped his gaze for a moment. He was quickly reminded to the gaping void in his stomach and heart.

Yes, I know what it's like to have family... Pass on. Whether they're alive and simply somewhere else or dead.

How did this cat know of his pain? None knew. None would ever know. The red tom closed his eyes, and immediately the scents and sights of his family and sub-family were returned to him. Their loyalty and passion. Their kindness. Everything that they were, he grew up to be. But then the horrible truth of life revealed itself to him and his little band of cats. His family. Robin died; her parents were shot. He remembered seeing the three carcasses rotting away behind the trash cans near a twolegs house. And then his own parents were taken from him. Thorn, his powerful and strong father, was hit by a car and his mother was insane, running back to the mountains. As is the mountains held any hope for her. Nothing had hope for him anymore. Except this chance. This chance that maybe he wouldn't have to roam the endless fields and forests alone anymore. That maybe he will be able to find a family and peace once again. Quickly Rifle opened his eyes. He knew in his heart that somethign had brought this cat from the clans to him. Something brought Solareclipse here to bring him a new life.

So you know about the Clans. Interesting... We didn't scare your family off, did we? When we came here at the end of the Great Journey? I hope not.

Great Journey? What was that? Was it the path they had taken to arrive at this place? It must have been. Though he had been only a kitten when they had arrived, he remembered the free air that he had breathed before. Now it carried the many scents of distant and foreign cats. But he smiled, knowing now that it was not an illusion. This was his chance.

And you are on ThunderClan land because you want to join, perhaps?

Rifle smiled, all his features lightening up in the moonlight. His tail twitched with sudden anticipation and he smiled. A true, bright, everlasting smile. One that he himself was surprised by. Quickly words streamed from his throat to entice the midnight air. He wsa ready for his chance.

"Of course! I would love to... if it is not much of a burden or such to you."

He smiled, glad that he had remembered his manners. He was ready for this chance. This chance for new life. This chance for happiness.

[S!LVER {not posting for now}]

The warrior watched as Rifle lowered his head mournfully, as if he was remembering something harsh, something too painful to think about for too long. Solareclipse saw the tom's eyes glimmer with pain before he closed them. Soleclipse waited in silence as the cat seemed to be remembering something fresh in his mind, a wound not yet healed. But he opened his eyes again before too much time had passed. He picked his head up, too, successfully trying to focus on the present. The Clan cat watched in awe. He'd brushed off his pain so easily! Interset festered in Solareclipse's emerald pools. Then the cat's eyes sparkled and his features lit up completley. (He sure had a heck of a lot of emotions tonight!) "Of course! I would love to... if it is not much of a burden or such to you." The pure joy the loner displayed and the way he soaked up the ivitation told Solareclipse that he was starving... For companionship. He blinked in sympathy. He knew what that was like too. But he didn't want to say anything that would upset the tom further. Besides, now he had to figure out what do do with him. What would his leader say and do? Would Rifle be accepted or not? How would he get Rifle into camp without any other warriors making a huge fussy scene? Was this what his mother wanted to happen? Questions clouded the warrior's mind, but he shook his head and set himself straight. He wouldn't know what his leader would say unless he asked; there was no use in pondering the inevidable. As for the other warriors... Well, he had a feeling everything would work out. And this must be what his mother had brought him here for. Because here was a lonely cat, right on the ridge of Clan territory, where being alone was nearly impossible unless you had some personal problems. The Clan cat saw Rifle's huge grin, and he couldn't help himself. He grinned too. Alrighty then, he said, choosing his words as wisely as he could. I guess if that's what you really want, then I'll lead you to ThunderClan. We'll see what the leader says... Did you know that leaders have nine lives when they get accepted by StarClan? Oh, I'll have to tell you about StarClan too! StarClan are up there, he flicked his tail up for emphasis. They're our warrior ancestors. My mother is up there with them. She's watching over us right now. She was really nice and pretty. He hadn't meant to let the words to slip out, but he felt a little better saying them for some reason. He and his sister had loved his mother endearingly and unendingly. They were both devastated when she died... But he wasn't going to think about that right now. He had so much to tell this loner. As he talked he got up and started walking, and he looked behind him to see if Rifle was following. Boy, what an exciting day it was!

[ogrins]

RiFLE

Alrighty then. I guess if that's what you really want, then I'll lead you to ThunderClan. We'll see what the leader says... Rifle's thin tail wavered in anticipation. He was determined to try his hardest to be accepted into their clan. Clan. Hopefully it would soon become his clan as well. He shivered in excitement at the thought of finally being with a group of cats again. But it wouldn't be exactly like it was before. They wouldn't be roaming, they wouldn't know much more than what they had been exposed to, and they certainly wouldn't take him in like a lost kit. He would have to work his way into the clan. He would make friends, and hunt, and perhaps even start a family. A new life was never easy to take on, but he had had enough of his former life of tiresome worry and being alone. True, it would take work, but without it Rifle couldn't even imagine in his mind what would happen.
Did you know that leaders have nine lives when they get accepted by StarClan? Oh, I'll have to tell you about StarClan too! StarClan are up there. Rifle blinked as he brought his thoguht back from their wandering and focused on Solareclipse's words. Starclan? As the tom flicked his tail up toward the sky. Then the name clicked. Starclan! As in a clan of the dead, a clan of the past! Rifle glanced upward, his eyes shifting through the stars as if searching for something deeper, something that the stars veiled. But after a moment of this useless strain, he looked back down to earth, to Solareclipse. The tom was speaking once again.
They're our warrior ancestors. My mother is up there with them. She's watching over us right now. She was really nice and pretty. Rifle smiled as the Thunderclan tom described his mother. He wondered if things worked differently in the clans after death. What if his family had been apart of Thunderclan? Would he somehow be able to communicate with them? Would he see them? Rifle sighed softly to himself. No. There could be no way. This Starclan didn't even know him yet. He wasn't even part of the clan. There was no way that he could figure to see his parents and past friends again. "Rifle, forget them. This will be your new family" the red tom muttered to himself before glancing up to find Solareclipse beginning to walk away. He bounced up to him, then falling into pace with the tortiseshell tom. "So, what exactly is going to happen in order for me to, uh, join Thunderclan?"

[S!LVER {not posting for now}]

The warrior watched excitement flash in Rifle's eyes, then sudden hope as he stared up at silverpelt. He studied the stars furtively, eagerly, as if searching for something... Or someone. Curiosity bubbled in Solareclipse's mind, but he didn't say anything. He just observed the red tom for a moment, catching a brief movement of his mouth and the hiss of a whisper as he muttered something to himself. The Clan cat's ears pricked automatically, but all he heard was ...forget them... be your new family. The calico narrowed his eyes, lost in thought. Now the curiosity was boiling over and would soon leak out his mouth unless he stopped it from doing so. To help himself, he bit his tounge. He couldn't talk if his tounge couldn't move, and he didn't trust it to stay still. Trying to focus on the path to the ThunderClan camp, he focused his emerald orbs on the land ahead of him. He wanted something to distract him from asking questions of his new acquaintance. So it was a huge relief when the tom asked what would happen when he got to the ThunderClan camp. Well, the warrior started, I suspect the first thing that could happen is that, if a patrol doesn't find us before we get there, we'll go to the leader's den and talk with Froststar and maybe Drizzlesong, too. That's our leader and our deputy. The leader leads us and makes the big decisions for the Clan, like if we attack another Clan or don't, and the deputy assigns tasks and takes care of hunting patrols and such. Shooting a quick glance towords Rifle, he added Hunting patrols are groups of cats who hunt to feed the Clan. I don't know what you're used to, but you have to know that the Clan comes first, always, if there's a shortage in food. If there's not, though, you can eat a bit while you're on your hunting patrol. What I'm worried about is if a border patrol finds us and smells you and thinks you're stalking me or something. Solareclipse chuckled at the thought that any cat could stalk him without him scenting the other cat. He'd always had a good nose, better than many cat's but not quite the very best. If that happens, our task will be only a little bit harder. Hmm... I hope the Clan won't be rude to you or me when we walk in... You see, some cats don't like it when a cat outside the Clan is brought under our wing. If they're rude, ignore them. We also don't fight with our own Clanmates unless it's play fighting, which apprentices and kits more often do, or battle training. But never with claws unsheathed. It would make a very bad first impression if you fought with another cat.. Not that I'm saying you would, he added quickly. I just want to be sure you know. (OOC: You know this and I know this, so I'm just going to skip ahead a bit, k? IC:) By the time the tom was done explaining Clan life to Rifle, he realized they were heartbeats away from the camp. The tom took a deep breath and announced, This is ThunderClan, and then he stepped inside... OOC: My reply to your next post will be in the Clearing (or whatever it's called lol). Sorry it took so long and that it's not very long but it is very boring. lol

[ogrins]

RiFLE

Rifle listened closely to Solareclipse's descriptions and explanations about clanlife. It didnt sound so bad. In fact, it reminded him of the small family-life he had lived before. So, clan comes first in hunting... Elders and Children and Mothers get specal treatment when times are tough, which makes sense. The leader sounds like what dad used to do, deputy sounds like mom's old job... I guess the rest of the positions are like my and Annie's old jobs... Rifle smiled as he remembered Annie, his best friend scince birth. They would often hunt together, and when they had their fights, it was a competition to see who could hunt the most food. A pang of sad memory shot through him, and he sighed gently, his long red-brown tail swishing gently. He now had a kit to look after too... but where was she? Suddenly Rifle remembered the dark night, where she had stood over the ledge. Where she had seemed to wait for him, and then to fall for him. And now they had a family. But he had not seen Morphine this night. And he knew she must have given birth. He sighed. Perhaps Morphine hadn't loved him as he loved her, and perhaps she thought that he had left her. He had only wanted to try to make them a home...

twig
the little white kit hobbled onto her paws. she was hungry, she was tired, and she was cold. but she had to keep moving. mommy had said to find a tall red cat. he was her father. he would take care of her. he would keep her until mommy could find her again. and then mommy was gone. the black she-cat had left her here, after she had learned how to munch on the black berries and drink from the leaves. so little Twig, thats what mommy had called her, stood up again, fighting off the dark and the scared and the cold. her little whtie pelt coudl be seen clearly in the moonlight, the dark red and black splotches scattered about her pelt hid her in some ways from evil eyes. her bright blue eyes blinked several times and her big ears perked up. she heard voices! quickly she pushed her way through the bushes and tumbled about in the dark, looking for the source of the words. and suddenly she felt fur. it was dark red and corse, like her mother had described. little Twig looked up and found herself bundled up at her fathers heels.


Rifle glanced down, his whiskers twitching. something had bumped into him. as he watched the little kit at his feet meet his eyes, he nearly jumped. the kits eyes were a shocking light blue, and the kit herself was white with blothes of red and black scattered throughout her coat. it reminded him painstakingly of Morphine, the glittering black she-cat with short sleek fur. Yet the red areas reminded him of himself, for they were all the colors of sunset. This kit was a work of art, her coat masterfully colored. but somethign was wrong. there was no parent that came out of the bushes behind her, apologising for the kits behavior. in fact, the kit looked dirty and ragged too. a sudden sweet scent drifted about Rifle, and he looked up, stunned to see a cat that looked vaguely like his father, though he had faint stars in his fur.

starBREATH
the tom smiled at the red loner. his kind eyes glittered silver as he glanced at the kit, who seemed to be taken with her father. a cloud danced gently across the moon, and now rifle and starbreath were paused in time. mist started to surround them, and the air grew breezier. the two tom's were alone. solereclipse would understand, starbreath was sure. the stroong tom held much faith in starclan, and he would forgive the loner a few moments, if it seemed to help him collect his thoughts. while really, starbreaths mission was to ensure that rifle become a clan cat. rifle's daughter was one, and if she learned any other way, she would not be as strong as she could ever be. so while starbreath and rifle spoke, time would freeze, and when starbreath left, rifle would return to the moment before. and so, the starclan cat began to speak. the little one knows you, Rifle.... she is your kit. Starbreath spoke gently, whispering to Rifle quietly. Rifle stared at Starbreath with curiosity, confusion and amazement in his eyes. "Who are you?" Rifle spoke. Starbreath smiled again. i am a cat from starclan. i am called starbreath. i was a medicine cat before i died, and now i come to you to tell you one thing. you must take this kit, your kit, to thunderclan, and the two of you must learn and live clan ways. she will prosper and grow much safer than you could ever imagine, rifle. a clan is stronger than any one cat could ever be. starbreath explained. rifle seemed perplexed, and happy, and worried. he was now a father, and he would have to learn much. but solereclipse would help, he was sure. starbreath knew brinesight would show solereclipse that rifle, and his new kit twig, needed the clan. starbreath smiled again, shushing rifle of any questions. he then stood up and lept into the sky. he knew rifle would do as told. for rifle always had.


Rifle blinked, his ears ringing with the calming, deep mew from the cat that had called himself Starbreath. He had looked like Rifle's father, but Rifle knew that Starbreath must be older and wiser than any in his family. The red tom's head spun, and he glanced down at the kit. She was still gazing at him with admiration. She was his kit. His little Twig... wait, Twig? Why did I call her that? Rifle thoguht... and again his memories answered. Twig. Twig. Twig. Rifle looked up and found the mist clearing from around him. The vision of Solereclipse was growing stronger, until suddenly Rifle felt the tom's presence again. Rifle inhaled. What just happened? He had become a father and been told by a cat that he didn't know that he must become a clan cat. How crazy was that? But, Rifle couldn't find any reason not to do what the starry tom had said... So he looked up and met Solereclipse's eyes. "I am ready to become a clan cat. And my little kit is too." Rifle was now guided by some mysterious force. Twig, his kit, huddled beside him as he stood over her. He was now ready to do whatever it took to protect her.


(ooc: ok, sorry if it got confusing... i had forgotten about this post and thought they had all joined thunderclan allready... whoops. basically rifle followed solereclipse, but then a kit tumbled into him and followed him and starbreath came down to explain that Rifle was Twig's father, and that it was right for them to join Thunderclan... hopefully thats ok?)

[S!LVER {not posting for now}]

Remember, our next post will be in the Leader's Den