Howling Wind has just finished a scarce meal of mouse when Rabbitnose approaches. She is hard at work grooming her paws before glancing up at the warrior, ears twitching in curiosity. He appears...nervous, and she hesitantly mews, "Sure, what is this about?" She pushes herself up into a sitting position, focus now entirely on the tom as he speaks. One can only imagine her surprise when it's about Cinderfrost, about asking for the full story. Rabbitnose had been the one to speak out against her exile, calling the decision unwise. Well, the deputy would be lying if she said she doesn't feel relieved in this moment. She can tell him everything.
"Yes," She finally mews after a few thoughtful moments, and glances around them to be sure there are no scampering kits nearby. There's no need to traumatize one of them with such a story. "Cinderfrost...she was a cat I'd known ever since she was a kit. I taught her, guided her, hunted alongside her. We were good friends, in those days. But after the Great Battle, she changed. A fight broke out between her and another, and no one saw her again after that."
"Life went on, and the clans were formed after we heeded StarClan's message to us. Emberstar claimed this forest for ThunderClan, and we thought that was that. We gathered cats, loners, kittypets. We became a true clan, you know? Emberstar, she had gone off one night. We know now it was because StarClan called her to the Moonstone to receive her nine lives. But in the morning?" She pauses, the memory of the sight causing her claws to unsheathe and sink into the ground. She looks up towards Rabbitnose, gaze solemn. "We all heard screams, so we ran towards the sounds, and what do we see? My old friend, finally back in the forest, pinning down Emberstar's dead body. She gutted her, our leader. We- StarClan, we were about ready to drive her off then and there before life was breathed back into her, Emberstar. The nine lives, she really did have them! And Cinderfrost intended to take every single one. Up until she broke down, started screaming and crying like a maniac. I've never been more afraid of a cat." A shiver runs through her as she recalls the memory.
Drawing in a breath, she continues, "The only reason Emberstar let her stay is because StarClan chose her. But not a cat could trust her after that. Emberstar trusted her, had been leading her right back to our camp and she attacked her from behind. A coward's move." Howling Wind is watching the warrior next to her, scouting his reaction. Will he be shocked? Will he defend her still?
