THE FIVE GIANTS [GATHERING 7.14.22]

[FLICKERFIRE]

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ There's nothing Flicker can add to this conversation. The prophecy is like a mist on her brain, swirling and faint but present nonetheless. Her eyes find Ember in the crowd, and she gives the flame point a dark look devoid of fury.

"Briar, we gonna sit here all day an' listen to this fox dung?" Flicker's ears twitch. Her dark fur threatens to rise. "Five leaves... so what. They can't stand to be here, neither can we."

Her claws sink into the earth, although she does not prepare to move, to strike. She only glowers at the cats across from her, every now and then her eyes darting to the she-cat who deigns to lead them, a flame point with gray eyes. A she-cat who had beaten her down until she could not rise again..​

✦ PENNED BY MARQUETTE.​

 

[CICADASTAR]

− ♱ ABOUT : arguments begin to break out before he can do a thing to stop it, a large male snapping in his direction and being met with none but an indignant rise of his lips, revealing teeth lying just beneath, " we gave you all a chance to end it without bloodshed and you chose not to take it. " the curl - furred tom spits, icy eyes locking on haze through slitted pupils. he was not responsible for this war — for the violence, the loss. they were. they took responsibility when they entered their forest, escaping from their twoleg nests and venturing where they didn't belong, taking food from those who had lived there for years, " they requested peace. so unless you want to find out what happens when we don't listen, enough. " the male snaps, lifting his chin just slightly to glare down the tip of his nose at the loud - mouthed pine colony cat. they were here to discuss the prophecy — and the way his heart had picked up betrayed him only to himself.

" they said to spread like the creeper vine, yes? what is unique to the vine? " the man speaks aloud, the star - cats words ringing clear in his skull. the creeper vine . . while he enjoyed botany as a hobby, he hardly knew his plants very well ; but the vine grew common, overtaking whatever surface came into contact with, spreading itself in branches. cicada furrows his brow, lips coming to purse gently, " do we need to . . spread out? like the creeper vine. . it has five leaves. " its tentative, thought painting itself in shades of broken black over his expression. smaller groups, less mouths to feed, land divided between them . . the river. he takes a quick breath, stretching his shoulders back to try and work out the knots of nerves that bunched there, " . . they're wanting to divide us, maybe. five groups, like the vine. " his jaw locks, gaze flitting about to catch on those gathered around him. cicada had grown up a fan of riddles, given by his mother to keep him occupied. this one . . was not near as much fun.

out of character information translations

• − CICADA ; he / him, roughly thirty two months old, marsh group member
  − tall black smoke tortie chimera with icecap eyes and curly fur, homosexual
  − speaks with a german accent, attack in #171717, penned by antlers
• none.

​

​

 

[salamander]

An unnamed shadow lurked within the darkness. It stuck close to the heavy foliage to avoid the moon's silent, judging light. Teal eyes pierced through the veil of night, scanning the gathered cats. Anger and pain caused her chest to tighten. The silhouette inched closer to the brutes who stole the lives of those precious to her: the cream-pointed molly, the fiery tom, and the cold-hearted black she-cat. Fur bristled as teeth momentarily flashed into view before being forcefully reigned back behind the curtains of her lips.

Heated words caused tension to rise. Maybe, with some luck, the cats the vengeance ghoul sought would kill one another. No that'd be too dangerous. The frigid, piercing gaze lingered on Frog's Ribbit. A silent guardian, the molly lurked close to the young tom she failed. This time, if anything happened, she would succeed.

The blue mink cared little about the exchange between the gathered cats. Unless the stars walked amongst them once more, unless Leaping Toad and Ash appeared miraculously before her, she couldn't care less about the happenings between the two colonies. Why should she? She'd been thrown out like carrion.

" . . they're wanting to divide us, maybe. five groups, like the vine. " The dark tortoiseshells words, however, cut through the fog in her brain. Finally, her interest was piqued. If the dishonorable one proved to be correct then five new groups would inhabit the territories. She'd never been the leading kind: she'd always been the follower. However, maybe she could stake claim, maybe she could rise to the highest of ranks. That way.. she could avoid the mistakes of those before her. She'd have to authority to protect those important to her.

But no one would ever follow her, would they?​

​

 

[BONERIPPLE]

---

The more back and forth that occurs the more she wants to pick herself up from the position beside her sister and leave altogether. This whole thing for her is starting to singlehandedly become a nuisance. Especially with these Pine cats here and they didn't seem to hold their tongues very well either. If she was given the opportunity her claws would easily find themselves lodged in one of their pelts again. Though...the idea is not as powerful as it once was. Seeing the life leave a cat's eyes even by accident still haunts and troubles her. But mayhaps she will not kill again but maka a point. There is no need for her to comment for others take that mantel including her nephew and well said. The pine cats have just as much blood on their paws as her own colony does. So playing crybaby will not help here. Enough warnings were given before war had been launched and now they are all paying for it. She makes a taking noise. "I hope we are all quite done worrying about what the pissants of pine cats have to say. The dead cats are what we came to discuss, not what took place to get us here."

She doesn't need to be reminded. Doesn't need to be told about it as if she doesn't think about the choices that have brought every cat here. Her eyes narrow slightly as she listens to Cicada's words. Agreeing till he starts talking about the words of those dead cats. They intend for them to separate into five groups. Her maw parts and then closes before her ears lay down flat. "That....that's preposterous. There is no way that will work. What of prey? Room to grow?" This place belonged to her caretaker Hare Whiskers group for so long that it doesn't make sense to her to split off into five different groups. A lot growl threatens to move through her thought at the idea. Prey is already straining in the marshes.
​

 

[SOOTSTAR]

From her initial growl she is shockingly silent, having nothing to add to the spatting and hissing going on... She's said all that needs to be said to the pine group cats, it was evident that speaking logic to them didn't work... beating their tails didn't even work! Luckily for Soot, a new stretch of land has caused her to fall in love and forget about the old pines she use to roam.

It's why what Cicada says causes a spark of excitement in her eyes. She had rounded up a couple of marsh cats who she knew would leave at her word, if that's what these starry cats truly want... then they had granted her wish.

"It will work." She meows to Bone, shrugging off the felines doubt. "I've scoped out nearby lands... there is plenty of room to spread out. At least in my land."

With that, she moves to seize her opportunity. Powerful paws leap up onto the large boulder nearby, she lacks her usual grace likely due to her swollen belly, but with work, she swiftly makes her way up. The blue molly straightens her neck and dominantly sways her tail high in the air. "I believe Cicada's words to be correct. Like the creeper vine, we are to spread and grow into five groups." Loudly and determined she speaks, her voice carrying over the crowd of cats.

"And so as the stars wish, I declare myself the leader of WindClan! The land of hills and wind will be my home, our home to anyone who will join me in my lead. The land is filled with plentiful prey and many beautiful sights, it'll serve us far better than the swampland. Anyone who wants to join me, let me hear your voice!"
​

---

 

[BLAZESTAR]

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ The mounting tensions from both the pine cats and Briar's colony have Blaise looking from furious face to fluffed out tail, concern plain on his features. He wants to tell Haze to stop, all of them to behave, but he can't do that. He has no authority over them, and even if he did, would they care? They are grieving, wounds still raw, and this had been their home. Blaise has been here only a moon. What right does he have to tell them to quiet their anger?

But he remembers the way these cats mourned their dead, and his heart aches. "We should not be fighting here," he says, to all, to none. "Rain and the other ghosts wanted peace here. We should keep it." His pelt prickles under any gazes that should fall on him, but he maintains his position.

The mottled tom, the one Haze had spat venom at, says something that makes his ears flick. He brings up the creeper vine prophecy, and he... "Five groups," he murmurs. He can't say it doesn't make sense, but surely Rain would not want his cats divided?

One of Briar's takes the opportunity to step forward. Small, belly tremendous with unborn kits, the blue smoke clambers her way onto the great stone and declares herself leader of WindClan, states her territory is a distant moorland that Blaise himself has not seen or even heard of.

"What..." His voice is small, unsure, unlike this pregnant blue molly who has asserted herself a Clan leader. He looks around, at the cats gathered near him, and imagines them departing for the hills with this marsh cat. Does she welcome them, too, he wonders?

"Rain died to keep his family in the pine forest," he says, voice rising though not to quite the pitch of WindClan's new leader's. "If we are splitting, then... then one of the groups should remain here." He raises dark blue eyes, expression set. A voice whispers inside him, telling him to step forward, but... he couldn't do that. He isn't made for that. There's still a collar around his neck, and he's never won a battle.

And yet the voice is telling him, Stake your claim as she has done.

He wonders if it's fate, fate that he blundered toward the pine forest when he had been seeking Little Wolf.

After a pregnant pause--perhaps not as pregnant as the WindClan leader--Blaise, as if in a trance, makes a powerful leap onto the stone beside her. He towers over her, but his expression lacks the strength, the pride. He glances upward, toward the stars that led them to this place, led him to this place, and he says, "Rain... we will remain in the pine forest. We will be SkyClan, and we will keep your welcoming spirit alive." He bows his head briefly, wondering if he has made a fatal error in taking such a position.

But he could not ignore what was urging him forward. It was baser than instinct, the same drive that had brought him to these now-cursed lands, and he feels to ignore it now would be folly.​

✦ PENNED BY MARQUETTE.​

 

[♥ Indigorain ♥]

✵ ღ ☾ I'D WALK THROUGH FIRE -
He had remained in a quiet trance, dispersing with the rest of his group at first only to melt into the shadows of the oaks. Begrudgingly, he had come. Though not an important figure, he could only figure that's what his departed father would have wanted. His instincts told him to stick close to Haze, but he found that the silver tabby was already several fox lengths away, and Indigo did not move to get closer.
It doesn't take long for a spark to ignite between the two groups, but Indigo holds his tongue, but bitterness is thinly disguised with discontent in his narrowed gaze.
He only spaces off for a moment, but a silvery figure stands out, her words sharp and demanding as she proclaims a new group- a Windclan.
Blaise is quick to follow, and Indigo's attention span comes reeling in. The seal point is back on all fours, watching Blaise with a sense of bewilderment in his gaze as he claims himself leader.
He's not Rain!
The juvenile part of his persona cries. To make such a large decision, to name their home with no warning- or none that Indigo had been there for.
Yet, the Pine- Skyclan, needed a new leader, that much had been obvious in the shipwreck that was the aftermath of the battle. Indigo finds his gaze searching for Haze, as if to silently read his brothers reaction to all of this. The forest was changing, for better or worse, and Indigo, as bold as he could be, was terrified, even with the best disguise of a curious gaze, he could feel that in his core.

❝ Speech. ❞

TO SAVE YOUR LIFE​

​

 

[BRIARSTAR]

Briar remained quiet as the cats discussed and bickered among themselves. She had not the energy nor patience to intervene in the small spat that broke out between her group and the other. She curled her tail around her paws and stared up at the sky, almost as if expecting the spirits to come and share the answer to the prophecy they had given. Finally, the conversation was redirected to those mysterious words: spread like the creeper vine. It was apparent, after discussion, that there were to be five groups spread out across the forest. The thought terrified Briar. Two groups had not gotten along, battling over prey and land. How would five work in this forest?

Her worries are ripped away when Soot leaps atop the great rock in the center of the clearing and announces herself the leader of the moors - the leader of WindClan. A flame point tom joins her, renaming the pine group as SkyClan. Briar feels a pang in her chest and a momentary look of hurt crosses her face when she realizes that Soot will not be returning to the marshes with her. She had always admired the she-cat, but she knew there was no changing her mind on this. As a frown tugged on her lips, she wondered how many more members she would lose today as they went off to spread like the creeper vine, as the prophecy had told them. She knew she couldn't blame them and she made up her mind that she would not be angry at anyone who chose to leave her today. After all, they were only doing as they were told to do.

But as for Briar, she would not leave the marshes. They had been her home for four years. She'd learned from Hare Whiskers there, taught her sister how to survive, fell in love, had children... too many memories and sentiments to leave behind. She would stay in the marshes. Lead the marshes. Prowling like a shadow, the molly slipped her way up atop the rock and stood next to Soot. "I'm going to miss you," she told the pregnant queen and affectionately bumped her shoulder with her nose before turning to face the crowd. "I am staying in the marshes. It's where I grew up, it's where I started a family. We will be called ShadowClan for the shady, boggy home in which we live," she said. And for the darkness that started this entire ordeal, she added silently.​

 

[emberstar]

"WE ARE THE BROKEN ONES, WHO CHOSE TO SPARK A FLAME"​

Everything went wrong almost immediately. Each side exchanged fiery words and burning looks. Across the clearing, Ember spotted two familiar flame-colored eyes glaring her way. Her ear flicked. At the very least, the anger writ in each expression and every voice had not burst into violence once more. The memory of the battle hung too heavy for that. Instead it smoldered, slowly building with every moment.

The injury on her shoulder ached.

Her mouth opened, desperately searching for the answers everyone was looking for. They were supposed to be here to figure out what the cats from the stars meant. That was the key to keeping everyone safe, Rain had said so. If she could decipher it then everyone could get back on track. Her words failed her. She hadn't the faintest clue what any of it meant.

Then a voice from the other side of the clearing, offered a suggestion. Spread out, the black tortie suggested. Without a thought, she jumped on the idea. "Yeah, that must be it!" she cheered, anything to distract the gathered cats from their squalling.

Thankfully, those around her seemed to take to it. A blue molly - a very pregnant one - leapt onto a large bolder, instantly catching her attention, and announced her intent to lead cats into a new territory. All under the name of Windclan. From somewhere behind her, a flame-point like her found his way up onto the rock as well. Blaise, she recognized him from when he joined. He declared that he will rename the newly renamed Skyclan. The marsh cats leader followed suit, anointing her group Shadowclan.

For a moment, Ember couldn't help but be caught up in the grandeur of it all. The flashy announcements, the punchy titles, it all felt so much larger than life. It made her all the more certain that this plan was going to work.

If this was what was going to keep her friends safe, then she wanted to be a part of it. She wasn't going to sit on the sidelines and let other cats do all the work. Even if it meant leaving the group she'd come to call home behind. She glanced back at the newly named Skyclan. Their number still seemed so much smaller than it had once been. Her heart ached. She had failed those that were gone in the battle. This could be a second chance for her, and she wouldn't fail again.

She made her decision.

A theatrical leap took her up onto the rock with the other leaders, and she shot them all a brilliant grin. Then she whirled around to face the cats assembled below. "Heya, I'll be your leader of Thunderclan!" she announced proudly, puffing up her chest. "Named for how loud and proud we will live, we can take up the oak forest! Gimme a shout if you intent to follow me!"​

✦ ★ ✦​

 

[CICADASTAR]

− ♱ ABOUT : it's as if a dam had broken ; outcries echoing like thunder in the time - flattened hollow. they weren't turning the idea away. the mottled tom seemed to straighten as voices became stronger, more purposeful, ears coming to lift slow from the slope of his head. it was happening. they were really splitting. the star- furred catshad yet to make an appearance, but those amongst the living now began to split, divide, and compromise. five groups windclan, skyclan, shadowclan, thunderclan . . it would seem as if each of them had their own slice of the territory they intended to lead towards, and images of shimmering water and fleeting gills flashes bright behind his eyelids. hound had shown him the ways of water, led his paw to harness the land. he'd met cats belonging to the river only their entire lives, sat with pumpkin alongside the waters to talk. thoughts of leaving those he cared for behind bit at his heels like an angry dog, but he pushed it down in favor of the burning feeling of vigor beginning to thread tight within him. at long last, the tall felidae would lift to his paws — as if in slow motion, he tosses his head to the side, tail coming to rise behind him. his light blue luminaries fixate on those looming forms atop the great rock and gathering his courage, the man joins his fellow soldiers atop the great rock, seeming all too stalky atop the massive fixture.

" and there is a life for us beyond the river ; water abundant with prey, protection. i've spent my nights there lately, and . . " he does not look at bone. cicada stands tall over the sea of feline that lie beneath them, their countless gazes lifted skyward at them, narrow chest fluffed out and orbital ears standing tall atop his head. he can only be thankful quiet was not present to witness his declaration in the flesh, " i claim those lands as riverclan, after the very source of our new beginning. those who come with me will be met with acceptance despite our differences. " the name itself felt electric on his tongue, the promise of new beginnings blooming warm in the middle of his chest. riverclan. riverclan. he's almost giddy with the thought despite himself ; the phantom feeling of sun lying heavy over his mottled back seeping into his skin, rivulets of pride running like ichor through his veins and alighting him in brilliant inner light. he could cultivate a life for his warriors, those who would walk alongside him ; he could teach them, just as he was taught. an endless sea of possibility lie just beyond the steppingstone, and as it would seem, he would be the one to lead his brethren towards a new day. cicada finally settles aside briar and blaise, stifling his feelings towards to dip his head minutely at the flame point as he settles aside him. unity.

and like the creeper vine, there were five.

out of character information translations

• − CICADA ; he / him, roughly thirty two months old, marsh group member
  − tall black smoke tortie chimera with icecap eyes and curly fur, homosexual
  − speaks with a german accent, attack in #171717, penned by antlers
• none.

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​

 

[BLAZESTAR]

*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧ The names follow: ShadowClan, Briar says, joining them on the rock and giving Soot an affectionate nudge as she does. Blaise realizes she is going to be losing someone she's always known, and he gives the spiky-furred leader a look soft with sympathy.

He's shocked when a fourth cat leaps onto the smooth surface of the stone. Golden fur is almost silvered in the face of the full moon, but her voice is strong and confident. ThunderClan. Blaise only nods at Ember, a smile cracking the serious facade. She would make a good leader, he thinks. Young but strong, determined.

Finally, the fifth leaf climbs the vine. The tom who had killed Rain, the stately-looking tortoiseshell, joins the others on the rock, claiming the riverlands for himself. RiverClan. Blaise gives him an apprehensive look, but after a moment, gives him a nod of acceptance.

The moors. The marsh. The forests. The river. Five Clans, composed of cats with different backgrounds, different hearts. He looks down at the cats below their self-proclaimed leaders; his heart pounds. Who will go where, he wonders? Who will these cats proclaim allegiance to?

The Ragdoll shakes his thick pelt and speaks again. "Then... we've done what the stars have asked us, haven't we?" He flicks his ears, uncomfortable. "But... how will we know, really, if we separate and section ourselves off?"

He thinks of Little Wolf and himself, pledged to colonies at war. Of the cats in the pine forest who may go with Ember or to any number of the newly claimed territories. Who will they be leaving behind?

"Perhaps... we should meet again. When the moon is full, at moonhigh. Here." He gives the other leaders an anxious look. "It's neutral ground, no? We could keep peace for a night, and those who are leaving friends behind could meet..." He's embarrassed, but he maintains himself, awaiting feedback from the others. ​

✦ PENNED BY MARQUETTE.​

 

[BONERIPPLE]

---

She doesn't understand and oh, she tries her hardest to. But none of this makes sense to her at all. Two groups were just fighting to get enough food and now there are those vouching for five of them. Her eyes flick between all of these cats and she then sharply turns her gaze to her sister. Hoping she can put some stop or reason to this madness and yet instead the black thistle haired molly is moving to stand with Soot after she proclaimed ownership of the moors and this Windclan. Her sister becomes a part of this that she sees unreasonable and her talk twitches with an unnerving feeling. Their home being given the name of Shadowclan for the deep colors of shade and who knows what else. What is going on? One after another other cats climb the rock and shout what they will take, cutting up Briar's territory into pieces. And so she sharply turns her eyes as she sees another begin to make way for the Rock. Her heart almost stops in her throat and her eyes widen.

She stares at him as he begins to talk. The dull thrumming in her ears almost drowning him out. She waits for him to look over at her and see her face. She hopes he does but this action never comes. He won't look at her at all and she almost feels bile rise up in her throat. Riverclan. This is as much as she can stomach and she wonders if this is what it feels like to be truly hurt. Not savage like betrayal or is that the same? She doesn't think too hard on it and instead she wants nothing else to do with this gathering anymore. She picks her dark furred figure up on tense white stilts and takes her leave, tail disappearing behind the foliage.
​

 

[honey]

Fritter is there, listening tiredly to the banter that the two groups had begun, an ear idly flicking as venom was flung back and forth. Stay calm. For my newfound family, for us. Her eyes flitter over to try to find Tugger and as she can't find his familiar golden pelt in the sea of colors she sighs softly. Eyes carry down to her paws, to her stomach which had begun to cramp- nerves or something else, she could not tell. Creeper vine, yadda yadda- her head jerks up to see Soot scramble up a boulder and she glowers, ears slightly flattening as she forced her fur to lay flat. Stakes were claimed, new beginnings were starting...

She finds herself searching for Tugger, desperately now, her chest tightening. What would he think? They're splitting in to groups, the very thing they fought over. This will end badly, so, so badly! Sacrebleu! She finds herself fearing for her and her newfound loves future. "I stand with Blaise. We're Skyclan, through and through." she announces to no one in particular, standing up tall from her seated position. "Whatever happens, I will be there to defend it." somehow theres a tug in her mind and she suddenly realizes she does not know if it were to be a promise she could keep. She feels a pull towards Soots group but suppresses it, buries it deep inside where she couldn't find it. I could not be in a group with a murderer. Not Marigolds murderer. She finds hypocrisy in her thoughts. Oh, well.
​

"speech"​

 

[SOOTSTAR]

Before her eyes she witnessed the other four bloom into their final forms. WindClan, SkyCkan, RiverClan, ThunderClan, and ShadowClan, just as the stars had wished for it to be.

She acknowledges Briar's bump against her shoulder with a brief smile, but the blue molly regrets she isn't sure she truly feels the same. Briar is a good cat, a good leader, if she could help it she'd avoid having WindClan step on ShadowClan's tails... but she couldn't promise anything if they ended up being obstcles. She wouldn't miss her life-long home, not even for a moment when she would forever live with the hills and the wind blowing through her fur.

Cicada takes his own stand as leader, another former group-mate. She reckons he was fitting for the role enough... but the ThunderClan leader? From the Pine group. Instantly her prejudice takes over, blinds her from even considering ThunderClan to be an at all capable clan. They'd be just as good as the supposed "SkyClan" in the eyes of Soot...

And to make it all the more fun, the SkyClan leader suggests neutrality for this area. Soot can't help but snort, neutrality and respecting the dead that laid here was one thing... but meeting up any moon? What good would that do? "I'll agree to neutrality. You'll have to see in a moon I suppose if WindClan shows up." Perhaps out of curiousity they would, but she wasn't interested in communicating with these cats on a regular basis.

"There is no more to discuss. My clan has much to accomplish tonight." She meows, paws moving to depart from the leader's rock. "Any of you who wish to call yourselves WindClan, join me now!" She doesn't give cats a chance to contemplate where their loyalties now lied and she was not about to beg for anyone to join her. If they wished to come, now was time.

Soot would vanish into the foliage, anyone who desired to follow her to their new home likely not far behind. ​

---

 

[salamander]

Wait. Becoming a leader was as simple as announcing your intentions and giving the territory a name? How come no one was arguing with the ones who spoke up? For example, the brat who killed her nephew claimed that she would lead a "clan"; a clan dubbed "ThunderClan". What credentials did she have besides being an accomplice to murder?!

This was preposterous.

Should she speak up? No, there was no point. As the marsh cats had proven, no one was willing to follow or listen to her. None of the leaders practically thrilled the blue mink. Soot and whoever the one pine cat was were fine. But everyone else? Hadn't Briar proved herself to be a warmonger? Hadn't Cicada proven to be blind to injustice?

Or was she simply the problem? Possibly. But it pissed her off that Soot could claim the moors that she'd hunted on to feed the ungrateful marsh cats who then labeled her as a traitor. She had ventured there and learned to (very ungracefully) hunt the speedy hares and rabbits. No one had listened to her when she said there was an abundance of prey in the land! Yet here they were.. willing to listen to someone else. How was Soot any different than herself? They'd both been loyal to the marsh. Was it because Soot never spoke up against Briar?

The shadow seethed but didn't speak up. She would remain a loner, an invisible force because she refused to associate with a group ever again. She'd linger nearby, outside of the soon-to-be branded territories, but only to listen to the news and (possibly) get her revenge.​

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[HOWLINGSTAR]

It all happened so quickly, and Howling Wind couldn't keep up. Five groups. Five clans. For a moment, she was overwhelmed and she couldn't help but search wildly for her family while territories were being snatched up. Where would they live? A familiar voice rang out, immediately snagging the tabby's attention for she knew that voice. That voice had ordered her to surrender while claws were at her throat. Ember. Howling Wind stared up at the molly with wide eyes as she claimed the oak forest as ThunderClan. Her heart skipped a beat. The oak forest, the place she loved to hunt and spend her days to escape the gloomy marshes. It would be perfect. Not only that, but the molly who would lead them had already proven to be an honorable cat. She had spared her life when she lay defeated, when they both knew she didn't have to. I must speak with my kits!
​

"speech"​

 

[LARKTREK]

And there it is.

The solution to the tales of tension between the two groups Larkspur had heard from passersby - the tales he'd been too curious about, the tales he was now a part of.

Two becoming five. To spread out and grow, like the leaves of a creeper vine.

Larkspur would have opted for more distance between the two groups as the solution - to minimize the chance of another war breaking out- but, if this is what those who were actually part of these groups thought the solution was, then so be it. One by one the groups declare themselves, but he hardly hears past Soot's declaration - the founding of WindClan.

The moorlands. Home.

If he were to stay with these groups - no... clans, now - as he healed from his wounds, WindClan would be his best bet. He'd be in lands he knows by heart - lands he was born to, lands he'd wandered through, all his life.

The blue smoke turns to leave, and calls for those who want to join her - to join WindClan - to follow. He doesn't look to see if anyone else is coming before his paws begin to follow behind her. Home.

Larkspur was going home. ​

 

[SQUALLMIST]

Squall could hardly believe what was happening. Split into five? Wouldn't that create more problems? More fights over territory and prey? A chance for a repeat of history? Another bloodbath?

He looks at Haze with a look of concern as Soot declares herself leader of WindClan, only for a new voice to cause him to turn his gaze back to its speaker.

Blaise.

The newcomer - the one that ultimately dragged the pine group into this. The one that seemingly disappeared from the battle and returned just in time, hardly a scratch on him, as the stars intervened. He was claiming the group, renaming it - SkyClan. Squall finds a distaste for the name - not RainClan? SkyClan?

His fur bristles - who gave him the right to rename the group? To not discuss it with Rain's own children? Who gave him right to stake claim of the forest he's known for most of his life, while Blaise had hardly been here?

As other cats begin to rattle off the rest of their claim of territory - ShadowClan, ThunderClan, RiverClan - and Squall has a moment's thought of leaving. That, if Blaise was going to run his home without even asking him, or Haze, or... or any of his other siblings, that he didn't want to be part of this... this SkyClan. But, he couldn't do that. He couldn't leave his home, what his family had built, over some measly newcomer. No. Squall had to stay. He had to make sure Blaise wouldn't ruin everything his father left behind.
​

 

[BEESONG]

Everything happens so quickly.

Quiet mumbling turns to furious hisses. Honeybee glances towards Haze, the instigator of it all, exasperation evident in his pinched expression and twitching tail. Why are they so quick to jump to hostility and threats? Haven't they lost enough already? The cinnamon tom's claws dig into the too-soft soil, his annoyed gaze dancing between each group. Expectant for another fight to break out amongst the colonies, his hackles rise.

And then, a voice above it all. Honeybee's head snaps towards him, the tom who'd slaughtered the pine group's leader. He doesn't recall the tortie's name, but he would never forget those frigid eyes. The smoky feline proposes an answer to the prophecy; split into five groups. Honeybee blinks, frazzled by the suggestion. Why would the ghost-cats want them to further divide themselves when division is what caused the war in the first place?

But it makes sense now, the words they'd spoken... Spread like the creeper vine. Like the tortie tom had said, the creeper vine has five leaves... Five groups.

The pregnant she-cat from the marsh group leaps atop the boulder towering over the clearing, albeit with some difficulty. She stakes claim to the moors without hesitation, declaring her newfound colony WindClan. And like the first domino toppling the rest, four other cats step forward to name themselves leaders of SkyClan, ShadowClan, ThunderClan, and RiverClan. Honeybee glances between the five, his mouth drawn into a tight line. He doesn't approve of this one bit, but he sees no other choice in the matter.

There's a strange sensation which tries to draw them towards the RiverClan leader, but Honeybee pushes it down. No way in hell are they going to abandon Rain's group- no, SkyClan- for Rain's murderer. "I... I'll be by your side no matter what, Blaise. By SkyClan's side." They do not have the energy to jest as they typically would. Not tonight.

They're certain that the words they speak are true, so why do they feel in their gut that they're wrong?​

 

[LAKEMOON]

✵ ღ ☾ IT TOOK ME BY SURPRISE - Much like many of her clanmates silent thoughts, Azalea was left almost dumbfounded, this was happening fast. One by one cats leapt up, stood up, confidence oozing from their words as they claimed a territory and named their clan.
Riverclan! Cicada proclaimed, earning a snag of interest from Azalea, but with one look towards Howling Wind, she could see the awe in the older Molly's gaze as she looked towards Ember.
Will by family be broken up? She couldn't help but ponder as her ear swiveled towards Cicada, quickly followed by something of a longing look. While the oak forest sounded perfectly fine, and despite her water-based fears, living on a secluded island did sound nice. A safe home, to raise a hypothetical family one day, and the prey was bound to be plentiful.
She would never starve again.
She takes a step towards Cicada, only to halt and quickly turn back towards Briar. She would need time to ponder such a life-altering decision, and while the Marshes would never be her home, her family was there for now. Quickly, she trotted over to Howling Winds side, her maw clasped shut for once and her eyes lost in her thoughts.
❝ Speech. ❞

THE HATRED IN HER EYES​

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