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Post by '.'.' Leafstorm'.'.' on May 21, 2009 14:31:48 GMT -5
Fadingsteps lead his clan into the bushes around the Ancient Oaks, surprised as he peered down through the leaves to look onto an empty space ocupied only by moonlight. Stopping, he wached the four great trees sway in the slight wind that ran through the forest. Looking behind him to see if WillowClan was still following him, he saw Singedpride approaching out of the bushes. The others must be farther behind. I still can't believe I'm here, leading WillowClan no less. Shaking his head, he felt Singedpride at his side.
Looking at the thoughtful expression on her nephew's face, she also shook her head. "You didn't think that old girl would live forever, did you? What'd you think you'd be doing as leader anyway; sleeping in your leader's den and ordering us around? Hah. There is more to leadership than power and fighting, kit. Sometimes there are things leaders do that they'd rather not. It seems to come with the job." She smirked at him, though a bare glint of caring she usually never let show, now shone in her eyes in the bright moonlight.
Fadingsteps looked at his aunt, the prickly she-cat who hadn't shown a lick of interest in him since she herself had joined WillowClan. Hearing her words though, he knew she spoke the truth. "I'm not expecting to live like that. I want to bring honor and glory to WillowClan. It's all just been a bit sudden, this whole Mintleaf thing and all. And your right, I shouldn't be relying on her to be the leader forever. She is looking weaker with every passing day. It scares me sometimes. But a leader I will be, and I need to be able to stand up to the things I have to do, even if I don't want to do them. Thank you for reminding me of that. "
Fadingsteps looked again behind him, figuring the rest might have caught up with him by now. Sighing, knowing that if they came, they would see him down there and follow, he signaled Singedpride with his tail, and rushed down into the sacred place, ready for the challenges ahead, Singedpride trailing behind him, a small smile showing on her face.
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Post by .* Hidden *. on May 22, 2009 0:00:21 GMT -5
"It's all just been a bit sudden, this whole Mintleaf thing and all."
The newly named Silverlight coughed pointedly behind her deputy and former mentor. She couldn't remember a time when Mintleaf hadn't been a messed-up she-cat; she'd always seemed to have something to mope about. If she even was moping, that is. Silverlight doubted whether any cat in WillowClan knew what went on in the gray she-cat's mind. I wonder if she even knows, she thought. Perhaps someone in MireClan knows, seeing as Mintleaf was in MarshClan before the Clans split up. I wonder if she was always this way or if something happened to her.
The young warrior shrugged and followed Fadingsteps, whom, in more ways than one, she considered to be her leader. Saying that he was more of a leader than Mintleaf wasn't saying much. For the thousandth time, the she-cat wondered what her great-grandmother Sunstar had been thinking when she chose her to be WillowClan's leader. It's all in the past, she thought as she settled herself in front of the Great Rock and looked around. None of the other Clans had arrived yet.
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Post by vena sera ! on May 23, 2009 9:56:40 GMT -5
ooc --- Finally. o.o; Song is "Sound of Madness" by Shinedown.
***
Yeah, I get it, your an outcast
Always under attack, always coming in last
Bringing up the past, no one owes you anything
I think you need a shotgun blast, a kick in the ass
So paranoid, watch your back
The full moon had painted the entire clearing of the forest in pale, swathy blue-silver light, like jeweled cobweb mist upon the world, a kiss of grace from the angels of lore. As he stealthily stole through the clearing, making a bit of noise from his size and slight excitement, Crimsonstar's ears twitched at the sound of other cats and their soft, lulling voices as they conversed.
It had been so long... what scent was this? It smelled of the moores he had traveled in his rogue days, and it smelled of paranoia and expectancy. WillowClan, he was sure; peering through the bushes, he caught a tabby shape with a young silver female and a dark orange-and-black warrior standing near one another.
Another lose cannon gone bi-polar
Slipped down, couldn't get much lower
Quicksand's got no sense of humor
I'm still laughing like hell
Mintleaf was nowhere in sight. This was kind of surprising, but that was simply because Crimsonstar had no knoweledge of the gray femme's mental condition. He huffed, turned to beckon whomever in GorgeClan had followed him, and leapt onto the stone from which every leader gave their news. Even the moonlight couldn't completely smote the fire in his ginger coat, or the fire in his deadly, venomous eyes that wanted so badly to glance StreamClan, the unknowing victims.
His claws almost unsheathed at the thought of his upcoming surprise attack, but he managed to keep himself under control. Licking his chops and glancing at the youthful tabby warrior, he twitched his nose and commented, So, where's Mintleaf? Are you takin' her place? He couldn't remember who their deputy was; for all he knew, it could be that fresh-faced silver she-cat down there. How would he know? His own deputy hadn't been seen around, either.
I created the sound of madness, wrote the book on pain
Somehow I'm still here to explain
That the darkest hour will never come in the night
You can sleep with a gun
When you gonna wake up and fight for yourself?
He watched as two more cats entered the clearing, from opposite sides; one an unfamiliar, ghostly silver-gray warrioress who was lithe and small like a WillowClan cat, and she joined the orange and black female below. The other was a tall, willowy ginger she-cat with luminous blue eyes, and she gave her father a distasteful look as she sat below.
When you gonna wake up and fight for yourself?
***
Hellpaw had never been to a Gathering. Naturally; there were grown warriors who had never been to a Gathering, given there had been only two or three since the Clans reformed. She wasn't in awe, like she had thought she would be; she was disappointed. Where was everyone? Were there really only two Clans here? Was that a whole Clan?
Wow... four cats? And is that tom Mintleaf? Somehow I thought he'd be... a she-cat. She chuckled under her breath, sweeping her tail over the ground. She decided it'd be wise to start a conversation with someone not her Clan, since Chaospaw wasn't here. Might as well attempt an ally outside of this hellhole GorgeClan, she thought wistfully, sighting a silvery female. She was pretty and young-looking, and perhaps close to her age.
Stepping forward, Hellpaw dipped her head to the silver tabby. Hello. I gather you're in WillowClan. Is that tom up there Mintleaf? She asked, feeling foolish for not knowing a thing about their leader. Crimsonstar had merely mentioned WillowClan's head, a cat named Mintleaf, had given no specifications to gender, age, or pelt color.
***
Dawnbreak followed her Clan in slowly, taking as much time as she could. Against her will, she longed to be in seclusion; the antisocial persona she'd developed by living alone was coming into effect. The scent opposite her's was rough and violent, and she sought a glance of the other leader with a predatory hunger. She was rather dismayed to see him -- a massive dark scarlet tabby, fur the shade of spilled blood, towering above the cats who lingered around. He looked aggressive, and the smirk on his face made her believe this.
Great. And if I'm not mistaken, Mintleaf is the only leader in the forest who's a female, she thought, suddenly depressed. How weak their Clan was. She settled nearby, watching Silverlight being approached by a youthful apprentice with bright ginger fur and dark stripes, bearing a spooky resemblance to the giant tom on the leader's ledge. Oh dear, his children are monstrously large just like him, she thought, feeling like laughing. I wonder if he's as dullwitted as he looks? Same for the girly! Man, GorgeClan is almost as pathetic as we are, just not in the same way, I guess. They look like the inbred Clan of the forest! She muffled any unsightly laughter and politely waited for the other Clans to arrive.
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Post by .* Hidden *. on May 23, 2009 12:03:55 GMT -5
The silver tabby turned as she was addressed by an unfamiliar voice. Silverlight blinked once in greeting. The she-cat next to her smelled strongly of GorgeClan, the one Clan with which Silverlight shared no blood. She also had never had any relatives in GorgeClan, and she found the scent stranger than the other Clans'. The GorgeClan cat was large, with blue eyes that stood out sharply against her orange pelt. Silverlight's initial impression was that she wasn't the brightest bulb, but that could have been simply because of her question. The WillowClan warrior couldn't help but let out a mrrow of laughter before she answered.
At the same time, she felt some satisfaction knowing that WillowClan wasn't the only weak Clan. GorgeClan didn't even know who the other leaders were! I suppose that makes sense, though, since most cats have still never been to a Gathering, she thought, Still, a good leader would make sure their cats knew so they wouldn't embarrass themselves... And make the Clan look bad. Still, she wasn't really in a position to judge other cats. Mintleaf was not, by definition of the word, a good leader.
"No," she said, smiling at the younger--although larger--she-cat, "Mintleaf is a gray she-cat. That's Fadingsteps, WillowClan's deputy." You'd better start learning who he is, because, judging by Mintleaf's health, he'll soon be WillowClan's leader, she added silently, suddenly glad that Mintleaf had decided to stay behind. Silverlight didn't even want to think about how the frail Mintleaf would look standing next to the massive Crimsonstar. Fadingsteps was still smaller than the other leader, but at least he looked like he could hold his own. "I'm Silverlight, by the way," she introduced herself, then blinked friendlily again, inviting the other she-cat to say her name. Silverlight guessed that she was an apprentice, but didn't say anything in case she wasn't. She was big enough to be a warrior, but she looked too young.
((Haha, Friendlily. What a horrible name.))
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Post by '.'.' Leafstorm'.'.' on May 23, 2009 21:05:29 GMT -5
ooc// XD
Fadingsteps, after jumping up, taking the leader's place on the large boulder, smiled as he saw a few more cats trickling into the moonlit clearing. GorgeClan was here he knew, by the large fiery tom making his own way towards the rock. Then that's Cimsonstar. Lives up to his name I suppose. He thought, his eyes examining GorgeClan's leader. The tom was massive. Easily towering over all of the clan cats. And his red coat matched his name, the crimson turning to silver fire as he moved in the moonlight. His question startled Fadingsteps out of his examination, realizing Crimsonstar had also joined him on the rock, and just as easily towered over him. "So, where's Mintleaf? Are you takin' her place?" the tom said, a touch of an accent in his voice. Fadingsteps didn't outwardly react to the question, but inside his mind was racing. He knew he didn't want to make WillowClan seem weak, so saying she was home sick was out of the question. Clearing his throat he answered in a voice he hoped sounded sure of himself. "Mintleaf had a urgent matter to attend to that couldn't wait. So yes, for this Gathering I am representing WillowClan. I am Fadingsteps." Frankly he felt a bit intimidated, talking to this muscly tom, but outwardly he kept his face calm and his voice was thankfully free of shaking.
--
Windgust trotted down the hill, inspecting the moonlit-bathed cove. It was just as she remembered as an apprentice, and had witnessed again only quickly once more after that. It even smelled the same. Though that was expected, they were basically the same clans after all. And don't forget you were here after the Break as well. Though that had seemed to her at least to be a more informal Gathering. As the clans had been newly formed and everyone was still trying to remember the old ways. But now it was better, and besides the small knot of concern that had formed in her belly after the news of the attack, she felt happy. Joining the outskirts of the clump slowly forming under the boulder, she looked around for any familiar faces. Seeing none other than her Clanmates, Windgust looked up at the rock, seeing Crimsonstar and another cat standing there. Glancing at the tabby tom, she wondered where Mintleaf was. This is WillowClan, if I am not mistaken, so where's their leader? She'd only seen Mintleaf once clearly, but she hardly thought the she-cat would have changed genders. Must be their Deputy. But if that's so, where's Mintleaf? She wondered, curious now if any of the WillowClan cats had a better idea. Walking over to a cat who seemed to be a bit separate from the main bunch, she sat down. "So what's Mintleaf up to then, if she not here? This is of course assuming that is your deputy up on that rock." She turned, asking the other cat conversationally.
Pouncetail looked around at the Gathering, as he sat near the back of the small mass. So few. But there are still two more Clans, but judging from the size already, we'd be lucky if this group doubled. He was a bit shocked at the low number of cats at the Gathering, but decided it was fine enough, as long as there were cats to come. The two leaders were chatting on the rock, but he didn't see Mintleaf, it was her deputy up on that rock. Hah. She couldn't even make it to a Gathering? Things must be getting bad. The thought came and went, himself not caring too much where the weak leader had gotten herself. Not my problem. Just another opportunity. He thought, a glint in his eyes.
--
Singedpride looked around her, not seeing many faces she cared for in this crowd. Not that she even knew many to start with. A Grey she-cat came up on Dawnbreak's other side and posed a question. Mintleaf. Figures. Everyone must be wondering where she's got herself to, with my nephew taking her place and all. Looking around at the small gathering of felines, and even though she knew there were more to come, she also knew it would be a long time before the clans were up to their former strength in numbers. Noticing that Thunderstep as he'd called himself, wasn't among the assembled, she looked behind her at the slope they had all come down, but seeing no one, turned back, looking up at the stars that covered the sky above the moonlit clearing.
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Post by .* Hidden *. on May 23, 2009 21:22:05 GMT -5
((Who is Windgust talking to?))
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Post by '.'.' Leafstorm'.'.' on May 24, 2009 0:33:48 GMT -5
ooc// Dawnbreak. Sorry, I realize that could of been clearer.  |
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Post by vena sera ! on May 24, 2009 17:07:54 GMT -5
ooc; Oh God. This post is terrible. It doesn't even deserve a song. Oh well.
Hellpaw felt herself blush under her bright pelt, realizing her stupidity was probably a bad reflection on her Clan. Wait, why did she care? That's right, she didn't. She glanced up, chipper despite her embarrassment and meowed, Oh. Well, my dad told us the leader's name was Mintleaf, and I thought it sounded girlish, but... She shrugged, smiling. Silverlight. That's a pretty name. She realized how mean and bitter her name was going to sound in comparison, and it caused her to flatten her ears.
Usually, she was proud of the name Demon gave her, simply because no cat had had a name similar. But... come on. She swallowed nervously and meowed, I'm still an apprentice; my name's Hellpaw, and my mentor's over there. She indicated Pouncetail, then peered back at Silverlight. Who was your mentor?
***
Dawnbreak looked up as another cat approached, a she-cat who didn't smell of any familiar Clan. Good. What Clan is it? Smells of forests... probably GorgeClan. Don't the other two live by a marsh and a stream? She didn't bother to act friendly, but she did respond to the she-cat's question, Yeah, Fadingsteps is our deputy, and Mintleaf... she's been a real stick-in-the-ass lately. She was up to some important business, but I don't know what she could possibly be doing that's more important than a Gathering. She shrugged, then glanced toward the rock where Crimsonstar and Fadingsteps were conversing.
Doesn't look like there's many of you. Just like us. Or is there more coming? She asked, wondering which cats were the deputy and the medicine cat. WillowClan no longer HAD a medicine cat, now that Icefire was dead, and their deputy was doubling as leader.
God, we're a pathetic Clan right now, she thought morbidly.
***
Crimsonstar looked skeptical at Fadingsteps' cover-up. Don't bother wastin' yer time with convincin' me. Yer leader's whereabouts aren't any business but WillowClan, after all. He had a feeling Mintleaf was in trouble, or something; it wasn't usual for leaders to send their deputies in their place, was it? He supposed he wouldn't know.
Ahh, where are Starkeeper, Demon an' Chaospaw? He thought, somewhat badtemperedly. Already his Clan looked to be outnumbering WillowClan, and it made him wonder, really wonder, what on earth Mintleaf had been doing this whole time. Feeding her Clan poison? Sicking wild dogs on them? There were four cats here, for StarClans' sakes! The deputy, who was young and nervous-looking, and three warriors below; all three were she-cats.
This is crazy! What's happened here?
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Post by .* Hidden *. on May 25, 2009 1:56:09 GMT -5
"Hellpaw?" Silverlight echoed. The name certainly matched the bad feeling she had about the apprentice, but the silver warrior had learned not to judge a book by its cover. So far Hellpaw seemed like a perfectly nice young she-cat. "I've never heard a name like that before," she said honestly, sounding truly interested rather than like she was just looking for something nice to say. "I was just named after my mom. It's sort of a tradition."
The WillowClan warrior followed the apprentice's gaze to the cat she said was her mentor. Silverlight had never met the tom, and she didn't really see anything worthy of note in him now. It wasn't that there was anything wrong with him; he just looked like your average warrior. "Fadingsteps was my mentor until tonight," she said with a touch of pride in her voice. Finally I'm a warrior! the she-cat thought, still not quite able to wrap her mind around the idea. She looked up at her former mentor, then back at the apprentice, then around the rest of the clearing.
"Where on Earth are StreamClan and MireClan?" she asked huffily. "You'd think they would be on time for the Gathering! I hope nothing's wrong..." The she-cat was fairly certain that something was wrong in MireClan. She had personally witnessed the death of Spectrumfire, MireClan's deputy and her father. I wonder who's replacing him, she thought sadly. Although they had chosen to join different Clans, she had been close to both of her parents. Then there was Vixenpaw in StreamClan. She probably has her warrior name by now, she realized. I wish we could still be friends... But that's not possible. We're in different Clans. I hope she's happy. I can't say whether I am. I just wish we were in the same Clan.
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Post by PLAGUESTAR on May 25, 2009 12:30:05 GMT -5
Dearest Dizzy, You are much too slow. Aren't you glad you have me to help you? Plaguestar paused just before Fourtrees came into view and glanced back at his Clan. He made no comment, only flicked his tail as a signal for then to continue and padded into the clearing. Although it was somewhat reassuring that StreamClan had not arrived yet, it looked as though GorgeClan and WillowClan had been there for quite some time. Although the MireClan leader held his head high as he crossed the clearing and joined the other leaders, inside he was burning with shame. We're late, we're late, we're late... he chanted in his head, and then: Shame on me, shame on me... How he wished that he was a more active character!
"Hello Crimsonstar," he nodded at the large tom, "And Fadingsteps. Where is Mintleaf?"
<3 Hidden |
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Post by .* Hidden *. on May 25, 2009 23:00:29 GMT -5
Baypaw followed Plaguestar into Fourtrees. She looked around the clearing, feeling a bit confused. The way Mintleaf had described it to her as a kit, and MireClan warriors more recently, she had imagined that there would be more cats at a Gathering. She could pick out two foreign scents, a trick Robinheart had taught her. I wonder where my mentor is, anyways, she thought. I don't think she's coming to the Gathering today. I haven't seen her around much.
The large apprentice hesitated at the edge of the group of cats, not sure who to talk to. She didn't know anyone in any of the other Clans, but she figured she could always make new friends. Everyone seemed to already be talking with someone else. Baypaw heard a name that ended in paw, and gravitated toward a large orange apprentice, whose name, apparently, was Hellpaw, and a silver tabby. She sat down next to the apprentice, forming a sort of semi-circle. "Hello," she said cheerfully. "I'm Baypaw!"
***
"Well, I guess MireClan's here," Silverlight pointed out the obvious, mostly to have something to say. A MireClan apprentice approached and introduced herself, even though she looked old enough to be a warrior. Seeing the two huge apprentices side-by-side made her feel small, but she didn't let it show. She wasn't going to be intimidated by apprentices!
"Hi Baypaw," she greeted the young cat. "I'm Silverlight, and this is Hellpaw." She pointed briefly at Hellpaw with her tail, then curled it over her paws.
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Post by '.'.' Leafstorm'.'.' on May 26, 2009 3:21:21 GMT -5
Heathertail walked slowly into the Gathering, taking in the different sights and smells, a peaceful look on her face. She was excited, being able to go to her first Gathering this soon after joining MireClan. Watching Plaguestar jump onto the rock where she assumed the leader's gathered, and sat among the two other cats already sitting there. Aren't there four clans in this forest? So we aren't all that late I guess. Well that's good. I'd hate to be late for my first Gathering. Gazing around in wonder at the moonlight-filled glade, and all the cats gathered in the peace the full moon brings, Heathertail settled herself at the edge of the milling cats, near a group which her clanmate Baypaw had joined. She sat, happy just to take in the experience of finally being free, finally being at her first Gathering. With my Clan. She thought proudly, blinking as she looked at the stars overhead.
--
Fadingsteps looked over as a new leader approached the Great Rock, and seated himself with them. Hello Plaguestar, it's been a long time. He said, noticing how well the other tom had grown, for now he was a sleek and powerful leader, far from the small kit Fadingsteps had grown up with. Now a hint of sadness tinted his eyes. Mintleaf had important business elsewhere that could not wait until after the Gathering. He said, knowing that while Crimsonstar didn't seem to care about his leader's whereabouts, that this tom might. He kept his voice even as he replied, he himself still a little mystified as to her location.
--
Windgust looked up the hill where she saw MireClan coming down the slpe. Finally. It's about time they showed. She thought, turning back to the yellow-eyed she-cat. Her question threw her a little. What was she to say about the strength of their clan? It seemed this cat had no qualms of sharing their clan's weakness in these times. Well, these are all the cats coming tonight, though it seems no everyone has arrived yet. She replied politely, looking around for the rest of GorgeClan. My name's Windgust, by the way. I am GorgeClan's Medicine Cat. She added, dipping her head a little in greeting.
ooc// Ugh. not a very good post. But it gets them here, so oh well.
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Post by VELOCIRAPTOR DX on May 26, 2009 10:58:33 GMT -5
xxdizz:// Aww, thanks, Hidden. =__= And, yeah, been busy. Moving and crap. And, Leafy, technically, Plague and Fading would know each other from when they were little, since their parents raised them, plus their sisters, together. >__> SO INTERCLAN RELATIONS. Anyway. I'm using a line or two from Paramore's "Fences"[/blockquote] xx:// So now, let's see you walk itPlaguestar nodded at Fadingsteps. He liked the quiet tom, having grown up with him when they were tiny kits, just learning how to play and hunt and fight. Not that they'd ever talked much; Plaguestar had been too busy trying to impress Hauntedstar and Morninglight back then, and had left home when he was six moons old to find the truth of his heritage.
But still.
The news about Mintleaf's not being here brightened the MireClan leader's spirits. He disliked the she-cat his father had chosen as a second mate immensely. His meow in reply was harsh and bitter. "A good leader would be present to lead their Clan to the Gathering, Fadingsteps," The cream-tabby turned his light blue eyes to fix them on the grey tom. "There's no business that could possibly be more important than maintaining the peace and good--" His tone here was harsher, almost snapping under the tension. "Relations between our Clans."
-------
Chaospaw sidled up beside his sister, eyeing the silvery she-cat she'd been speaking with. Pretty enough, though she reeked of mud and WillowClan. The large grey she-cat beside them was obviously MireClan, judging by the marshy stench on her fluffed coat. A distasteful pair, in his eyes.
Ah well. One made allies where one could, in this world. The tiny tabby dipped his head courteously to the pair. "And I'm called Chaospaw; Hellpaw's my sister, if you couldn't tell by the, ah..." He pressed himself a little closer to his larger sister. "Resemblence." The swirl-coated orange tabby finished, with a little grin. I said, let's see you walk it! \\:xx [/b][/size][/color] |
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Post by .* Hidden *. on May 26, 2009 13:10:27 GMT -5
((Mintleaf was Hauntedstar's first mate. Then Hauntedstar cheated on her, so she dumped him and went to Morninglight's mate, Abyssfang, and it all went downhill from there... I'll reply later, since I'm in class right now.))
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Post by VASTFLAME on May 26, 2009 18:45:46 GMT -5
Dearest Jade, Tut tut, tardy! You know what this site needs? Discipline! Kids these days... yeesh. -slaps Jade's hand with a ruler- That'll learn ya! Vastflame mozied through StreamClan territory toward Fourtrees. He could have arrived several weeks earlier, had he been walking at a normal pace. But no, he had chosen to leave late, and then, on top of that, travel slower than a snail. The StreamClan leader felt absolutely no remorse for his tardiness, and strolled casually into the clearing filled with cats as though he owned the place. Oh look... a cat, he thought, smiling sleepily, as though he had just woken up and was remembering a pleasant dream. Either that, or he was falling asleep while walking.
Looking dazed, the tom jumped up onto the Great Rock and sat down next to the other leaders. Well, two leaders and a deputy, really, but Vastflame didn't care much where Mintleaf was. He nodded absentmindedly to the other leaders, then turned to look at the cats assembled below without really seeing them, his thoughts distant.
<3 Hidden
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