TAKEN. *PLOT THREAD/ALL*

[ShinoDino first of her name!]

The dark tabby's long legs stretched out as far as they could go, the stench of that horrible rouge still coating her nostrils. Her eyes were wide and glazed as she ran down the main path to the Clan, intent on gathering her warriors to find her precious kit. She had lost her first litter; she would not lose another kit!

"CATS OF SKYCLAN GATHER!!"

she yowled as she careened into camp. She scaled the trunk of the Twisted Tree so quickly she seemed to leap straight from the ground to the long, high branch she always spoke from.

"My daughter Icepaw has been taken by rouges!"

she yowled, not waiting for cats to gather. Her gray-blue eyes were fevered now, a glint of madness that had not been seen In Stonestar's eyes since the day she had lost her first litter.
She opened her mouth to continue, when a powerful voice rang in her head:

"You need a cat for you mission . . . this is the time! This rescue is not for you! Send your candidates and make your choice!"

In her crazed state, the idea seemed ludicrous. Not go on the patrol to save her kit? Wouldn't that make her a bad leader and mother?

"I need a patrol! I must stay here to defend the Clan, but Frecklewhisker will accompany the patrol in my place."

She paused, waiting to find each of the cats she had been watching for the last quarter moon. She hoped each of them were ready for this mission.

[Fleet]

The black and white she-cat had been sat watching the white and black Belle play with a feather that she had found. Springing around it as if she were a kit, her fluffy black tail held high. Echovalor could not help but smile, but then her leader's call sounded through the air and her head jerked up. Belle paused in her game, also twisting her head to look and see their leader stood waiting for them with an anxious, wild look with her eyes. Behind her, a white she-cat splashed with black poked her head out the warriors den, Belle's grown up daughter Owlspring. Echovalor flicked her white tipped tail at the younger she-cat saying"announcement, come on... Lets go join the other cats to hear it..." Owlspring nodded, following her meekly towards the announcement spot, the white and black she-cat was tiny compared to Echovalor, but the older warrior was used to that, she knew Owlspring had stunted growth so still seemed so small, but she was definitely a worthy warrior, she kept proving it time and time again. Belle followed them both the feather clutched in her jaws. A few short moments later and Echovalor noticed the clans medicine cat Riptide had also emerged, he seemed twitching, unable to stand or sit still, glancing around at the other cats as if he did not trust them not to leap and attack him. She was about to call out to the medicene cat when the leader started to speak, Echovalor's lime green, gaze widened at the leader's words. Icepaw has been taken? Her daughter! The rouges must pay! The atmosphere around the area had become tense and all eyes seemed fixed upon her leader. A patrol... She needs volunteers... I can prove myself loyal to the clan again... Can make the see that my Tribe blood is unimportant whatever my father says! He'll be forced to leave me alone then! Echovalor thought silently. Her forest green gaze went to Belle who shook her head, she couldn't go for reasons she had yet to tell anyone except Camoforest and Echovalor, she was pregnant. The she-cat then shifted her lime, green gaze to Owlspring and noticed a dreamy look in the young she-cat's navy, blue eyes. Off in a day dream yet again.... Oh Owlspring what are you like? Echovalor thought with a tiny edge of amusement before she rose to her paws and padded forwards calling"Stonestar! I volunteer for the patrol! The rouges which took your daughter cannot be allowed to get away with this! I promise you I will help bring her back!" She moved right to the front of the crowd as she spoke, her lime green gaze flashing with determination.

Echovalor (Includes Belle, Owlspring & Riptide)

[The one, the only FEATHER!]

FRECKLEWHISKER:

Her light sky hues blinked in the light as she was watching the camp watching al the cats doing their things she smiled she had kept on top of things quite lately as the skyclan deputy while stonestar wasn't feeling to well .turning around thinking about stonestar there she was. frecklewhisker smiled kindly but noticed that her leader was very deep in thought frecklewhisker saw this as a bad sign an went pacing towards her leader her blue sky eyes in wonder what was going on once she got to stonestar she opened her maw to speak but stonestar surprised her as the cat rasied her voice calling out for a clan meeting. frecklewhisker stood back a little in ablivion a chill went up her spine but the she-cat narrowed her eyes at this an took her place beside the leader watching cats blinking their eyes frecklewhisker could understand their surprise as so was she.


when cats were gathering stonestar hardly ever waited as she went on adressing the clan as she went on freckelwhisker hissed darkly at the news stonestar kit had taken icepaw she stood to her paws hissing very darkly, who would steal a kit??? who?? her tail lashed was the cats that were involed with shadowclan now attacking them? freckelwhisker could not hold onto her angry at this news. the deputy ccould now understand why stonestar was acting that way.

when her name got mention frecklewhisker let her eyes narrow at her leader mewing her response ' of course stonestar, we will not return until your kit is brought back to her clan!" her blue eyes furious as the thought of her adopted charge heatherkit but some cat would look after her for sure. frecklewhisker turned around looking at the cats that were begining to gather there was talontail the black fluffy cat who sat that intrigued by it all, then there was faintbark who lime eyes widnened in silence she could see the tom, claws raking at the ground he two felt the same way about this situation. she looked around more there was echovalor owlspring an riptide came out of his den, frecklewhisker had not spoken to the young white tom since he collasped at the cliff he seemed like he was doing alot better.

then it was echovalor who spoke up frecklewhisker smiled echovalor was a sharp tongued cat an a cat she could relie on to echovalor was at her side at the prey giving to windclan an denfended her even if it was to a young windclan warrior. echovalor would be a good choice to go along with her, she was a talenmted warrior. nodding her head she looked to stonestar for it was her to choose whom she would send to save her kit. they would need a good tracker an breezesoul was brilliant at tracking maybe she would send him to breezesoul would cut the time in half. freckelwhisker was honoured she trusted her after all she had thunderclan blood but she was only loyal to this place skyclan called her heart.

[SpoodleDoodles]

Darkwing

The dark brown mottled tabby tom paced the camp quietly, his limp causing him to stagger every third step or so. But he couldn't just sit down and wait. He hated how his old injuries made him like this on cold mornings, unable to react quick enough to be useful. He was one of the greatest fighters born, and now he found himself having to cope with a weakness he was swiftly coming to hate. He'd been unable to take his apprentice out training that morning due to the pain, but when he'd gone to suggest to her to join the morning patrol with his sister Ravenflight and her apprentice Regalpaw, she had disappeared. Unable to find her, he'd alerted her mother Stonestar, who had followed her out of camp. His ears pricked as the morning patrol returned, and he spotted a cat he was relieved to see: Breezesoul. If Stonestar returned without his apprentice, he'd drag the tacker out there himself to find her.

But then Stonestar tore through the entrance and made the top of the twisted tree in the blink of an eye, and Darkwing's mottled spotted fur bristled as he realised something must be wrong. He limped through the gathered cats until he was near the front, and when his leader called out, a deep growl ripped through his throat. Icepaw was his apprentice, and therefore his responsibilty. It was his fault she had been taken. His ears flattened and his tail thrashed, but he knew he could not hope to be fast enough to pursue the rogues. His daughter Lionessfang, sitting beside him, ruffled her sandy-golden spotted pelt and stood up on her powerful paws, her amber eyes glowing. Echovalor's voice rang out, followed by Frecklewhisker, and then Lionessfang's call boomed out. "I, too, shall hunt these rogues!" Relief stabbed at his heart. Lionessfang was the better choice in his stead. Though his amber gaze flickered across to Echovalor. He knew the sisters had trouble getting along. He hoped they would be able to put it aside for Icepaw's sake.

Breezesoul

A plump pigeon hung from his mouth, its wings dragging on the ground as the long-legged tom dragged it into camp, a large squirrel draped across his shoulders also. A warrior witht he best nose around, he could never pass up the chance at plump prey, especially when it was silly enough to cross his path only hours before he came along. Normally, he'd have given the squirrel to another cat to carry, but lately he had taken an unusual shine to hauling in every catch he made himself. His friends couldn't quite work it out, but if they saw how much he looked around when he arrived back in the camp, they might realise he was out to impress someone. Not spotting Daisydream, the grey-and-black fluffy tom's attention was stolen by his younger sister Stonestar as she hurtled past him. Dropping his catches on the fresh-kill pile, he jerked around as his sister called out that her daughter had been stolen. Breezesoul's black ears flattened furiously. Some rogue had stolen his niece? There was no place they could hide while he was around. "Stonestar, send me along!"

Thunderecho

The black tom with the blue sheen to his fur was in the middle of the gathering of cats, his pale gaze flickering around slowly as he watched the cats around him. His mother was sitting down with her patrol and her apprentice Regalpaw. His shy mute friend Timesky was sitting down beside him, his blue eyes looking down at the ground. His cousin Reflectionlake was sitting by the nursery, her ruby eyes narrowed as she kept her three charges Mewkit, Hunterkit and Marvelkit within the safe confines of the brambles. No young cat would leave camp today. He spotted his other cousin Cavefeather sitting near the Medicine Cat's Den with her mother Ashpool, their favourite place to spend time. When Stonestar called for volenteers, the unusual small black tom rose to his own paws, ignoring the surprised look Timesky shot him. With his quiet, reasonable voice he called out smoothly after the others. "I would wish to go also..."

[

Ashsong

The long-legged fluffy dark grey beauty sat beside her aged mother, her ears flattening as Stonestar called out her niece's abduction. She went to rise to her own paws, but her mother Ivystep reached out a paw and pulled her back down. She blinked her silver-blue eyes at her mother, but the elder she-cat just shook her head mutely. Annoyed, Ashsong listened to the others volenteering, including her own brother, before she realised her sister had not once glanced in her direction. She was not one of the cats Stonestar wanted for this. Her silvery eyes narrowed in annoyance. Even their mother didn't want her to leave camp. She knew how protective she was over her remaining kits, but Ivystep hadn't uttered a murmur when Breezesoul volenteered. The light grey tabby and white rose to her aching paws and yowled out to those going on patrol. "Drag those rotten scum back here so I can rip up their tails for touching my grandkit!" Ashsong ducked her head to hide her smile at her mother's yowl, but as she did so she recalled the look on her sister's face as she made the announcement. Stonestar was not going herself. Which meant there was a reason she could not. Though they weren't friendly with each other, for the first time in her life she found herself wanting to offer Stonestar comfort.

[Deleted]

( i've read everyone's posts, but i'm not going to reply to all of them; this won't be long to save time and all that. uvu )

over the course of the morning, things had steadily gone from a normal day to one that was going to be filled with worry and concern. the small deep gray she-cat with the white hindpaw was moving about the camp as usual, murmuring greetings to any who chose to acknowledge her at any point in time. her pale icy blue-gray-green eyes roamed about as the morning progressed; when she had first woken, she had come out in time to see her white pelted sister leaving with the dawn patrol, their dark tabby mother not far behind. this would normally not be of concern at all, but as the morning went on, stormpaw felt it.

there was something in the air; something, deep within the pit of her stomach, was telling her that there was something out of place. it was already mid-morning and as the minutes stretched on, she found herself realizing that the dawn patrol hadn't returned yet, and neither had her sister or mother. unease and concern rattled within her as she soon found herself pacing, her stomach gurgling softly with the want for food, but her mind searching for her sister. it seemed to take too long...why weren't they here yet? had something happened to them all? the thought made the cold feeling of fear settle in her stomach, and she couldn't help but to feel as though something wasn't right.

after an age, there was the sounds of pawsteps; in an instant, she was upon her feet and watching closely as the morning patrol entered. however, amongst the familiar pelts of her clan-mates, stormpaw failed to see the pure snow white of her sister's. a line of concern appeared upon her face as her expression furrowed...surely, icepaw would be back with their mother soon enough...this was nothing....

the moment the thought came, it was dashed away as she found herself bristling in surprise as stormstar burst through the entrance after the morning patrol. at first, the apprentice wanted to rush forward and greet both icepaw and stormstar, tell them both about how odd she had felt this morning...that was, until she found not a single white pelt greeting her vision. a visible frown formed on her face, her eyes clouding over in confusion as she looked up to where her mother was, leaping up onto the long branch of the tree. instead of being calmed by her mother, she found a small bit of terror trickling through her veins as she caught the wild look flashing in the tabby face, reflecting in wide eyes.

the loud call burs through the air, normally calm and even tones absent; the yowl had warriors and apprentices alike scrambling as they stirred from their social circles and dens, coming to see what the announcement was about. wary and her pelt ruffling in unease, the apprentice found herself edging forward to where the dark tabby pelt of darkwing and golden of lionessfang were. hovering nearby, she stared up at her mother's form, high upon the branch above them, before she could form a single coherent thought, the next words were slicing through her like knives. for a moment, there was nothing.

then, all at once, her eyes were widening and her pelt stood on end. her maw parted as her breathe rushed from her lungs in surprise, feeling as though someone had punched her right in the gut -- icepaw? taken by rouges? but... how? when? and most of all, why? unable to understand, she opened and closed her mouth a few times, all words stolen from her lips.

she hardly heard her mother's call for a patrol from their clan's warriors; however, something within the back of her mind began to work properly again. icepaw, she thought feverishly, her maw closing as her eyes remained slightly widened but empty now. a cold pit of fear formed in her stomach. rouges have taken my sister...no! i can't just stand here and do nothing! baring her teeth slightly at the thought of being kept here in this camp, forced to endure the agony of waiting it out to see whether or not her sister was going to be brought back alive...no, it was too much to bear. she wasn't going to stand here and do nothing.

so, as all the voices of the older clan-mates rung out, both the strong and quiet vocals of various warriors, she raised her own. "i wish to go, too...!"

[ShinoDino first of her name!]

Crowheart



From the moment Stonestar had burst through the gap in the thorny barrier, the scruffy black tom knew that, whatever had happened, he would get roped in, one way or the other. The leader went out of her way to show her trust in him, but she had a bit of a tendency to involve him in sticky situations.
He padded over to Ashsong, noting that the leader's only living littermate had no exactly offered to go along. It was no secret that the sisters were not particularly friendly, and Crowheart had overheard rumors that the problems had begun in kithood.

"Ashsong . . . forgive me, but I see no reason for every cat in this Clan to offer their services in these trying times. Tell me, is it usual for some to abstain?"

He did not point out the absence of her support, but he could not condone the idea of such a beautiful she-cat with such a beautiful niece not offering her help. It seemed to him as if Ashsong cared nothing for her niece.
But since he had loved two of Icepaw's aunts, didn't that mean he was family . . .?
He could still remember his grief at Tempestpaw's murder so many moons ago, and Cloversplash's disappearance. This had to be torturing the dark tabby leader.
Maybe . . . it was time he offered his support and showed his support for his new Clan.

"Stonestar, I will accompany this patrol with your blessing, and aid in bringing your daughter home."

His rumble had died out for only a moment when Stormpaw's tiny mew pierced the pregnant pause. He smiled ruefully and meowed before Stonestar could respond,

"Stormpaw, the entire Clan feels your pain. There are many powerful warriors here, all capable of bringing her back safe and sound. A mission like this is no job for an apprentice."

Where did that come from? I am nothing to any cat here, certainly not in any position to basically order around and chastise other warriors. Has Clan life played with my brain?




Stonestar


As the offers of aid poured in from all sides, Stonestar mentally ran back through Riptide's message. She had to pick a cat to represent her Clan for some reason only StarClan currently knew. Her claws had unsheathed and clung to the tree branch below her as she forced herself to remain still and think.

Those cats I have considered . . . all have volunteered for this. Even my own daughter, whose image never left my dreams even though I know she cannot possibly be ready for such a dangerous mission. The sisters almost as notorious as Ashsong and myself for dissension . . . both have risen up and answered my call. I must convince them of the length of their mission without revealing too much . . . StarClan help me.

Stonestar took a deep breath, forced her eyes away from where her other daughters sat, and mentally ran through the dreams she'd been forced through every night since Riptide's message. Ever cat in the Can, from Ivystep to the tiny kits, had battled in her mind, slowly disappearing into the very cats that had volunteered.
Except Ashsong.

"Cats of SkyClan, your loyalty calms me, and is a great blessing to all of us during this trying time. However, not all of you may accompany the patrol. I would be forgetting my place as a leader to send away too many powerful warriors and leave the camp undefended.
Echovalor, Lionessfang, Frecklewhisker, Crowheart, Thunderecho-- I would like you all to make up the patrol to rescue Icepaw. Breezesoul, your loyalty is admirable, but I have decided to ask you to remain in camp.
Ashsong, in Frecklewhisker's absence, it is my wish that you act as deputy in her stead until her return."

Her eyes returned to Stormpaw and she steeled herself.

"Stormpaw will also accompany the patrol."

[Fleet]

The black and white she-cat stood at the front of the gathered cats, right beneath the leader's high position as after her call that she would volunteer voices sounded out behind her as many others volunteered for the mission. Her black tail with its white tip curled as her black ears flickered all around her at the sound of the many voices which echoed out. They all fell silent when Stormpaw spoke up, her voice was quieter than most of the adults. But it seemed to hold the same amount of determination as all the others, maybe even more considering it was her sister which had been taken. Crowheart spoke up, he sounded like he thought he was in charge of them all, as he told Stormpaw she would have to remain behind. Echovalor's lime green eyes narrowed as she turned to face him saying sharply"You say it is no job for an apprentice Crowheart, but your the outsider here and this is no job for you!" She glanced towards Stormpaw, seeing the determination in her eyes and added"Besides, its her sister who has been taken.... Stormpaw has more right to take part in this mission than any of us and her anger at her sister's kit-napping will make her more determined than any of us combined..." Her voice drifted away as their leader spoke, silencing them all with he loud, booming words. Echovalor remained standing as she listened in silence, with her black ears flickering to catch every word Stonestar said. Her tail tip curled as their leader announced who would be going and she dipped her head respectfully as her name was spoken. Then right at the end Stormpaw was chosen, Echovalor fixed her gaze on Crowheart to see his reaction to this before looking to her leader and saying"We will find your daughter Stonestar! Don't you worry..." Then she glanced towards Frecklewhisker expecting the deputy to take charge and to guide them out. All through the announcement she had completely ignored the rest of her family, purposely giving them the cold shoulder. She had cut them off years ago and continued to prove herself completely loyal to Skyclan. This mission just gave her a chance to prove it again and distance herself even further from her family. She did not care that her sister was coming along, she would not speak to her about anything but the mission. The black and white she-cat padded over to Frecklewhisker, awaiting her command with an impatient twitch to the tip of her white tipped tail.

[The one, the only FEATHER!]

FRECKLEWHISKER:

Her ears twitched as the cats called out she smiled when stonestar announced the cats good echovalor,lionnessfang thunderecho stormpaw? crowheart.. some of those names brought her joy but others did nothing really stormpaw had will but that meant frecklewhisker had to be extra attentive to the young one.


she looked at them all an nodded her head when she glanced at stonestar. as she stood to her paws her tail curled over her shoulder. frecklewhisker wanted persuade stonestar to let breezesoul come but he indeed would make up for the lose of three cats at least that was how brilliant he was. biting her lip she would talk to breezesoul when they came back there was no time to dilly daily now. she went threw the names again lionessfang a great battler with three battle styles. she looked to echovalor as the cat looked at waiting for the orders. she smiled echovalor was very loyal another cat she was happy with.


once the cats were dying down frecklehwisker mewed to her patrol " right say your goodbyes have something to eat because we leave asap no time to waste. riptide will need to give us some traveling herbs. " she looked towards riptide blinking nicely to the tom hoping he could supply them with that. " now get use to the buddy system if we run into any trouble that outnumbers us an we need to flee stick with your buddy. lionessfang your buddy is stormpaw your battling skills will keep her safe as she will have a good hunting set to match you paw for paw. " she looked at the two before looking to echovalor " your my buddy echovalor i need a cat i can never question in a time of action, so that means crowheart an thunderecho your buddies you two will be a good set as well skills in stealth an blending will keep you safe. " she looked them over her ice blue eyes seeing if there was any objections.

[ShinoDino first of her name!]

Stonestar leaped down from the tree and padded over to Frecklewhisker, interrupting the deputy mid-mew.

"Frecklewhisker, send the rest of your patrol to collect the herbs. I need to speak with you in my den before you depart."

She cast a glance over st Crowheart. He might forever be seen as an outsider to the rest of SkyClan, but he was loyal to her and she trusted him. Perhaps he would prove himself on this mission.

Please StarClan, let this be the right decision.

She saw the fluffy pelt of her daughter Stormpaw and felt tears well up in her eyes. Why had she said Stormpaw could go?! She had already lost one daughter; she had to be crazy to send another on such a dangerous mission.
Honestly, Stonestar was shocked that she hadn't heard more complaints yet about Stormpaw going. Her training was nowhere near completed, and if a cat as smart and cautious as Icepaw could have been taken so handily, then these rouges were nothing to toy with.
That was the bit she had kept from the Clan. Few of them knew her daughters like she did. This would be no ordinary rescue mission.

"Good luck, and may StarClan be with you all. Bring Icepaw home . . . please,"

she meowed to the chosen patrol, her heart aching in her chest. She nuzzled Stormpaw's ear for a moment and whispered,

"You have already made me proud, little one. I am so proud to be your mother and mentor. You will learn more from this than I could ever teach you."

Then she swiftly turned tail and headed for her den, beckoning for Frecklewhisker to follow.\

OOC: I'll post in the den Fedar.



Crowheart hissed under his breath at Echovalor's words, but kept silent for the moment. He had overstepped his bounds a little bit, but he had a right to his own voice the same as any other warrior.
But he could not keep his misgivings about Stormpaw's addition to himself. He did not question Stonestar's decision but . . .

"Echovalor, with all due respect, I do not question Stormpaw's abilities, nor my leader's choice. I used to live on the outside, as you so eloquently mentioned. Therefore, I know how rouges think, and if such a smart apprentice could be taken right out from under our noses I know that even highly trained warriors like yourself will face challenges."

Then it hit him: He'd been sent along because of his knowledge of rouge life, not because of any trust Stonestar had in him. She had to send him, whether she had wanted to or not.

[SpoodleDoodles]

Lionessfang

Other voices called out, and Lioness's amber eyes blazed with the desire to catch the rogues that dared to touch her leader's kit, her father's apprentice. Thanks to Wing, Lioness knew honour and duty like she knew her own claws. Her father could not go, and so she had volunteered in his place. But then a voice called out behind her, and both she and Wing flinched before they looked over their shoulders at the small apprentice. Stormpaw? Others spoke, but Lioness recognised the fire int he youngster's eyes and curled her black-tipped tail around her sandy-golden paws. She would wait to hear what Stonestar chose to say.

Her black ears twitched as Stonestar called her name, but as she rose to her powerful paws she realised in the same trail of thought that Echovalor had been chosen, also. Her amber eyes slanted slightly, but she said nothing to her sister, knowing she would get nothing in return. Echovalor seemed to think she was adopted, or at least that's how it felt from the way she behaved. She never said anything bad to Flowerdream, but let Wing open his mouth and Echovalor walked away. She suspected it had something to do with their Tribe heritage, but Lioness didn't understand her sister's point about it. Lioness was more then proud to be a Tribe descendant.

But then Stonestar included Stormpaw on the patrol, and Lioness's gaze once again flickered to the little apprentice. The youngster would not last long in a fight with rogues, despite the fire in her eyes. As Frecklewhisker took charge, Lioness felt a surge of relief at being partnered up with the youngster rather then her own sister. Protecting another was something she was unrivaled with. She hoped across to Stormpaw and flicked her black-tipped tail over the apprentice's ears. "Do not worry, I will watch your back while you find your sister." She watched Stonestar come and speak with her kit, but as she was turning away Lioness felt her father Wing's dark amber gaze and she bounded forward, pausing by the leader's shoulder for a moment. "I promise, as my father would promise, to guard your kit with my life." She touched her nose to the leader's shoulder before turning away to quiet murmurs of her family as they came to wish her farewell.

Thunderecho

For a heartbeat he thought his request might be denied, but then his name was added tot he list and he heard his mother's pleased purr as he blinked his silver-blue eyes in gratitude. He still did not know why he had volunteered himself, only that it had felt right that he do so. And Echo was even more perceptive then his mother Ravenflight was. The only cat he seemed to find fault in understanding was himself. He shook out his black fur, the sun making it seem more blue-sheened the normal, and paused as Frecklewhisker announced his partner.

Curiosity flickered in his gaze as he slipped across the join the tom, the only cat more like a loner then himself in the Clan. Echo was silent as he looked up at the tom, before he blinked his silver-blue eyes slowly. "Have faith. You have more worth then just your past." Turning, he found himself being warmly embraced by his mother Raven. "Take care, my son. I can see you've got my itchy paws for adventure, even though you'd never admit it." Her pale blue eyes brightened as she saw she'd won a grin from him, but her hidden fear was not list on him either. "We shall take care, mother."

Ashsong

The light grey fluffy she-cat glanced up awkwardly as Crowheart questioned her, guilt flaming in her pelt. But he was waiting for an answer. "Cats who believe they would be more useful in camp do not volunteer. Cats with apprentices, for example, or other duties that cannot be abandoned. Cats with unjuries or kin responsibilities." Her silver- blue gaze flickered to Stonestar once again. In that brief moment, she had wanted to run up the Twisted Tree and embrace her sister, and that was the wierdest feeling she had ever experienced.

She and Stonestar had never gotten along, both pretty she-cats with the desire to lead imprinted in their brains. Stonestar had left during her apprenticeship, travelling around to the other Clans, and since her return Ashsong had seen her sister as a traitor, though she knew the reasons for the journey. Really, the only thing that had kept them together at all had been their mother Ivystep and older brother Breezesoul. Hearing Stonestar dismiss her brother from joining the patrol, she felt his disappointment as his black ears and fluffy tail went down, and his green eyes blazed. But he knew as well they all did that her brother could do the hunting work of all the missing warriors if her needed too. Her sister had been right to keep him in the Clan.

Then words were falling from Stonestar's mouth like red-hot coals, and Ashsong's face did an impersonation of a cow hit by a truck.

Acting Deputy.

Had her sister gone nuts?

The she realised her mother was giving her a hard nudge with her nose, and she realised Stonestar might be waiting for her to agree with such a command. Silver- blue eyes wide, she rose to her long, slender paws and took a deep breath before answering. "I will do my best to uphold this trust." She doubted anyone paid any heed to her. She'd tried to be a leader in the past, and in the end she'd always been shot down by Stonestar. It didn't surprise her to be ignored this time. For once, she didn't even care. Her silvery gaze was on the departing back of her sister, and even as she made her way over to Frecklewhisker for advice, it was not lost on her that while Stonestar was sending her other daughter Stormpaw, she was not allowing the rest of her family to leave her.

[Deleted]

the fire of determination roared up from within her, the sparks igniting within her veins; stormpaw fearlessly rose up, her dark pelt rippling as she called out as one to go on the patrol. she found herself able to see icepaw within the back of her mind, the image clear of her missing sibling's snow-white pelt, the siilver-gray underbelly, the wide yellow eyes. some might hve had their resolve crumble at the mere thought, but it simply added fuel to her fire. baring her teeth slightly, she lifted her head even higher. she was doing this for icepaw, and icepaw alone. her mother had to say yes.

please, mum... please, you have to let me bring her back as well... we can't just sit here within camp and do nothing! she is family! we have to rescue her! the thought rang loudly within the silence living in her head. stormpaw wanted this as badly as she wanted to breathe: she wanted to help bring icepaw back, and was refusing to accept no as an answer.

there was silence as she felt a few of her clan-mates turning their heads to watch her with their narrowed eyes, shock and both pity lingering within their faces. it was easy for her to narrow her gaze, her mindset focusing upon only the dark gray tabby upon the twisted tree. all that matters now is icepaw, she thought, icy blue-green-gray eyes holding the icy fire of determination within them. she was completely and utterly fearless of this mission. at such a young age, the apprentice wouldn't have been expected to feel something as strongly as she did now; only, she did. we are family, and you do not ever give up on family!

however, before her mother could even draw in the breath to respond to both her readied warriors and sole remaining daughter, a deep rumble of a voice cut through the air. her pale, icy gaze widened slightly as she turned her head, neck nearly cracking at the swift moment. stormpaw ffound herself gazing into the former loner ( beck )'s face. crowstorm, she corrected within her mind, crowstorm -- the thought soon cut off as his words reached her ears. instantly, they were flicking back in what could have been an aggressive gesture if it wasn't for the icy look that crossed her face. she was dauntless as she stared at the ex-loner, feeling nothing but the fire of determination flowing through her body. you won't control me. not now, not ever... not when my sister is in danger...

carefully, she shifted her gaze away from crowstorm and once more onto her mother. if she had been an immature kit once again -- not that she didn't have some of that immaturity within her now, as an apprentice -- she would have given the first reaction, an insult or two, a hiss and pinned back ears as her eyes flared up in hatred, in anger. but smething else drowned out all of that, a voice within her head serving as a reminder. if she messed this up now, there was no taking it back: she would lose all chance on going along with the patrol to rescue her sister.

tension filled the air as silence fell, every eye watching as their tabby leader drew herself up clearly taking in the air needed to make this announcement. pent up excitement began to rattle within her chest, and the apprentice found that she couldn't keep still. anxiously, she shifted from paw to paw as each name reached her ears. echovalor, lionessfang, frecklewhisker, crowstorm, thunderecho... her heart began to hammer as realization sunk in; no, her mother would never let her go... it would mean losing all her kits, surely. stormpaw's chances were gone...

"Stormpaw will also accompany the patrol."

the words hit her hard, a surprise attac that had been launched from out of nowhere. dark fur rippled as it stood on end, surprise flickering through wide, pale eyes... w--what?! she thought, staring in bewilderment up at her leader, her mother, stonestar. shock made her silent for a moment, no words spoken in the midst of the voices rising around her as cats shifted, clearly moving around to obey and follow orders. blinking sharply, stormpaw pulled herself from her shock, catching the words older warriors spoke in her defence. both gratitude and pride swelled up within her, for her clan-mates were defending her on joining this mission. it meant more to her than anything else. in this world.

moving forward, the apprentice slinked through the elder bodies of others until she was with the rest of the gathering patrol, eyes fixated upon frecklewhisker. the calico deputy was speaking now of a buddy system, assigning each cat to another to work as a support group. stormpaw could only nod slightly, beginning to turn to seek out lionessfang, seeing as the golden she-cat was her partner. however, the flick of a tail brushing over her ears caused her to spin slightly in her haste to turn around. smiling at the other she-cat, the apprentice found herself giving a faint laugh, but the sense of determination was returning. this was far from training -- this was real. "thank you," she replied, dipping her head low to show the other her respect at the notion. i will not fail you, lionessfang...

there was the sound of pawsteps; glancing up, stormpaw caught the sight of her mother's pelt before a faint nuzzle brushed against her head; hushed words, only mere whispers, slipped into her ears. her chest began to ache as she listened to the sound of her mother's voice, the faint sadness and pain within the soft words. abrupt tears began to fill her pale eyes, but the apprentice fiercely told herself not to cry; she had to be strong for her mother, for her sister.

"thank you," she whispered, just as her mother's gray muzzle was withdrawing as stonestar pulled away. "i won't let you down, mother, i swear to you..." they were the last words to leave her lips before the skyclan leader, the one she called mentore and mother, turned away. forcing back tears and locking them away inside, stormpaw cleared her eyes as she drew in a deep breath, turned towards the rest of the patrol, the fire of determination once again returning to her eyes.

i swear to you, i will not fail you... i would rather die than come home to skyclan and admit that i wasn't enough for this mission... i must not fail...


( have an inspiration post, i guess? xD )

[Fleet]

Her lime green gaze remained fixed on the deputy, she had practically ignored Crowheart's words to her. Instead she flicked her black tail with its white tip at the deputies words to them all. Her lime green gaze flicked towards Lionessfang as she was named Stormpaw's partner, she'll probably try to corrupt our leader's daughter with our father's ways.... I'll have to keep an eye on her.... If she even tries.. I'll claw her... For it will show how disloyal she is to the clan... Attempting to change the young she-cat's views from her clan beliefs was just as bad as stealing the she-cat herself... Echovalor thought bitterly. She shot her sister a dark look as she padded towards their leader and silently thought suck up... Before her black ears flickered at Stonestar's next few words. She nodded, padding towards Riptide who was staring wildly at all the approaching cats as if he had no idea who they were. His fur bristled wildly, his mis-matched gaze of icy blue and lime green was icy cold and mistrusting. Echovalor paused in her approach of the medicene cat, but then Belle appeared at Riptide's side, murmuring in his white ear. Instantly Riptide seemed calm, the fur lay flat and he beckoned the travellers to him saying"Come wait outside my den... I'll have the herbs ready in no time for you all..." Then the young medicine cat bounded away towards his den, Belle followed close behind, a small smile playing upon her face. Yet Echovalor knew her best friend very well and could just sense that beneath her normal attitude the she-cat was worried about her son. Warily Echovalor glanced towards Owlspring but the white and black she-cat was to fixed on a day dream to of noticed how her brother had just acted. So with a sigh Echovalor shrugged, her black and white form instead followed after Riptide and Belle. The latter og#f whom stood in the medicine cat den entrance, encouraging the other's to sit outside while they awaited the herbs they would need. Echovalor moved closer to Belle asking so very softly so only she could hear"Is he alright?" To whicch she answered calmly and a little more loudly, clearly not ashamed of what had just happened"Yes, he's just worried about you all... So just make sure you all come back in one piece so that my words to him about having nothing to worry about are right.... After all, no matter what Crowheart says, its not that bad out there... You may even meet some very helpful rouges... You never know..." Echovalor grinned at her friends cheerful tone and then sat with the others, awaiting her herbs and awaiting their deputy who would lead them out of the clan's camp.