nothing left to wish for. [ALL]

[LYNX ♥]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb= style, background-color: E0694E; width: 420px; padding: 5 5 5 5px; border: 10px solid #D3CBBA;] PYRETHROAT Nothing could ever, would ever, compare to the tumult that roared within her small frame, pressing against her ribs and churning in her muscles, causing not only the pounding in her head, but in her heart as well. The feelings that ensued such a catastrophic and yet beautiful event, one that she had been waiting for all of her life and more, were too much for the female, but her head was on straight, even if it felt as though it drifted through the clouds. Or, perhaps, was filled with clouds. Either way, the feeling was divine, it was all the pain she could ever imagine and then some, but somehow mixed within that were the sharp twinges that kitting brought, blended with threads of the greatest pleasure, but stained by the metallic tang of blood and dull stench of rot. All of her senses were alight, but she was so far away mentally that her eyes showed nothing but distant haze, no emotions melting through that familiar cold golden hue. Not a soul could ever understand the way she felt at that time. Her heart was beating faster than she had ever known it to. Pyrestar glanced to her left; to her right; her sallow gaze drifted forward to where her den lay. It was the site of the death of her most beloved, but she scorned that memory, and replaced it with rose-tinted visions of her own future, laden with lovers and strategy meetings. Late-night talks with Reflectedrain, council with her most trusted friends, heavy scoldings saved only for the naughtiest of apprentices, and where she could keep her most intimate moments with those whose names she would never unleash. Unlike most before her, the young female had chosen to make the journey to StarClan alone, accompanied by no patrol, and was stopped by no one. She had no trouble on the way there, or the way back, although the experience itself was one that could never be relayed to another with any understanding whatsoever. It was a challenge in itself to endure the ordeal, let alone to burden another with the tale. Like they would believe any of it anyway. The least there was to say was that had Pyrestar not believed in StarClan before, she now did. With a great bound of energy, its source unknown, the calico bobtail leaped after the rotted evergreen, where it welcomed her rough paws with soft, pliable bark and the fresh scent of foliage as it always did. The new leader inhaled deeply, then turned to face VertigoClan's camp. So familiar, but all awash in a brand new light. One she knew would never fade from her grasp. Everything she had ever worked for was hers now, and she didn't care what anyone had to say for it. No, she was immortal. A rough, loud purr leapt from her throat, and she didn't bother to contain it. "Cats of all ages, please gather before the fallen tree!" It would have felt like a betrayal to her aunt to use any other words than the ones passed down for ages and moons, so she didn't. While Pyrestar planned many changes, that wasn't one of them. Her steady gaze sought out Reflectedrain in particular, knowing he would be most proud of her, though for some reason her vision passed nearly through him, seeking instead for another brown pelted tom.. "While we'll mourn Lynxstar forever, and let us never forget her wisdom and superiority to nearly all, it's time for VertigoClan to turn a new leaf," with this, the bobtail managed her best sorrowful smile. While she did indeed grieve for her aunt, showcasing emotions would never come easy for her. However, it was, at times, completely necessary to show such weakness. "I would like to update all of you on what exactly my aunt said before crossing into StarClan," Pyrestar meowed, scanning the meager crowd before her with a twitch of her whiskers, "She understood that our former honorable deputy Lilythorn has had other things on her mind rather than leading a clan, and also knows that she was far too ill to make the journey anyway. Instead, Lilythorn will begin what will be called the Quarantine. The most ill of all clans will live together away from the main lands in the valley to keep the sickness contained. Fresh herbs and prey will be dropped off regularly to them, and we will try our hardest to find a cure meanwhile. Not only that, but a gathering quickly approaches us." The female glanced skyward, as if the clear cerulean hue would give way to the nearly-full moon. "And other arrangements must be made as well, in order to keep VertigoClan the strongest of all. We won't let this terrible illness have its way with us! We will fight back until each cat is healthier than before, and while we all know that it was our clan hit the hardest, there's no way the others will ever find an advantage on us!" Her voice soared with passion, for if there was ever a thing that Pyrestar believed in, it was her clan, and the cats within it. well they've got the land but we've got the view TEMPLATE BY BROOKE

[lily ♫]

Her fur bristled, hot with anger and embarassment. At first, Lynxstar's decision at her death bed hadn't registered within her disillusioned mind, but now that the vile calico had taken her spot within the clan, now that she glowed with the vibrance of an unnatural youth, now that the bitch had taken on the nine lives meant to be hers, it registered within her pretty damn well.

Eyes colder than the mid-winter frost lining the highest points of the territory, the female clenched her jaws shut, refusing to belt out the curses and words that fought against the adamant hold she had on her tongue. Pyrestar! Bah, the name made her stomach churn and her maw twist and curl into a scowl. Wench!

Lilythorn had served under Lynxstar for seasons, and now this is what she got to repay her clan with. She got to run around with the sickest of all the cats and take care of them. Shifting her weight from one paw to another, she flipped the concept around in her mind, looking at it from each possible angle.

Bowing her head, she filled with shame. Any chance to help her clanmates and members of the other clans was a blessing. She still held power within the clan, and those from CelestialClan, TempestClan, and ZephyrClan acknowledged her with utmost respect. Cheated, that's how she felt, and the emotions kept going in an incessant whirlwind.

Those around her murmured their thoughts between each other, and the female felt out of place. 'I belong up there, guiding my friends and family through hard times.' She thought, her gaze lifting back up to bore into the calico's green orbs. It wasn't fair. She'd done as best she could as deputy even when sickness caused her to lie about enduring the pain and suffering.

It'd been a distraction with others so ill, especially those dear to her, and she hadn't been able to concentrate. But that was no reason to be cheated of a position of power! Lilythorn's body trembled with the heat of an intense anger like no other. This was ridiculous.

Tearing her gaze away from the content little priss of a she-cat that stood up on the fallen tree, she scanned the crowd of VertigoClanners for their reactions, trying not to let her devastation show. It was too late, though, for it was plastered on her face in a glowering wince.

Blinking and looking to her left, her eyes landed on the black and white pelt of the tom she craved comfort from. Jetfang. He'd been recovering from the illness, showing more and more signs of improvement everyday, and she was jealous of his recovery. 'If I had recovered, I wouldn't have been forced to step down." She thought, closing her eyes for a moment before flicking them open.

Desire rushed through her, blazing wildly in her veins, making her crave everything she wanted. Leadership, respect, justice...but the she-cat who was now unsure about her place in the clan found herself wanting only one thing. She wanted to be reassured the position she held in Jetfang's heart. Sniffing the air incredulously, she stared at her paws, ears pricked for the calico's incoming barrage of words.

He was proud, and his eyes shined with excitement. Her loud patches of colorful fur shone brighter than ever before, and he couldn't keep a half-smile from being plastered across his tabby maw. Pyrestar! Reflectedrain knew that she had finally gotten what she had wanted so badly.

Pausing to reflect all that had happened in the past moon, his aquamarine hued gaze met her green one and his fur prickled with uncertainty. He choked on his breath, coughing lightly to recover as he stumbled forward a half-step and began clearing his throat repeatedly.

Why did she look so different now?

She seemed so youthful, yet as if she had been put through pure agony for the entirety of her life. 'Receiving lives is no joke. He thought to himself, tilting his head slightly as he continued pouring over her. A grin flashed across his maw momentarily, but as soon as it had come it vanished in the same instance. What would happen if others saw him celebrating Pyrethroat's sort of victory over Lilythorn?

Swallowing hard and fast, he looked uneasy and concentrated on the pine needles below his hardened, calloused paws, counting them silently and bobbings his head as he did so. Glancing back up at her with squinted eyes, he nodded his head is a short, pert gesture of congratulations, and looked back to where the ginger form of the previous deputy stood. Gulp.

But that brought another question to mind. Who would Pyrestar name deputy? Or would she, since Lilythorn still had a right to the role but wouldn't be able to serve from the Quarantine? Pondering the question that they now faced, a glimmer of hope gleamed inside of him. Perhaps he would become a temporary deputy of sorts? No, that'd be highly unlikely. He'd barely had time to speka with his apprentice let alone train him and get to know the young tom.

Confused and awaiting answers from the calico femme, Reflectedrain stood motionless, waiting for what might come next from the newly appointed leader of VertigoClan. Who was happening to look mighty fine, if he might admit so. Blinking, he looked puzzled for a minute, but shook it off and watched the relative of Lynxstar closely.

[Dawn]

Can you tell me what was ever really special about me all this time?

Chase. Flight. One to live, and one to die. To survive, they could not both remain in the forest, for one would rot away to hunger and despair, or the other would lie dead at his feet. At it's heels, panting death through the open ground, jostling pine needles under brown and white foot. Too breathless to call alarm, no trees near enough to shoot up into. Too quick to catch, just hairs away, adrenaline making their heart beats wild and fast. Looking for tree trunks near enough to climb. But wouldn't he follow? Suddenly, blinded, seeing into an abyss of black, crashing against hot ebony fur. A flash, no more, of claws and teeth, and orbs of the most magnificent coloring that would stay memories for moons. Then, the squirrel saw only black as it went limp in the warrior's jaws. It's long tail gave a last twitch, a spasm, and then there was no life to it. But oh, there was- life for a Vertigoclan apprentice, for a sick elder. Though dead, the prey would pass on its life to the forest cats. To die to sustain others- it was a more noble death than to be taken by the killing frost. Jetfang quickly thanked Starclan for its life, bent over its brown fur, nose at its shoulder. He couldn't help wondering if Starclan were even listening, now, or if they had abandoned the twice cursed clan that lived among the pines. Could their be any hope for those that he cared most, without the blessing of something more supernatural than healing herbs?

He wasn't far from camp now, and he thought he heard a distant sound, a call. Curiosity seemed to chase the looming dark thoughts out, falling prey to his slowly renewing energy. He was still sick, but insisted on hunting, alone or on patrols- it would not be worth it, to recover, if his clan could not. Jetfang took the squirrel in his wide jaws, and began to pad in the direction of the call, slowly for the creature was heavy and was actually moderately plump, a good meal. On his way, he collected his other two catches, both scrawny, underfed mice, and thought that this made up for it. It was a lucky catch- perhaps a blessing. There was no telling what was in store for Vertigoclan- it bore not thinking about now, as he moved with prey laden jaws toward the pine tree surrounded camp. There he paused, as a cool breeze buffeted his fur. The smells of prey made it impossible to pick up the many surrounding scents; but he could already feel the air, tingling with fear and emotion. Quickly, he moved past the guard, realizing that a clan meeting must have been called. The calico she-cat that sat above all of them sent shivers down his spine, as she went on speaking. Jetfang was the last of the clan to gather there, dropping prey quickly on the meager pile before slipping into the weak crowd of cats. He managed to find a spot not far from Lilythorn, settled beside Silvertalon and Galefrost. Though he could hear the massive maine coon murmuring urgently, sharing in Jetfang's own doubts, the black tom's gaze couldn't help but wander to his left, to where the cream furred deputy sat. He felt his pulse quickening as Pyrestar's last cry rang out, leaving the assembled clan open for yowls of protest, or yowls of agreement. His own throat felt sore and dry, his stomach knots of apprehension. The taste of prey had vanished from his mouth, to be replaced by the salty taste of blood. For a few moments, Jetfang's body coursed with panic; black dots danced in front of his amber and blue eyes. Then, with a jolt, he realized he had bitten his tongue, and blinked rapidly to clear his vision. Now was not a time to let fear take over. He had to be calm. He had to wait and see what would happen to their broken clan. Won't you say something, Lilythorn? Doesn't anyone have anything to say?

WORD COUNT: 685 TAGGED: VC Cats NOTES: Finally he has a table. (which doesn't really match his image, but whatever, the other one didn't look vereh good.)

ANCK SU NAMUN OF CAUTION!

[Dusk]

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[atrb=background, i339.photobucket.com/albums/n480/Shardclaw/tealbackground.jpg] The tom looked up half-curiously as the strong voice yowled across camp, the sound more readily grabbing his attention once he realized precisely who the owner of the voice was. Mixed eyes of blue and green traced their way upwards to gaze at the stocky calico who now sat at the hulk of the fallen tree; which had served for seasons as the rightful place of Vertigoclan leaders. He'd grown used to seeing a different coloured bob-tail seated in that same place, and so he faltered slightly at the sight of a different she-cat being there instead. Of course, there were similarities enough between the two that the change wasn't too hard of a transition. He could see the relation between the aunt and niece - so long as he only thought of Lynxstar as the leader she'd been before illness caught her in its vicious, unforgiving claws. There was a strength that they both brimmed with, a sort of radiating power that made one realize that the cat in front of them was not to be trifled with. A hard steeliness in the eyes that shot daggers, but something about Pyrestar's ochre gaze took that glare a step further. If looks could kill, each and every one of the warriors seated in the camp right now would be good and dead. The vitality and ambition in those twin orbs of gold... Galefrost could barely look at them without feeling as though he was in the presence of something greater than himself. This was still the she-cat once called Pyrethroat, but in a way reborn as she stepped into the role of leadership. Strong and ambitious, a phoenix set on making the world its new funeral pyre. He hid the awe which threatened to settle on his features, though, in preference to a mask of cool respect. The recent turn of events had been odd, to say the least; it had always been the deputy who became the leader with the passing of the old. And yet, there sat a bob-tailed calico on the fallen tree instead of a frosty-eyed ginger tabby. Odd, but who was Galefrost to object? Starclan obviously had no problem with the straying from tradition; Lilythorn would likely be the only cat feeling truly cheated alongside any supporters she had in the clan. There would be trouble, though, personally, the warrior didn't much mind the unexpected shift in power. He would take it in stride and accept that Lynxstar must have had a reason for what she did in her dying hours. For now there was a clan meeting to attend. The tom padded quietly over to join the slowly gathering mass of cats, finding a seat near the edge of the crowd beside Silvertalon. With ears pricked to listen in on the low murmurs rippling like a wave through the crowd, the tom could only roll his eyes at the low voices of dissent which dominated the conversations. What good was it to object? True, the tradition was done away with; the whole ordeal wasn't necessarily "fair". Would any cats take true action, though? Staging a coup when cats were sickened by disease would only weaken the clan further. It seemed, though, that even the more confident cats were doubtful of this change. Galefrost could do little but shrug and give noncommittal grunts to the maine coon as he shared his thoughts. He felt another settle beside him, and looked over to see a familiar tuxedo tom; bi-coloured eyes anxious as he looked on the meeting. Well, Jetfang might have been late to the party, but late was better than never. Some of what Pyrestar suggested, the warrior was forced to admit, was unsettling. True, he himself had thought about a quarantine of sick cats mere days ago, but that had been a passing thought, and he'd never thought of including the other clans in it as well. Cats from multiple clans in one place... it sounded risky. It would be good to have all the medicine cats working together, though. Spread the resources and see if one clan had a unique herb. That much was easy to comprehend. There was one idea nagging at the tom, and he raised his head to be better heard from the rest of the crowd. "How do you plan on convincing the clans farthest from the source of sickness?" Galefrost cocked his head slightly in curiosity as the deep bass of his voice resounded from where he sat. "After all, Celestialclan and Tempestclan likely aren't too badly affected, yet."