starting {havoc} in a {flash} // dusk

[lily ♫]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 375px; height: 550px; background-image: url(http://i43.tinypic.com/11jaj51.png); -moz-border-radius: 250px; border-radius: 30px 30px 30px 30px; border: 0px solid #414141;] Ugh. Winter was finally getting to her, especially when she couldn't shake the chill from her small frame no matter how hard she tried. As Orioleflash laid awake inside the warrior's den on a day which had the chance to turn into a pleasant one, she curled up tighter and tried to avoid responsibility. Peeking out from her visage with a single, saffron gold eye, she frowned slightly, feeling guilty being one of the last warriors to rise. Exhaling quite loudly in what turned from a breath into a sigh, the warrior rolled over onto her back and let all of the muscles go limp in her body before she pushed out in all directions, the individual tendons pulling this way and that. Flipping back over, she glared slightly at the light seeping in from the entrance to the den before finally pulling herself up onto her feet, tailtip twitching with annoyance. "Getting up can be such a drag." The calico muttered to herself before ducking out of the den, the light blinding her almost immediately. Squinting at her surroundings, the female quickly identified clanmates by their scent before she could even see then. Fuzzy spots dotted all that she saw, the images growing clear only after she clamped her eyes shut as tight as she could and opened them halfway, the harsh light enough to make her frown from earlier return in a scowl. Why was it so bright, anyway? The light was reflecting off that damn snow and the sky was white and just - ugh! Adjusting to the light - finally! - the she-cat stalked around camp slowly, allowing herself time to wake up. She snatched a piece of prey from the fresh-kill pile before plopping down in the lighter snow and tucking in to her meager meal. For the small runner, any meal was enough to keep her going even for just a little while. As a shadow cast itself across her, she lifted her gaze upwards, eyeing the tom above with her golden gaze. "Morning, Havocstar. Are you going to be joining me or are you planning on standing there all day?" The female half-joked, rolling her eyes at herself and chuffing a bit before licking a patch of mussed up fur on her left shoulder. From her prone position, she could only look up at her leader and his tabby pelt. Their gazes met and seemed to mirror each other, the only difference between the two colors was their intensity, the very vibrance of the biological pigments from inside their golden eyes. Orioleflash's were brighter, full of more straight color, while Havocstar's were tinted slightly, containing just a bit more shade. Otherwise, they were the same, even if Orioleflash kept squinting because of the light. "Well?"

[/td][/tr][/table]
BY NOT AT THE TABLE LUCY[/center]

[Dusk]

LIE AWAKE IN ED AT NIGHT
• AND THINK ABOUT YOUR LIFE •
DO YOU WANT TO BE DIFFERENT?

watch me carefully
my thoughts are still my own
if i speak, it's likely important

Winter was still taking its sweet to time to been the moors a fine farewell and be off for the next three seasons. It was as though the season was loathe to pry its chilling fingers away from the territory, in a cold greed it wanted nothing more than to continue sapping life not only from the cats, but from the land as well. The season was a poor one, living off the misery of other creatures. True, the weather wasn't as poor as it had been a couple moons earlier, the gusts held less bite, and breath wasn't visible in the air all day long, so things weren't quite as bad as they could have been. Even so, the delayed return of winter was worrying to say the least. Cats needed nourishment, and that meant their prey had to eat well too, and it was doubtful that many hares would be growing fat on snow-choked grass. The prospects of what might happen if the snow stuck around for much longer were chilling. Fretting for the well-being of the clan kept Havocstar up many a long night. That earlier period of darkness had been no different, and the tom had been all too happy to leave his shelter in the shadow of the High Hill when the first rays of sun had crept up to color the horizon with a red blush.

He'd stood, musing quietly to himself, watching as the clan slowly shook off its night stupor and grew active. Infernochaser had handled patrols already, everything was set and organized for the day. The small tabby now found himself idling on the top of his "podium", a feline shaped monolith overlooking the grassy campground. In truth, he wasn't quite sure what to do with himself. His apprentice, Lithiumpaw, was out for a forest-hunting lesson with Duneshade; the patrols had no need of him until night came along, the tom shrugged his narrow shoulders, muscles sliding neatly beneath his ever-spiky pelt. He let a quiet breath escape from his maw, ochre gaze trailing coolly across the bodies of cats milling about in the clearing. It stopped on one she-cat who was just beginning to make her way from the warriors' dens. The calico squinted at the bright light of day, face screwing itself up in a look of distaste; Havocstar found his whiskers twitching in amusement as he watched her look about blindly. The tom began making his way down the grassy-covered rise, sidling closer to the late-rising warrior.

It would have been interesting to creep onto the female and surprise, but he wasn't the devious sort, and, besides, the sun worked against him that day. He gave an easy smile as the cat spoke. "Glad to see you've chosen to rejoin the living, Orioleflash," he mewed, voice betraying his appreciation of the half-joking greeting. He shifted his weight from paw to paw, feigning indecision as to whether or not he'd sit down. Too soon the tricolor grew somewhat impatient with him, her own saffron gaze glinting with a vague sort of irritation. "Well?" The tom promptly sat down, now more level with the she-cat as she continued to gnaw at her fresh-kill. "Suppose I could afford to lounge about for a while." His mew was drawn out into a false-drawl. He paused for a moment, searching for some topic to start of a suitable conversation. His mind wandered to the earlier event that had drawn him towards Orioleflash in the first place. "So then, this leaf-bare has been something else hasn't it? The snow seems hell-bent on sticking around."

TAGGED ! for who?
WORDS ! how many?
LYRICS ! a beautiful lie by 30 seconds to mars
TEMPLATE ! PANIC! ITS LAUZ @ CAUTION
NOTES ! blah blah

[lily ♫]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 375px; height: 550px; background-image: url(http://i43.tinypic.com/11jaj51.png); -moz-border-radius: 250px; border-radius: 30px 30px 30px 30px; border: 0px solid #414141;] His eyes were off, closed a bit more than they should have been, and Orioleflash caught the minor detail and frowned for a moment before regaining her scowling composure. She nearly cracked a smile at his greeting, but bit it back as hard as she could, smirking at him with the corners of her mouth twitching. "Even the dead get sick of lil' ol' me, Havocstar. And plus, I would miss out on all of this brilliant weather and the lovely expressions on everyone else's faces."

[/color] Was the female's retort as she finished off her morning meal, pushing it aside to take care of it later. She sat up, matching Havocstar in position, noticing that, for once, someone actually shared her short stature. Her mouth pulled up on the right side of her face, giving her an odd expression as she watched Havocstar closely.

Breaking her stance, she reacted to his second quip by odding slightly and pawing at a little snow off to the left of her, before she turned her head back, squinting just a bit and identifying the symptoms that he possessed for lack of sleep. "I may be no medicine cat, but you look exhausted. How late have you been staying up at night? Is everything... alright?" The she-cat asked, cocking her head to the side, before a yawn escaped her own tricolored maw. "Oh, StarClan, forgive me for that."[/color] Orioleflash apologized, blinking her eyes quickly to dispel the tears from them, absolutely refusing the chance to let any cat think that she was crying - of all things for Orioleflash to be doing, ha!

"This leaf-bare has been a major pain in the rear! And I really don't care about the season, really, especially because I still have to be out and about in it no matter what so I have to tolerate them all, but this one is beginning to test me. And everyone knows what happens when I get testy." She muttered the last few words, her eyes growing soft as she dropped her gaze to the snow below her paws, not wanting even Havocstar to see that, finally, being so looked-down upon was starting to get to her, but she was too proud, too deadbent on being herself and remaining true to her personality, to admit it to anyone. "So, what's on the agenda for today? Lazing about is only nice for so long."[/color] The calico piped up, her conflicting expressions at a standstill as a neutral one spread across her face.
[/div][/center][/td][/tr][/td][/tr][/table]
BY NOT AT THE TABLE LUCY[/center]

[Dusk]

LIE AWAKE IN ED AT NIGHT
• AND THINK ABOUT YOUR LIFE •
DO YOU WANT TO BE DIFFERENT?

watch me carefully
my thoughts are still my own
if i speak, it's likely important

The tom knew something about how Orioleflash liked to act, being one of the few cats remaining in the clan old enough to recall her as an apprentice. For one reason or another, the calico had - practically - always felt the need to appear tough since she'd been made a warrior, although the reasons behind the bristly exterior failed to make themselves known to Havocstar. As far as he was concerned, though, it mattered little how she chose to act so long as it wasn't detrimental to the clan. His wise-cracking had almost gained a smile from her - or so he liked to think - and that gave him a small sense of pleasure. Some cats found her too abrasive, too ready to be rude, but those cats might think to work on their tempers themselves before judging others; the slight-framed leader simply took the she-cat's smirking jibes in stride. "Speaking of lovely faces, you gave quite the interesting expression yourself back there exiting the dens." He gave a slight purr to dispel any harshness from the words. This trading of jibes felt good to the tom, when so few cats were willing to treat him like the simple warrior he'd once been - and still was as far as he was concerned.

He ducked his head, fur rustling as he moved, and shuffled his paws in discomfort as the she-cat scrutinized his features with those sharp, golden eyes. A low chuckle rattled out from his throat as she noted his weariness and didn't hesitate to bring it up. "You're powers of observation are admirable," he mewed after forcing himself to keep his gaze level. What kind of tom could be abashed by a simple looking over."I suppose that... being rendered a leader at such a point in life is stressful." It was a struggle to find the right explanation to portray how he'd been feeling lately. He gave a small, helpless shake of his head. "It's a lot of pressure that I can't help feeling another cat would be better suited to." The tom lacked any sort of ambition, being at the head of his clan had never been a dream of his. Starclan had demanded he take power over Zephyrclan, and he had, but that didn't mean he enjoyed it. A silent nod was all he gave as an acknowledgement to the large yawn.

He attempted to shake off any last shreds of melancholy by focusing on the tricolor's words as she spat vehemently about the weather. A frown tugging gently on his features as he watched the warrior glare about at the snow and cold. Something was off with the she-cat, or was he imagining things? "Hopefully the weather will soon be taking a turn for the better. Breezestep insists that the weather is starting to become warmer." He hesitated, claws sheathing and unsheathing nervously into the snow as he sought out the right way to word his query. You asked me if everything was alright, but perhaps I should be asking you that Orioleflash." The tone suggested less of a question and more of a statement, something the feline could latch onto if she wished, or dismiss just as easily. "Griefs are never good to withhold," he looked up as he mewed, as though the tabby was speaking to himself or addressing the air. He quirked a brow as Orioleflash proceeded to move onto more practical matters. "Well, neither of us has patrols for some time. The clan can be stifling, though. Would you care to take a walk? Maybe we might find a wandering hare or two on the way." He wasn't about to push the calico if she didn't wish to speak. Instead he leaned back slightly and jerked his chin in the direction of the camp's exit.

TAGGED ! for who?
WORDS ! how many?
LYRICS ! a beautiful lie by 30 seconds to mars
TEMPLATE ! PANIC! ITS LAUZ @ CAUTION
NOTES ! blah blah

[lily ♫]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 375px; height: 550px; background-image: url(http://i43.tinypic.com/11jaj51.png); -moz-border-radius: 250px; border-radius: 30px 30px 30px 30px; border: 0px solid #414141;] Before she knew it, she was laughing, actually laughing, surprising herself and Havocstar, but not stopping even as she realized it. "Oh, that face. Was it really all that lovely then?"

[/b] Orioleflash retorted sarcastically before rolling her eyes and half-smiling once more. Rather than becoming infuriated that she'd been tickled right out of a somewhat sour mood, she just smirked and tried her best not to go overboard in doing anything. As he somewhat..halfway..almost complimented her the smaller-than-average calico dipped her head regally to him, murmuring quietly, "Why, thank you." keeping her actions ridiculous because there wasn't a serious bone in her body at that point.

When the tabby started to admit his doubts, Orioleflash's eyebrows raised. "Havocstar, if anything, you're the best cat for the job! You'll figure it all out, you just need to stay true to yourself even if the pressure's driving you mad. Don't give up!"[/b] She barked the last sentence, nodding as she finished, looking at him with a softened gaze. If even he was afraid sometimes, that was a good thing. It comforted her a bit knowing that all leaders were not instantly wise or all-powerful. In her heart she'd always known they weren't. As they aged, they grew into the facade, when really all it took was a bad illness or a few infected wounds to take a life, and nine of them only lasted for so long.

As the conversation turned to the weather, Orioleflash snorted. "Never have I wanted newleaf before so badly." She admitted, shaking her head slightly. Tilting her head at him as he pawed the ground as if he was nervous, Orioleflash couldn't keep the amusement off of her face by feigning displeasure. At his query, she paused, unsure of how to answer. Many things had bothered her lately, especially after her brother's disappearance and then Runningfox's disappearance from her daily life. That and she didn't seem as angry all the time, and that bothered her. It was her signature move to snap at someone unpleasantly, but lately she'd barely been provoked. It was annoying, especially when the little gossiping she-cats got going about how Orioleflash was changing.

Shaking her head slowly, she looked up at him with a very small smile upon her maw. "Don't worry about me, you have enough to worry about for yourself and the Clan, Havocstar." She mewed quietly, looking away from him. Had anyone ever asked her how she was doing in such a...timid and sincere way? Sure, toms asked her mockingly or sarcastically, but Havostar had seemed to sweet about it. Orioleflash wasn't used to that, it made her shy almost. Orioleflash! Shy! Ha! But when he suggested a walk, she blinked at him. He was offering to spend more time with her? Was he mad? Shaking off her thoughts she nodded. "Of course." She replied, standing up slowly and shaking a bit of snow off of her bum. "Dear StarClan, that's an awkward feeling."[/color] The calico muttered to herself, chuckling a bit and making her way to the camp entrance.
[/div][/center][/td][/tr][/td][/tr][/table]
BY NOT AT THE TABLE LUCY[/center]

[Dusk]

LIE AWAKE IN ED AT NIGHT
• AND THINK ABOUT YOUR LIFE •
DO YOU WANT TO BE DIFFERENT?

watch me carefully
my thoughts are still my own
if i speak, it's likely important

A brief moment of confusion flashed through the tom as he heard an odd sound coming from the lithe warrior. No, not odd; out of place. That was a better way to phrase it. How often did he hear laughter drifting its way from the calico coloured female slouching casually before him? The small of stature leader could count the number of times he'd heard Orioleflash laugh - well and truly laugh, not give that harsh sarcastic rattling - on the toes of a single paw. Well, he'd achieved something quite amazing if he had to say so himself. For a short span of seconds the tom even considered ribbing her over the out of character laughter, but decided against it as pushing too far. Ever cat had their limits and he preferred not to test just where those boundaries were. Instead he allowed himself a small dose of sarcasm, something he rarely used but seemed apt for the situation at hand. "It was utterly beauteous. I'm graced to have seen such heavenly features," he managed, a hearty purr still rising from his throat.

Once more he lowered his head, this time against the compliment, though harshly delivered it was quite sincere in the blunt manner that Orioleflash delivered her words. Havocstar's head twisted doubtfully, morning sun glinting off the tan and black fur between his ears. He might've quailed under the force of her words were it not for the way she looked at him with silent approval of his work. "Heh, thanks for the vote of confidence." A quick breath helped settle the tom and chase away the inherent embarrassment he felt at the tricolour's assessment of his work. "It's good to know that not everyone sees my leadership as a lost cause. This "curse" business has grown tiresome." The tabby realized how weak he must look, unable to take the slightest compliment without feeling a rush of bashfulness. So be it if Orioleflash - or any other cat for that matter - felt any disdain at that part of his nature. He couldn't take a compliment without embarrassed, it was a key component of what made him the modest warrior he usually was. The reason he wasn't some overreaching hot-head looking to put his own ambitions before the good of the clan.

A smirk of his own tugged gently on his lips as he agreed with the female's weather assessment. "This has been one clingy winter." Onto more pressing matters. It was curious, watching a short play of emotions wind their way across the she-cat's features as his statement was considered. Did the feline realize the way her face changed as she thought, or was the movement unconscious? 'Hmm, I probably do the same myself.' The detached wonders were dismissed as her head moved silently from side to side and she gave the slightest smile. He'd figured she'd decide against confiding anything in him. It went too far against the Orioleflash he knew to so quickly admit any personal dissatisfaction. He could have pushed, but no, that was conducive to nothing. Instead: "You're a part of the clan, Orioleflash. And a good, strong, independent she-cat. I doubt any would think otherwise even if you did crack that shell just a little."" His smiled warmly, golden gaze gentle as he nodded for no apparent reason and turned to traverse out of the camp, giving a quiet greeting to the guard. "What was that?" He looked over his shoulder having heard Orioleflash mutter something though he hadn't caught the words.

TAGGED ! for who?
WORDS ! how many?
LYRICS ! a beautiful lie by 30 seconds to mars
TEMPLATE ! PANIC! ITS LAUZ @ CAUTION
NOTES ! lulz, if you need more action near the end just say so

[lily ♫]

Frowning as he talked down on himself, Orioleflash shook her head. "Don't worry about it." She assured him, lashing her tail back and forth. As he mentioned the winter being a clongy one, she snorted. "Reminds me of some of the she-cats in our Clan." The calico commented before following her leader as they slowly made their way out of camp and into their lovely territory. Her bright saffron eyes peered up at the sky, watching as puffy white cumulus clouds formed and made their way across the pretty blue sky.

She looked to the tabby and frowned, "Yes, yes, I am a part of the Clan, I know, I just...don't want any special treatment, that's all." She admitted, looking away from him as he continued speaking. Her eyes widened as she looked back at him, glancing down at her calico bodice before continuing, watching him as she was unsure of her next words. "What, this ol' thing? I haven't been without it in moons. Maybe I'm just prickly all the way through, Havocstar. I'm beginning to wonder that myself." She murmured quietly, her frown actually powered by sad emotions and not just from minor irritation.

Sighing for a moment before looking away from where they stood waiting for a direction to go, she took notice of a particularly rocky area of territory, with a short tree and shade. "Y'think the stream goes over there, too?" Orioleflash thought out loud, tilting her head to the side, her eyelids drooping a bit sleepily. Her expression skewed to the side, a bit of a perplexed smirk, really, and she glanced at her leader. "Now, I'd like to see which of us would make it over there first." She challenged, raising her eyebrows at him as her tail swayed back and forth, ready for her to take off running at any second.