clan MEETING [every cat seriously :) ]

[dusk]

The burnt orange tom made his way from the one of the many tunnels in the ground. Dirt was dusted over his pelt, but nothing that would bother him or be completely noticeable. Not that he cared anyways. His eyes bounced from various object to another in the camp. Pulling himself a ways up the slope he jumped onto the rock that was jetting out from the edge of the soil. His paws landed firmly and he let his eyes check for any of the other cats that might be around. There was an issue to be addressed, every cat should know it by now. There was more prey in the Pinestripe, but did they dare try to steal it from Valeclan? Now would be the time to find out. The clan was to be assembled, their opinions heard, although that meant many things to listen and chose from. He had Ottersplash and Ivorymask to listen to the most. Their ideas were the ones he cherished and really paid attention to.

"Cats of Flurryclan, all able to catch their own prey, gather before me!" His voice rang loud and clear though it wasn't over done. In fact, it never was.

--

A white body whipped past the she-cat and her deep blue eyes and nose noted it as her father Frozenclaw. "Dad!" The white furred tom halted for a moment his head swiveling back around so his pale blue eyes could meet hers. "Mmm yes?"

[/i] His voice was like all other times, easy going and slightly questioning though holding a striking upbeat tone. "Do you think this is about the flooding?" Shadewing was not new to her clans at the age of 20 moons and she wasn't new to Duskstar either, he after all had mentored her. "I know that this is about the flooding, now let's get a move on."[/i] Sighing softly the she-cat pushed past her father who gave a soft growl in his throat though it was only playful. The two gathered beneath Duskstar, their eyes looking for Ivorymask.

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[Head{admin}]

It was a rare, incredible moment. Ivorymask was *gasp* relaxing in his den! Somehow, he had woke up this morning, realized he had plenty of herbs, and decided to have a day of rest. He rarely let himself do this...he hated sitting idly around the camp. He preferred to be up around the territory, discovering herbs and gathering them. But no, not today. Today was a day to rest.

Duskstar's firm voice resounded throughout the Clan, and the white, lanky tomcat lifted himself from the ground and padded out of the abandoned badger sett that was his den. The badger was long gone, and not even a slight scent remained, but it had always been clear, by the way the burrow was made, that it had once housed a dangerous predator. Good thing I decided to stay in today, he thought as he settled himself at the base of the hill, lifting his oddly-colored eyes to gaze up at the leader of FlurryClan. It must be about the rabbits. Every newleaf we go hungry.... he thought, narrowing his eyes slightly as he thought about their issues. But he wouldn't give Duskstar his opinion. Not until he heard how the leader felt about all this.

The familiar scent of his father Frozenclaw and sister Shadewing reached his nostrils, and he turned to face the two. "Hello," he mewed, nodding his head seriously to his family. Ivorymask was not one for idle chatter or friendly greetings. He was all seriousness and firmness...most of the time.

[``Rosestep]

A mottled grey she-cat lay sunning herself on the fringes of the camp, in a sunny spot near the nursery. Sorrowheart was awoken from her comfortable nap by a harsh yowl. She twitched her ears in frustration. Why did they want her to get up now? She'd already gone on a patrol. What did they want from her! She decided that, considering it was the leader of the Clan that was calling, she'd better get up and join the rest of her Clan-mates. Like they ever did anything for me. She scoffed in her head. With a small grunt, Sorrowheart stood up and padded to the center of the clearing where the rest of the clan was assembling. The she-cat glared at Shadewing from behind for a moment, annoyed. The other cat was so mousebrained sometimes. Do you think it's because of the flooding? No, Duskstar was just gathering them together to tell them that they were doing a great job, that they were the best clan in the forest, and that everything would be just fine. She wanted to give Shadewing a piece of her mind and a score of sarcasm, but she refrained, reminding herself that it would only cause trouble and draw unwanted attention to her.

So what if the streams are overflowing a little? She thought. It happened every Newleaf. The mousebrained clan just needed something to worry about. Otherwise they would be bored. The leader was there to direct their energy toward the latest problem. Of course the clan was never perfect. What fun would that be? Sorrowheart found a place to sit with a good view of the goings-on, and started cleaning her paw before the meeting began.

[Head{admin}]

The sound of light pawsteps made Ivorymask's ears twitch, and he shifted his gaze from Duskstar to the she-cat that had just arrived...looking quite sour. But, then again, when did Sorrowheart not look sour? Oddly-colored eyes narrowed at the look the she-cat gave his sister, although Ivorymask didn't feel like he could blame Sorrowheart for that--Shadewing was acting a little airheaded today. In fact, Ivorymask quite liked Sorrowheart most of the time...like him, she didn't enjoy idle, meaningless chatter or pointless prancin' about like a little kit.

Still, it rubbed Ivorymask the wrong way when he saw anything going poorly for his sister, the only cat he really felt reasonably close to, and therefore the lanky white tomcat rose smoothly to his paws and padded over to Sorrowheart, planting himself right beside her. "I quite like my sister, Sorrowheart," he mewed very quietly so that none of the other cats could hear. "She is a loyal cat, even if she is a little mousebrained. No cat can doubt that she'd fight for every scrap of rabbit we lost, if it came to that." He said no more, but decided not to move. They still had a little time before the rest of the Clan had gathered, and he wanted to see how Sorrowheart replied.

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[``Rosestep]

`Sorrowheart

Sorrowheart turned her piercing green gaze to Ivorymask. She nodded in respect to the medicine cat as he entered. 'I quite like my sister, Sorrowheart.' The tom said. Well, that makes a grand total of one. She thought. She couldn't see how anybody could like Shadewing. Energetic and playful, as she was, it tended to make Sorrowheart - the cat that was so serious that most of the clan marvelled at the chance sighting of a smile that wasn't sarcastic - sick. The medicine cat was a different story. Sorrowheart liked him better than most of the rest of Flurryclan. He understood the need for seriousness when it was important. He still hadn't figured out that Sorrowheart didn't really want to be spoken to.

Ivorymask continued, 'She is a loyal cat, even if she is a little mousebrained.' A little?!? She thought when he said that. I'd rather be the mouse. The medicine cat was still talking, though, which was probably good because it meant that Sorrowheart kept her insult to herself. 'No cat can doubt that she'd fight for every scrap of rabbit we lost, if it came to that.' Oh, Sorrowheart didn't doubt that Shadweing would fight for every scrap. She would have to. She'd be the one who lost it in the first place. She kept this thought to herself as well. It looked like Ivorymask was waiting for her reply to what he said. "I don't doubt her loyalty." Sorrowheart said, providing a response that wouldn't get her in trouble. She licked her paw, indicating-and not in the most respectful way-that she was done with the conversation. She hoped that the medicine cat wouldn't press her for more. She wasn't sure that she could stand it.

[Head{admin}]

Ivorymask sighed, rolling his eyes at the puny answer. Well, he couldn't blame her. He hadn't left her for much room to answer truthfully. "Fine then," he mewed, staying stubbornly in the same place. "I know the prey is low...what would you say if Duskstar asked whether we should take Pinestrip or not?" He really was interested in knowing this, though he felt he already knew the answer. Ivorymask himself would not voice his opinion...he often didn't on matters of territory and war. He was only StarClan's messenger. If they sent him a sign, he'd say it. But not unless Duskstar pressed him would he give his opinion on this matter.

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[dusk]

((waiting on the deputy))

[lostwhisker]

Almost have it, almost there. Two more seconds, and!

"May all cats old enough to catch there own pray come before me"

Swifteye snarled. Really? Really right now? She had been a second away from catching a fat mouse, she could fill up for a week on the thing, but no. Her dream had to be interupted. With a sigh of disgust, Swifteye stood up, stretched her limbs, and padded out of the den.

It looked like quite a few cats had already made their way underneath the ledge that Duskstar was standing atop of. She walked over, and plopped down next to Shadewing, a cat she was somewhat friends with, or more so then any of the other cats she saw.

"Hey Shadewing, I'm guessing this is about the Pinestrip, what do you think we should do?"

Duskstar hadn't started to announce anything yet, so she figured it was alright to have a conversation before the meeting had actually started, but just to make sure, she stayed quiet for a few seconds, to make sure it wasn't just a pause in his speech. It wasn't, thank StarClan. Now she just had to wait for Shadewings reply.

[``Rosestep]

`Sorrowheart

Sorrowheart grumbled mentally-barely restricting herself from letting it out-when Ivorymask didn't move. She figured he could take a hint, he just didn't want to. Mouse-brained stubborn tom, with a position that demanded her respect. It was a good thing she hadn't completed her previous thought out loud. When she'd said 'I don't doubt her loyalty', it was followed by 'only her sanity.' She'd had the brains not to say that out loud, especially to Shadewing's brother and the medicine cat.

But Ivorymask was not done making Sorrowheart uncomfortable. He seemed determined to stick his paw into her brain and snag his claw on whatever information or opinion she'd been storing in there. 'I know the prey is low...what would you say if Duskstar asked whether we should take Pinestrip or not?' The medicine cat asked. Sorrowheart thought about it first. She didn't want to say something she'd regret.

First of all, I wouldn't say anything, because he wouldn't ask her. She and her thoughts were of no importance to Duskstar, or the rest of the Clan. But take Pinestrip? Well, there was nothing wrong with more territory, was there? Of course, the effort that it would take to get Pinestrip...she didn't want to have any part in it. It would most likely mean a battle, and she didn't think Flurryclan would be on the 'good-odds' side.

Sorrowheart turned her gaze toward Duskstar, but still spoke to Ivorymask. "I don't think taking Pinestrip would be a good idea." She said, a small smile hidden on her face. Most of the cats probably thought she'd be all for getting new territory, to make her life easier. But would it really? They also probably thought she wouldn't think hard about this.

[dusk]

Duskstar looked at the cats assembling, Ottersplash and Cricketsong were still missing, but he could start without them could he not? Their opinions could always be collected later. His ears listened to the chat within the clan and the voice he could easily hear was Sorrowheart. The she-cat was a sour apple and he didn't like her, but then again he had to work with her as did he work with all the other cats. "Sorrowheart, why is that?" He mewed over the others. "In case you didn't hear, Sorrowheart suggests to not. " A smirk formed but was quickly wiped off his face. He had learned to put others on the spot and when to do it. Now was perhaps a good time for the she-cat needed to get the pessimism drawn out of her.

--

Shadewing smiled lightly as Swifteye sat beside her. Finally another cat who seemed friendly enough. As her question was asked Shadewing let her eyes move to Duskstar. He looked about to speak. "If you want my opinion I say we take it. It won't hurt anything to try. Ivorymask can fix us up if it does end up bad." She spoke swiftly, almost cut off as Duskstar's voice was heard.

-----

Duskstar's son. Murkpaw knew nothing of it...but Duskstar did. Not that any of the other clan member's did, except for his mother. But it wouldn't matter, for the thoughts were not of his but of Starclan's. The tom slipped from the apprentice's den at the call of Duskstar. Smirking lightly at the statement from Sorrowheart and as Duskstar invited himself into the conversation the young tom added in his own statement that was quiet, but perhaps another had heard him. "Because she has to go against everyone in this damned clan." His eyes remained on the ground.

[lostwhisker]

Swifteye smiled at the cat, she had said her words exactly. Swifteye nodded, Duskstar had started to speak, and had put Sorrowheart ont he spot, and Swifteye couldn't wait to hear her response. Sorrowheart was a horrible cat in her oppinion. She secretly smiled and payed attention to the meeting. It was not only important to hear what the final decision was, but Swifteye wanted to make sure that the reason for taking the area was indeed, for food, not just for a battle. Some cats could care less about starving, and would rather fight just to fight.

[Head{admin}]

Ah, so the meeting was finally beginning. Turned out that Duskstar had been listening. Well, fine then. The Clans' opinions needed to be heard. Ivorymask himself would give no opinion until pressed.

Murkpaw spoke...and his words did not escape the hearing of Ivorymask. "Do not speak about your fellow Clanmate like that," the white tomcat hissed, rounding on the young apprentice and fixing him with a glare so disgusted that few other apprentices would be able to stand it. "You are just a scrawny kit. She is a warrior. You will respect your clanmates, mousebrain." So what if Murkpaw didn't like him after this? So what if he embarrassed the apprentice. Ivorymask didn't care. And then, turning to his sister Shadewing, he hissed with nearly the same tone, "I can fix a living cat. Not a dead one." There. That was all he would say. He wanted to remind these cats what could happen. Cats could die in this battle, and ValeClan was well fed...while they were losing prey every day. With an annoyed grunt, he sat back down, eyes set on Duskstar to see his reaction.

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[``Rosestep]

Sorrowheart looked at the ground, her ears burning, when Duskstar addressed her. She was glad she had thought out her answer. Because apparently Duskstar was listening, so she would have been in big trouble if she'd blurted out the first thing that popped into her head. But she could actually defend her reasoning this time. She opened her mouth to answer the leader's quiery, then was interrupted by Shadewing. Sorrowheart threw an annoyed glance at the she-cat. As if she hadn't already done enough to get on Sorrowheart's nerves. She turned her attention back to Duskstar, ready to reply once again, when another voice sounded behind her.

Ivorymask was scolding an apprentice, and it looked like it had to do with her. Sorrowheart's respect for him went up a notch as he defended her. The medicine cat then told Shadewing exactly what had been going through Sorrowheart's mind. It pleased her that she'd thought the same thing as the revered, wise medicine cat. But seriously, can't a cat speak here? She thought. Finally, she answered the leader's question.

"I think taking Pinestrip would be a bad idea. Just like Ivorymask said, Valeclan are well-fed. Not to mention they're proud. They won't give it up without a fight. And I don't think we can win the fight. We have better chances of doing what we've been doing the whole time. Yes, Pinestrip would be a valuable addition to our territory, but we don't need it, and our warriors are a more valuable part. If we were to seize Pinestrip at the cost of, say, half our warriors, we wouldn't be able to reap the rewards of having it because there wouldn't be enough warriors to properly hunt it. It's not worth it."

Sorrowheart glared at the cats around her, daring them to argue. She had a good point, and she knew it. Plus, based on what he'd said, Ivorymask might back her on this.

[dusk]

"And risk the chance of losing half of our warriors without proper nutrition. You look at your idea as if it is the only one Sorrowheart. And yes Ivorymask your words are true. We may lose a few, but who is to say this new-leaf will be the same as others. Who's to say it will not flood even more than it has and that prey will be hardly here. If we are to leave everything as is, and if we are to go without prey if this new-leaf is different we will not go crawling to Valeclan under-fed and beg for help. Nor would it be a wise time to attack then. We are stronger now than we will be. " Duskstar had just finished processing the she-cat's words before he jumped in with his own statement. He knew that Ivorymask and Sorrowheart were right, but so was he. Did they want to risk the chance of this new-leaf being the worst one they might have to face. They could not go running weak into battle or to another clan and admit defeat.

[Head{admin}]

Ivorymask nodded at Sorrowheart's words, but he nodded also at Duskstar's. This is why I am glad that I was not called to be a leader. All I have to do is go with the flow and save who I can, he thought, shrugging his narrow shoulders. This was not up to him, and he rarely gave his true opinion. Did he want the Clan to be hurt? No, he didn't. But he did want them fed. "You are the leader," he said, meeting Duskstar's eyes and dipping his head so that Duskstar knew he wasn't planning on challenging his opinion. Ivorymask respected the leader. "And I am no warrior. Tell me your decision, and Juniperpaw and I will find the herbs to follow it up--herbs to give is strength in place of freshkill, or herbs to heal the ones who come home injured."

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((Cricketsong hasn't been on in awhile...))