The Return Home

[Shiningstream]

Darkwing listened quietly, observing Moondance's determined edge to her voice and Nightclaw's worriness. To Moondance, he didn't have a comment for, because he knew whatever he did the she-cat was just scoff and take his words through one ear and out the other. The ShadowClan border fight cut their relationship. Darkwing had pushed her away because he didn't want to provoke Dancingwind, but Moondance must have taken it differently. She had called him a traitor, and the deputy would have to acknowledge that privately.

The old deputy was thinking things over, not noticing the impatience swimming through everyone's heads, but he did feel his nerves twitching and decided to speak. His voice was leveled and stern. "Very good. Now, by my assessment, that border fight was unnecessary and provoked beyond reason. There are a few cats here who deserve to be camp-bound, but those ShadowClan brutes were more at fault then we were." Though he did not acknowledge it the slightest, most of that was directed towards Specklespot. He knew quite well what a reckless cat Eagleclaw was, but Darkwing wasn't one to reveal things like that.

"Further, there will be no punishments. I will speak with Rainstar about this so we may discuss it at the next Gathering. Until then, I want the ShadowClan border patrols doubled and the borders rescented. I will not have this Clan shy away."

[maddykay]

"That's very kind of you, Darkwing," the young, long-haired tom said with a smile. He knew as well as anyone that the fight wasn't entirely Shadowclan's fault. And he also knew a harsher deputy would have punished his brother. He liked Darkwing for his mercy and fairness, and more than ever his loyalty for the clan thudded strongly in his heart.

Specklespot didn't pick up on Darkwing's hint. He liked poking fun at cats sometimes, so what he had said before the battle had just been the boisterous tom being himself. Although he believed in the warrior code, and defended it harshly, he didn't believe cats should be punished for being themselves.

[{Jade]

Moondance took in the words of the deputy, nodding slightly to the edge they had. She walked forwards a bit and murmured into his ear, "I know you'd like to speak to me." The white warrior continued to walk away until she was into the forest. The words she knew Darkwing knew of seemed to be floating in the air. Follow me....

[Nightclaw]

"Thank you Darkwing," Nightclaw bowed her head. Though she hadn't really done anything wrong, she had been near the ShadowClan border and her being there eventually resulted in the fight. Nightclaw licked Whisperwind's ear, thanking him for his support. Nightclaw wasn't sure if she was mad at Specklespot or not. He shouldn't have provoked the ShadowClan cats at the border, but that was really just him being himself and no one can do anything about that.
Nightclaw was starting to worry about the tension between Clans. Fights were starting more easily at the borders and it felt as if a large fight was brewing, like a storm overhead, waiting for a moment to strike.

[maddykay]

Whisperwind's smile spread across his face once again at Nightclaw's gesture. He could sense all the worry and trouble growing, even across clans. He too felt something was coming, something bad, but he knew he could do nothing to stop it. He stood, almost like it was a decision. If he couldn't prevent the storm from breaking, at least he could do everything in his power to make it easier on his clan. And this started with providing them with the energy needed to defend themselves. "Would anyone like to go hunting?" he asked, casually glancing at Nigthclaw, "I think it might be a good idea to have a long run. Chasing a rabbit might help calm our nerves."

"I'm in," his brother replied, standing. He looked down at his brother, who was a bit shorter than the long-legged tom, and followed his gaze back to Nightclaw. As thoughts swirled in his head, he grew very interested. "Come with us, Nightclaw," he said to her, "you look like you could use a good long run."

[Nightclaw]

Nightclaw stood up and joined Whisperwind and Specklespot. There was no use sitting around looking worried, making others uneasy.
"Thanks! I really could use a run right now." Nightclaw was glad that Whisperwind and Specklespot invited her. She wanted to get to know Whisperwind better, and she realized that she still hadn't really figured out Specklespot. Also, being with Whisperwind and his positive spirit made her more positive also. She was sure that whatever was looming over her Clan, they would be able to survive it. StarClan, help us be prepared. Nightclaw silently prayed to StarClan, before she flicked her tail to Whisperwind and Specklespot, signaling that she was ready to go.