this could never start { ghost }

[wildstar.]

There was no moon. Or at least, it was invisible under the thick canopy of dark green leaves. Stars were covered, making the night blacker than ever. The air was stiff and frightening, as if ghosts are walking all around. It was unpleasant outside to be in this weather. There was a light haze, probably fog, but instead of brightening everything, it darkened the forest. Everything was freezing cold - a thin crust of frost dappled the black grass. Anyone could tell that leaf-bare was approaching fast, even though leaf-bare had only just begun not two moons ago. Winter brought fear to all of the creatures hearts. It meant little to no food, sickness, cold, and terrible tempers. This would be Wildstar's, ThunderClan's leader, third winter; but the first as leading the Clan. What would other cats think of him throughout the harshest season StarClan brought upon them? Would the nervousness get through him, or would he be a strong cat by not feeling it? The black-silver tabby tom shook his head. His fluffy ringed tail swished with fright, and his yellow eyes grew slightly. It wasn't too long ago that I became leader. Maybe two months ago. So far I haven't met any troubles. But with leaf-bare right around the corner, what's in store for me? I can tell something will happen soon. It had been too quiet lately. There had been no warnings on decoys, foxes and badgers weren't around, the Clans weren't threatening them, and there were no quarrels from within ThunderClan. Nothing was wrong, unless the other Clans were at war. A Gathering would be soon, he thought. Maybe. It's been awhile since I've seen the moon... perhaps it's passed without me realizing. But Wildstar sensed that it had almost been a whole moon since the last Gathering. Whatever sign of the moon it was, the next Gathering Wildstar would find out.

Blinking his eyes from the fog, Wildstar walked forward - where he thought was north. He could have been wrong since he could hardly see his own paws. The leader broke into a quick run, nervousness clawing his chest since he felt so blind. All scents faded and disappeared, so nothing was familiar to him. Somehow he was emotionless. He slowed down until he came into a walk. Then he stopped completely, sniffing the chilly air to see if he could try to find any scents. Yellow eyes glazed around him, and in the distance he could see a tall, black figure. It was the abandoned Twolegplace! The ThunderClan leader raced toward it, but was blocked out from shelter because of a huge, gray brick wall. With a slight whimper, Wildstar felt like he was being trapped by the mist. He walked around the mossy wall but couldn't find any entrance. With a frustrated sigh, Wildstar stalked over to a nearby oak tree and sat on a root. "Great StarClan..." he murmured, casting a look at the black night sky. He couldn't see anything once again, which sent shivers through his body.


OOC: Sorry that it's rambly, Ghost. I promise the next one will be better :c

[ghostcry]

The forest was dead silent. The fog crept along the ground like little ghosts, some trotting alone happily, some sitting, staring. The sleek, beautiful, pale she-cat with her dark spots, blended neatly into the pale fog in the dead of night- and looked much like a ghost herself. Her red eyes peered around the smokey beings with a analytic gaze. Was this an illusion of mist, or torture? Was this a cold fog seeping through the trees, or the spirits of all the cats she had led to their deaths. That final thought sent a chill down Ghost's spine. She reached out with a paw and swiped at a figure, watching as it was torn under her paw- but instead of dispersing, it melted into the rest of the pale sheet of mist.

She picked up her speed, her walk turning into a lope. She was in the middle of a forest- so unlike her home around twolegplace. In fact, it was her first time, and her heart fluttered in her chest like a caged bird. She was tired, cold, and hungry, and now lost in thick, towering wood with shadow on all sides- even the moon overhead was blacked out by what she assumed were large, dark clouds. If it rained, she knew, things would get much, much worse for her. She didn't think she would survive a storm if she got thoroughly soaked. Her entire life, Ghost had been alone, since her parents had died, and she had only gotten sick once while on her own. She had almost committed suicide to ease her suffering through it- but something had kept her alive- but why was she here now? She could be- relativity speaking, safe in her alleyway right now, instead, she was wandering the forest where wild cats were supposed to roam. Cats who she had been told- by dogs, kittypets who were always shut inside, or other loners before each and every one of them were killed, that the wild cats would tear her limb and play games with her bones.

That is, if they weren't all dead. If they hadn't killed these wild cats too. Suddenly ahead of her, she heard a voice. She froze, her breath catching in her throat. She wasn't alone- and she knew she hadn't misheard. Someone was there- was it a bloody wildcat? A lost kittypet? She swallowed the lump in her throat, her curious nature settling in. She may have blended like a ghost into the mist, but it didn't make her feel any safer as she stepped through the undergrowth and came out at a old, looming twoleg building that smelled nothing of twolegs. Nearby however, she spotted a large shadowy figure perched between the twisted old roots of an oak tree. She could only stare wide-eyed at him. This was the first other cat she had seen since she was a kit- and all fear of those "wildcats" fled. She couldn't care less anymore what sort of trouble she could get herself into. She ran at him.

[wildstar.]

The temperature was dropping due to the fog. How long had it been? How much time had passed? Was the night over? Questions swarmed in his brain, ones that he couldn't answer for himself. He took a long glance up at the sky, curious yet sad eyes widening. Whiteness was all around him, and he felt as if he were drowning and dying in it. With a silent cough, the ThunderClan leader continued to glare at the sky, eyes beginning to narrow. He tried to catch a hint of sky - perhaps the moon if there was one, some stars, or the deep purple color that was so familiar to him - but he couldn't find anything. Swinging his gaze back to the old Twoleg nest on his right, Wildstar suddenly grew tense. His ears pricked and his shoulder muscles tightened a bit. Then his heart beat grew rapidly, pupil size decreasing, yellow eyes growing. It felt colder than before now, and a swift gust of wind nearly blew Wildstar off of his perch on the tree root. With a shiver, he watched as the fog blew his way. He wondered if the slight wind would clear everything up - but he was wrong. It only made things worse, darkening his territory and everything he believed in. Now everything was different, which frightened the leader even more. ThunderClan land was wrapped in a ghostly veil of frosty white, leaving only terror and cold hearts. And it seemed like it would never end, the tabby tom realized as he simply sat there. He tried not to show the growing fear that was locked in his heart's walls, but it was obviously by the way his shoulders were hunched and crooked, the way his dull gaze darted back and forth, and how his tail twitched nervously. It wasn't how a leader should be acting, but he suddenly forgot about his past and what position he held, and was left in a fresh, new start. I am a kit again. I'm younger, no longer leader. Maybe I'm not even apart of the Clans. Perhaps I'm a loner... His thoughts may be for the better. Or worse.

It wasn't that he wasn't listening or paying attention to nothing at all. But why hadn't he heard her romping through the tall grasses and ferns? He should of. But it would be his price to pay - or perhaps her's. Or they could both welcome each other and talk out their differences. But when he saw her, he didn't know what to think. She was a young cat - a little younger than him, all the same. Her pelt was made of foggy off-white with black speckles. But the first thing he noticed about her were her eyes, which floated like a walking ghost. They were pure orange, ringed with flecks of red and dull pink. They looked like the dying embers of a forest fire. Her scent, however, wasn't pleasant at all. She smelled of rogue - something that made every Clan cat cringe at. The leader spoke nothing about her stench, and barely smelled it. His thinking had worked, and somehow he'd "forgotten" who he was. But that silly kit game would be over soon, and perhaps replaced with anger. "Hello, cat," he addressed her formerly. His voice was dull and almost lifeless sounding. He wished he knew her name at least. "You do know you are in Clan cat territory." But he remembered where he came from. There was no anger in his voice - only normality and nothingness. Empty. For now he was a blank canvas waiting to be painted on by this dappled she-rogue.

"But I don't suppose you know of us, do you? You are a rogue after all. You don't belong here," he meowed, but the last sentence came out through clenched teeth. "These cats will attack a thing like you without questions. I do suggest you leave. Now." Then entered firmness in his voice, although he wasn't trying to sound aggressive or intimidating. She'd probably reply back with a snide comment since she was a rogue and he was a Clan cat. And he was ordering her to do something. What kind of outsider wouldn't talk back? They always did. He would be shocked if she didn't. He slowly stood up on his tired limbs, head hanging as if he couldn't carry it. Then he shook at as if he couldn't believe what he were seeing. "If you need an escort back to your land, then so be it. No cat will attack me, I know for sure. And I'd gladly be that cat who would take you home." Wait, what? He was offering this cat an escort back home? Why wasn't he clawing her eyes out right now? He lifted up his raccoon striped tail in dominance as his firm position as ThunderClan leader. The fog had swamped away his true self and personality, but it returned in a wave. Confusion lit his eyes before he could over it. He opened his mouth to talk, but words didn't come out for a few moment. "...What are you doing on ThunderClan land?"

[ghostcry]

She halted a few tail lengths from him, fiery eyes taking in his every aspect. Dark tabby coat, muscular build, the power he radiated as much as his own life. This cat was something- and best of all, he was a cat. He was speaking to her in low tones, his voice holding menace and hostility- but she was a battle hardened loner, and had little fear. What respect she did hold, however, was swamped entirely by curiosity. She let most of what he blabbered go in one ear and out the other, although she watched him, wide eyed and stiff. Rogue. ThunderClan. Attack. Escort. Words that had meaning, but she didn't care much about. It could all be sorted at a later date.

He asked her, however, what she was doing on ThunderClan land, and she stepped forward, pacing around him, head tilting this way and that, taking him in. "If you must know," She spoke suddenly, her voice feather light, soft, feminine, exactly what you'd expect from the light tipped, gracefully built loner, in all of her earthly beauty. It was a gentle, singsong voice, that pierced right through the mist with a nearly hypnotic quality, "I was exploring. Life gets mundane when all you see is concrete and dogs." She looked appalled for a moment at her own life, then once again focused on him. "Not another cat in sight- not until now. You're quite the cat to see- I can't recall the last time I saw a cat!" Her tail flicked with contempt as she made another circle around the tom. Finally, she finished, shaking her head in disbelief as if she was still in shock to find another cat. She sat down in front of him, blinking slowly. "I'm sorry to have intruded on.. your territory? Yes I suppose that's it. Queens used to share stories of the wild cats of these forests. You're not quite what I expected, but from your notion of ThunderClan I'd suspect there are more. Now If I may, you are...? Well? It would be proper to introduce yourself, as I will myself. I am Ghost."

[wildstar.]

As much as his insides were churning with nervousness, Wildstar let his outsides remain in full dominance and slight firmness. His large shoulders were crooked from where he stood on the large root, tail slightly lifted now yet wavering. Rogues were known for their aggression - it was just a common fact that all Clan cats learned or knew. Wildstar wasn't a believer of things he hadn't experienced himself, since he'd never actually met a loner face-to-face until now. Or are you? a tiny voice in his mind squeaked, sounding like a lost newborn kitten. You haven't yet spoken or been near a decoy for all you know, and yet you accuse all of them for being bad. What if you had been poisoned to be one and yet you are this kind, strong leader that you are now? Have you ever thought that there are decoys that don't want to be what they are? with a quick shake of his head, he turned his concentration back onto the white-and-black she-cat. She was now circling him, much to his surprise. Although it wasn't out of anger or anything rogue-like; it was more out of curiosity. That sent a shock wave through his enter body, yellow eyes jolting as if he were just electrocuted with lightning. What in the name of StarClan was she doing? This was... odd behavior, wasn't it? Wildstar looked around wildly, throwing his head to and fro. When she came back around and the ThunderClan leader could actually see her just in case there was going to be an attack, he relaxed a bit. Rogues were frightening - a cat had to be on their paws if they wanted to match them! They may look like fools, but loners and rogues weren't. Beneath the scraggly, ugly fur, there could actually be a Clan cat in there. Or a monstrous beast on the prowl.

When she spoke to him, it was smooth yet cold. It brought another surprise to him that she wasn't ripping tufts of fur out of him yet. He waited her to be done speaking - if he interrupted, perhaps he would get clawed, which was something he wasn't fancying. Then he replied back steadily, "Exploring? Rogue, this is no place to be exploring. You could get killed, like I told you before." Although his voice sounded dull, his eyes lit with fear for the black dappled she-cat. Fear? Why fear? Because she was a cat like all of the others - only she chose a different lifestyle. When he recalled what she said next, it brought a quiet purr to the foggy territory. "Why thank-you, rogue." He paused for a moment. "Or should I say, Ghost. Your name fits you well," he murmured, leaping off of the branch to come sit in front of her. But then he suddenly jumped to his paws, but not enough to frighten Ghost. Now it was his turn to circle her, sniffing her stench and wondering where she came from. A Twolegplace, of course, but exactly where? When did she want to go home? It looked like she was in no hurry. But it was actually nice to have company and one that didn't care if he was a leader or not. He waited a few moments, wondering whether or not to reply to her other comments. He finished circling and sniffing her, then promptly sat down a couple mouse lengths in front of Ghost. "Yes, we are wildcats. This is ThunderClan territory, as I mentioned before. There are many more of us." He decided not to tell her that he was their leader... yet. Although she may have guessed by his posture and the leader-like air that always seemed to follow him. "Ghost, if you wish to know my name, I go as Wildstar." Should he tell her exactly who he was? He decided that it would only be fair - perhaps she would get angry if he held it as a secret from her. "And I am ThunderClan's leader."

[ghostcry]

Many more. This phrase alone, nearly driving Ghost to her paws, fueled her with a need to meet them all. However, when the cat- introducing himself as Wildstar, announced that he was the leader. This cat was her key to interaction with her on species. She held him in a sort of reverence for that one reason. " A pleasure to meet you, Wildstar." Now the only question was, was she safe around this cat? Or should she have run while she had the chance? She couldn't help but believe she was safe, however, for why else would he warn her of dangers and offer to escort her to safety. It dawned on her then. An escort. Out of the territory. Her gaze slightly fell. She may have been a cat, but these cats had their own life, their own hierarchy. She wasn't welcome for more than a chat.

Ghost cleared her throat, adverting her gaze. "I suspect your wishes are for me to be on my way now." She rose to her paws, red eyes once again focusing on the handsome tabby. "I must say however, this has been a treat. I haven't seen another cat really since I was a kit. They've been... eradicated." She turned to leave, although she didn't really want to cut it short- she also didn't want to go back to her cold, lonely alley with the only living beings around here being twolegs, dogs, and rats. It wasn't of her choice, however, nodding farewell to Wildstar, and starting toward the way she had just come.

[wildstar.]

With a tiny dip of his head, glinting yellow eyes were watching the black-dappled she-cat. He couldn't take his gaze from her, and it wasn't because she was beautiful. No, it was because she was a loner. Plain as that, she couldn't be trusted because of her history and where she was born. It was unfair, but cats who trusted in rogues were usually turned on; a rogue was a bloodthirsty mongrel, after all. But something about this easily going, laid back she-cat told him otherwise. Ghost, despite her horrific name that shockingly matched the scenery, already seemed like a pretty well-behaved young cat. Although decoys managed to cover themselves up pretty good - who knew? Maybe she was a decoy and was trying to trick him. Ghost? No. Wildstar, you know better than to estimate cats just because of their past. What about yours? Would you fancy it if the Clans blamed you for the murder of your family? Accused you of being a decoy if they all knew about them? his mind questioned him doggedly. His heart rate steadied, and he tried his best to clear his mind. That was what the ThunderClan leader was all about - equality and fairness. Or at least tried to be, which was something he seemed to be lacking in right now. The least Ghost deserved was a chat on her visits. She had come here for something, and she only got a tiny sliver of what she probably wanted. Who knows? If he didn't give her some information of the four Clans, maybe next time she would bring her friends. She said she hadn't seen any cats for awhile. His insides were snarling at this small voice. She could be lying, he thought. Don't believe everything a rogue says to you. She is a rogue, after all. Nothing more, nothing less. Or maybe there would be a next time. That was something he certainly didn't want. He just wanted her gone from his territory and that was that. But he decided to share something with her, as much as nervousness clawed at his chest.

"Hey, Ghost?" Wildstar called to her as she turned to leave. She looked like she was hesitated, as if she wanted to stay more. It filled him, once again, with surprise. Why wouldn't a rogue want to leave when there was a powerful Clan leader standing in front of her warning her to go? But there was no denying what he'd saw in her. "If you want, you could stay for awhile longer." He hardly believed the words that were coming from his maw. "I'm sure it won't hurt anything if you do." A purr rumbled in his chest, hoping that she wouldn't think he was going crazy from being stern to friendly. "This fog should hide your scent from my warriors. ShadowClan cats," hew meowed, flicking his tail to ShadowClan's territory, "won't care if a loner like you is in ThunderClan territory. They're shadow-filled cats if I know one." He gave Ghost a welcoming wink. "And if you want," he added, settling down onto the frosty ground, "I could tell you about the Clans or a story." It was something he would be telling a kit or perhaps a young apprentice, but he would have to start slow with this rogue. She didn't understand anything about the Clans, StarClan, or the warrior code from what he saw from her. Plus, it would be nice to talk to a cat that wasn't frightened or intimidated by such a high position. A loner would probably be the perfect cat for such a conversation. "Or I could tell you about the warrior code or StarClan. Which ever you prefer," he meowed with a slight smile.

[ghostcry]

She had just nearly reached the misty tree line when the tom called out behind her. She paused as he spoke, thinking about what he had said, and his given offer. She only hesitated for a moment before spinning around, a bright look shining in her eyes. She understood in some unspoken form that her stay was only temporary, although it still excited her. She was more than eager to tag along.

Padding back to his side, she sat, listening to him speak, in a state of rapture like a kit listening to war stories. His offer was not denied, "I'd love to hear about the clans." She paused after, however, thinking about her other options, "The warrior code? StarClan? They all sound so... interesting." Her tail curled around her paws, and she seemed to lean closer, as if drawn to his stories- although she quickly caught herself and pulled back, trying to seem ultimately calm although she was simply buzzing with excitement.

"You see, when I was a kit, the populations of loners... housecats, anyone really, were killed. I just escaped, so I was rarely around cats." She shifted slightly, her gaze dropping. She told him this as if to explain her odd behavior, as if she was compelled to explain herself to him. It didn't matter, for exchange of this information from him, she felt it necessary to share a piece of herself with him. She looked up, bright eyed again, "So my stories will probably never stand up to par. Yours will be much, much more interesting."

[wildstar.]

"Yes, the warrior code and everything about the Clans are very interesting, indeed!" he meowed, a purr rumbling in his chest, and there was a small hint of sarcasm in his mew. His life was boring - but could this "Clan innocent" loner actually think that it wasn't? That is was exciting, even? She probably didn't have much things in her life that were out of the norm - catch a mouse once a day, run from a dog, manage to not be caught by a Twoleg on the streets... same old same old for a rogue. But Clan life was different. There was a battle around every corner, sickness over another, and other hardships over the next. It was all the same to Wildstar, who had lived a short almost-three years. Life for him blended in until nothing was different. Even though he had doubt about excitement in his life, he still continued, "Well, I'll tell you about all of them. First I'll start with StarClan, since they are one of the most important of anything." He paused, certainty returning to his yellow gaze. "Every cat - from the smallest kit to the oldest, blindest elder - is supposed to believe in StarClan. Although some cats think that they are a load of fox dung and don't. Hey, it happens. I personally believe in them, because I've met them. If that's not enough proof for those non-believers, than I don't know what is," Wildstar chuckled happily. "Moving on now. You're probably wondering, 'Who the heck is StarClan?' You're right to be concerned, if you are. A lot of loners and rogues don't believe in StarClan. It is probably different for you guys, after all. I wouldn't know." An encouraging smile spread across his face. He wasn't going to shove the question down her throat, but he was very curious as to where her dead ancestors went. "Basically, StarClan is the dead cats from all four Clans joined together in one Clan - there is no leader; they are all equal and treated so. Every Clan cat that has proved his or herself goes up to the stars." Any other time he would have glanced up at the night sky to take a short glance at them, but it was too foggy to.

"The cats that don't get accepted into StarClan are most likely evil cats that did something bad. Whether it be killing another cat - purposely or not - breaking the warrior code, or committing treason against one's Clan. ...I won't really go into much detail about Dark Forest cats. Truthfully, I'm not sure about them. I've never met one before, and I only know that they wander around in a night-black pine forest with no moon or stars. No prey, nothing but the company of the other evil cats. And they fight often, unlike StarClan cats." Wildstar wondered if she was absorbing all of this - it would actually be hard to in such a short period of time. "Next I'll tell you all about the Clans. Of course, we can't travel into their territory, which will be explained when I tell you about the warrior code. Where you're standing, of course, is ThunderClan territory. Where I pointed before was ShadowClan territory. They're a mean bunch of cats who'd kill anyone! You're very lucky to have not intruded there, otherwise you'd probably be gone right now. RiverClan is right next to them on the opposite side of the lake from us. They love the river, but truthfully they are fish-brains. It shows through in their fighting, too! And over there," he purred, flicking his tail over toward WindClan's grounds, "is WindClan territory. They like being in wide open spaces in the wind, and they love rolling hills. They actually aren't so bad - they're probably the most Clan alike us..." Us? "even if they don't like trees." A thunder-like sound was coming from Wildstar's throat, while he closed his eyes and basked in the moment. He allowed those two things to soak into Ghost's mind - it would need to fester there before continuing on with his story and the most important thing of all. The warrior code.

[ghostcry]

She listened, ears pricked, eyes trained on him as he explained StarClan. Of course, this didn't just sink in, it wasn't something she was suddenly an expert on. In fact, he story of them raised questions that she didn't even know if anyone could answer. She was able to sum, however, that StarClan were dead cats. On top of that, however, something tugged at her heart. Could her family be up there, among that ghostly clan? They were loners, yes, but... where else could they go. Could they be trapped in that horrific Dark Forest just because of where they were born?

When he began to explain the clans, she tried to imagine what it was like. Her gaze drifted to the dark forest of ShadowClan. The mist soaked through their trees and a stench of rotting leafmatter escaped into Wildstar's territory. Then, to RiverClan- she could smell the fishy lake from here, and imagine sleek, narcissistic cats swimming in the water like fish. WindClan was easy as well- she had seen the territory when coming in- wide, rolling hills and very little cover. Those cats either had to be brave, or idiots.

She looked back up at him, the gaze in his eyes speaking a thousand words. She was happy to be here, to learn, and he was happy to have a cat to speak to who didn't see him as "Leader" or "Cat who controls my life". He was just another cat- which was rare, for her. At the end of that discussion, she let everything soak in, pondering over what she had learned thus far, and once again, letting her eyes drift in the direction of each territory, then deeper into ThunderClan, where mice scurried and cats slept- and then up, into the fading night sky, being replaced by the rising sun that was being threatened by storm clouds building around it. Finally, she looked back to Wildstar. "And the Warrior code? What's that? And what's a warrior in the first place?"

[wildstar.]

Ghost was a loveable, sweet rogue with a different personality. Well, of course she was stranger than normal! Rogues were supposed to be bloodthirsty and mean, like the stereotype foretold! But the black dappled she-cat... just wasn't. As far as he knew her, though, which wasn't much. Even as he stared hard into her fiery red-orange eyes, nothing screamed at him evil. Other cats - such as ThunderClan warriors - would have seen her and attacked her mostly because of the loner's eyes. They truly were something odd, but maybe that signified her being true? Wildstar shook his head in confusion. All of these questions were giving him a head ache, but he allowed none of this to be shown in front of Ghost. With a purr, he thought a moment later, I've been purring a lot lately. He was being sarcastic with himself, but it was true. "A warrior," he meowed, swinging his attention back to Ghost, "is a cat, she-cat or tom, that takes care of the Clan. He or she guards it from any dangers, fights them off, and hunts to feed every single one of the members. Warriors are the most common of the positions in all four Clans. There are also queens, who are temporary retired warriors. They nurse their young until they are six moons old, then return to being a warrior. Those, obviously, can only be she-cats. Kittens that are less than six moons old are called kits. They can leave the camp, but play in it and listen to the elder's stories. The elders are forever retired from their warrior duties due to an injury, old age, or anything else that could have stopped them from that position. A leader, like myself, takes charge of the Clan and does all of the leading, with the help of a deputy. The deputy helps the Clan leader when needed, and becomes the new leader after the old one has died. He or she goes to the Moonpool to receive the nine lives from StarClan." Wildstar paused, then remembered that she wouldn't know what or where the Moonpool was. After an awkward moment of silence, Wildstar meowed, "It's just outside of our territory in WindClan territory. I can show..." You the Moonpool soon is what he was going to add before he caught himself. Ghost wasn't apart of the Clans. Ghost wasn't even apart of ThunderClan. He had to keep reminding himself that.

"Last are the apprentices. They are six moons old to about twelve moons old, sometimes they can be older if something stopped them from becoming a warrior. They have a mentor, which would be any fit warrior. They help out on hunting, fighting, and guarding, but are bossed around because they are apprentices." Wildstar chuckled lightly. "I have one of myself now. His name is Warpaw. You can..." No, she can't see him later! Wildstar quickly shook his head. What was his problem? Why did he think that Ghost was apart of his Clan? She was a loner, simple as that. It was very, very rare for one of them to join into a Clan. If they did, they usually left in a matter of time due to not being able to keep up with such hardships. The ThunderClan leader looked down at the smaller she-cat. She was kind and curious - but she wouldn't be able to adjust to Clan life. But the could still tell her about the Clans. "The warrior code... Well, the warrior code is a set of laws that us Clan cats must follow. If a law is broken, there isn't one cat that won't go unpunished. There are a bunch of rules in the warrior code, but I can explain them to you now. I have plenty of time on my paws." That was when Wildstar told the rogue about the warrior code. It took shorter than he expected to explain what every senior warrior should know. When he was done, he murmured, "Any questions?"


OOC: I went ahead and skipped the part about him explaining the warrior code to her. It would take a really long time to tell her each and every rule :C

[ghostcry]

She sat and listened, refusing to speak or interrupt, only wanting the full stories. She retained all of the information, and had no questions- although she didn't miss his mishaps. I'll show you... and the like. He was starting off, speaking as if she was there for a long while. How quickly had he gone from trying to chase her off, to almost offering to show her around clan life, introduce her to cats within his clan, cats she thought she'd never meet. It did cause some awkwardness for a few seconds, before she could immerse herself back in what he was telling her.

He went on about the warrior code, the rules and regulations all clan cats had to follow. This also fascinated her, as she had gone her entire life without borders, boundaries, or rules. This was something totally new to her, although she found herself accepting it. Rules were necessary, loners would just never follow them- not that it mattered, they were all dead for as far as she knew. One rule, however made her think. Cats cannot kill without a good purpose. Did that mean the cats who had killed her family weren't clan cats? They didn't seem to be loners at the time... She pondered this quietly until he finished and asked if she had questions- then, she couldn't help but ask.

"I do, actually... you see, when I was a kit," She started, her gaze lowering, "my family was killed. The cats who did it weren't loners, so we assumed-... I assumed, they were wild cats." Why did she seem embarrassed to speak of her assumption, suddenly burning beneath her fur? "However, you said clan cats cannot, by those rules, kill one another. These cats called themselves "decoys" and they went on to kill off all of the other loners, rogues, housecats around." At this point, she lifted her head to look at him with a confused red gaze. "Were they Clan cats or... something else?"

[wildstar.]

How was Ghost taking all of this information? If he was a loner - and thank StarClan he wasn't - then he would have been more confused than a kit under the eye of a Twoleg. Wildstar wasn't a very sympathetic cat, but somehow he felt compassion toward this white-and-black rogue. It was a different feeling than he normally would have had, and it was something that was usually unwanted. This feeling wasn't pity... more so understanding. What was it like in her paw steps, he wondered? It would probably be a colder, harsher world. The tabby leader didn't like those thoughts, so imagined something else. He thought of Ghost leaving the Clans with high hopes - only she didn't set off toward the Twolegplace out of WindClan territory. In his imagination, he saw Ghost going out of ThunderClan territory, heading north. Maybe she's seeking a better life. Perhaps she's bored of the village, since she's lived there for such a long time. She seems like a very curious young cat... Even though they were about the same age, Wildstar still thought of her as being younger since she wasn't a leader like him.

Everything faded in Ghost's red eyes, then was replaced with... nervousness? Fear? Maybe even both? But when he heard Ghost speak, it sent him into a freezing pool of icy water. It chilled him to the bone, being there. His eyes grew wider than the full moon that was out every Gathering night. The ThunderClan leader nearly yowled out to the sky, but his throat was clogged. A knot blocked him from speaking, and it brought water to his yellow eyes. Wildstar wanted so badly to just run away and leave Ghost hanging on that mere question that caused so much pain and fear running through his veins. Decoys?! This loner knows about decoys?! She knows more than any Clan cat could! What...? How! His mind was exploding, causing his tongue to loll from his mouth, ears pinned back on his skull, whiskers to tremble, tail to twitch, and eyes have a haunted, wild glaze to them. With his fur bristling, he screamed frighteningly, "What?" He was panting heavily now, and it was obvious that the tabby tom was terrified out of his pelt. She's bluffing! But how could she be lying! Only leaders and medicine cats know about decoys, so how could she? Ghost was valuable, he realized. For knowledge. But that didn't even matter to him.

"Yes, Clan cats aren't supposed to kill," Wildstar whimpered, trying to calm himself down. He tucked his head in between his shoulders, looking much like a turtle in front of a heron or any other large bird. After a long moment, Wildstar finally decided to comment again, "You say they weren't loners or rogues?" he demanded, digging his unsheathed claws into the mud. "They probably were Clan cats!" Wildstar stood up with a lash of his bushy tail. Perhaps those were the cats that had killed his former apprentice, Stormcloud, and many others? If only they could be caught... "Ghost! Do you remember what they smelled like? What did they smell like?" This was some news! But he now felt sympathy toward the rogue, which was an odd feeling. He hardly felt that toward his own Clanmates. "I... I'm sorry to hear about your family, Ghost." He sounded very sorry for her. The leader would have liked to ask her about her family and if that was why she was alone. But it already looked like she was in enough pain, and he didn't want to hurt her any more than she was. A heartbeat later, Wildstar blurted, "Ghost, you're a very valuable cat. You know some things that no other cat in the world knows. I'm just going to openly admit that right now." He felt a bit uncomfortable now, but he was also filled with fear, awe, and excitement. Perhaps the decoys could be stopped thanks to Ghost. But... "I believe that these cats were apart of a Clan. Which Clan they belong to will probably never be known, unless you can recall their scent. Decoys are a problem here, too, if you haven't guessed already. That's... that's why I was so afraid when you told me. When I received my nine lives, StarClan gave me a warning of danger from them. Truthfully, I was terrified. I told no one, but it looks like I can share my fears." His eyes flashed like warming ice. "With you." He stared unblinkingly into the set of orange-red eyes before him. A moment later, he murmured, "Ghost..." But he couldn't speak anymore because that lump in his throat had grown.

[ghostcry]

His reaction was sudden, and she was completely unprepared for it. He puffed up, drew back, his ears pinned and he looked as if he had seen a... ah, well, ghost. Ghost herself recoiled from his sudden fear, crouching low as if she was currently threatened, although part of her screamed that she wasn't. What had she said? Decoys? Was that an issue in the Clan life, or was the talk of death worrying him? He slowly recovered, and she allowed herself to do the same- but only for a moment, before he burst forth again, rallying her with questions.

Her first reaction was to stay quiet- why on earth did he need to know all this? Why did she need to answer? He continued on- but it was at such a pace, that she could only stay silent and watch him as he seemed to think and question, continue and not wait for any form of an answer. When he began to calm and speak more rationally, she straightened up, taking a deep breath to calm herself. In a moment, she had regained her composure, her head high and calm, watching him with a steady red gaze, focusing in on his questions and noting everything he asked. Suddenly, his gaze warmed, he quieted, and stared at her. It was heart melting- how long had this cat had no one to talk about his fears with? These monstrous decoys? He spoke her name softly, as if she was going to disappear in an instant, and he would have no one to share his horrors with. It gave her the strength to speak again.

"I understand, Wildstar, how it feels to be alone. I know it in a physical sense, as I've been alone for a long while. You have had no one to confide in it seems." She murmured, feeling her own sympathy for the tom. "And sometimes, that's all it takes to be alone." She took a deep, steadying breath, and met his gaze firmly, "I do in fact know of these decoys. I know what they are capable of, and now I know they reside within these woods. As for the scent... my memory fails me, and I am unfamiliar with the scents of the four clans, but I can assure you, they didn't all sell the same. Wildstar, I believe decoys are within all of the clans- friends, family- I think anyone could be one, and... I believe cats will die. If they were able to take out every loner, kittypet, all of them, its only a matter of time before they wipe out the clans."

[wildstar.]

The hard painful lump in his throat hadn't gone away - in fact, it had worsened. It was getting hard for him to breathe now, so it felt like he was choking on his own tongue. It was a very unpleasant feeling. His throat was itchy, almost making him cough. Licking his lips, Wildstar swung his gaze up to the sky. Right as he did, everything faded and the pain died. It was very relieving. Much to his surprise, the ghostly fog was starting to disappear under the bright, watchful eye of the moon. He could actually see the distant, small stars that twinkled very dimly. The ThunderClan leader could smell dawn in the air - he occasionally heard a small chirp of a robin. In the horizon, far off east, there was a fine line of purple-pink. It was actually very pretty. But it was no time to go sight-seeing. Ghost and him were talking about something vitally important to all cats of the four Clans. Decoys were something else - and that something else was very dangerous. A shiver of fear made an earthquake of his spine, rattling his entire body with nervous tapping. Decoys were in all Clans. Every leader and medicine cat knew that; it was inevitable for them not to be. But the thought still sent him cold, made him icy cold. It was a different feeling, something he hated having. He and Ghost, besides and decoys themselves, were the only two that knew about decoys. He wasn't alone anymore. I'm not alone anymore... he thought. It was a good one.

"Yes, I understand. You were a rogue, after all. I mean, are." He shuffled his paws, barely catching his mistake. Why did he keep messing up? It wasn't like him to stumble. "I didn't until you came along. And I'm glad you did. Now I finally have someone to talk to with about decoys. It's nice to know that... I mean, the other cats are nice and all. The ones in my Clan. But I could never tell them about decoys; they would probably make an even bigger deal about it and blow the situation up. If they told just one cat, it could turn into a wildfire, and soon the whole Clan would know. That's what I'm afraid of," Wildstar meowed certainly. "Ghost, you must promise me that you won't tell anyone you meet about decoys. Even... even if you don't want to be a rogue anymore and decide to go elsewhere in life. It's important for me that you keep this a secret. So... do you promise, Ghost?" He gave her a reassuring smile. Perhaps that would ensure her to keep her mouth shut. As he thought about the white-and-black she-cat leaving, he felt a bit crestfallen and melancholy. But it was nearly time. Once patrols were sent out, cats would smell her horrid scent. Suspision would rise, and Ghost would be in trouble. She had to go.

What she said about the decoys wiping out the Clans and all of the wildcats for that matter, it made another shiver run down his back, and fear strike his heart. No! His yellow eyes flashed icyly. "What you say is true. Although I've been dreading that, it is. I'm sure if every cat knew it then they would think the same. That's another reason why this and decoys must remain a secret." His eyes were now pleading. Although he didn't want Ghost to know this, it was obvious. The fate of the four Clans partly rested in her paws. All of it was reflected in his golden gaze, anyone could see it. Maybe even if they were blind. With another look at the brightening sky, Wildstar murmured tiredly, "It looks like it's almost time for you to go." The fog was still blurring his vision, but he'd be able to give Ghost an escort back home. Or wherever she wanted to go. Maybe she wanted to turn loner and just head north instead of going back to the Twolegplace. Whatever it may be, Wildstar was there to help her back home. She'd given him some information on decoys, so he felt like he owed her something, too.