An Odd Exchange

[Yoko]

Dawn was just breaking, and yet the sky over the Four Oak trees was pale and light. Beneath it lay the dark forest, where prey russeled amongsy the shadowy plants. Specklestar led Whiteheart and Icepelt along in silence. Surely she herself was no more than a long, flowing shade amongst the leaves.

They had crossed under Thunderpath already and were climbing the hill that was their section of territory. Only three nights before they had gone this same route for a Gathering, a time of peace. Hopefully, this exchange would hold under the same truce. She would uphold her end at least. So long as everything was in order.

Specklestar paused on the crest of the hill, still hidden by morning darkness and shadow. She peered down at the clearing. Empty. WindClan had not shown up yet. Specklestar flicked her tail for her two trusted warriors to halt. She was not going down there to look eager and weak in the open. She would wait for Ravenstar, or his warriors, to show themselves first. She opened her mouth to scent the air, making sure that it WindClan's scent was not fresh. There was only a faint hint of it blowing in from the moor.

"We wait," she mewed quietly, her emerald eyes flashing cunningly as she looked back at Whiteheart and Icepelt.

[Kitty]

Icepelt followed his leader through the territory - through the wet marshes, past the Thunderpath, all the way to Fourtrees. As usual when he was out and about the territory, his pelt was now muddy. Unsurprising, considering they lived in a marsh. It was nearly impossible to keep his white pelt clean. Ah, well. He'd clean himself later. Perhaps when they were waiting for WindClan to show up with the kits.

They reached Fourtrees and WindClan had yet to arrive - but, then again, they were a bit early. There was time still. He gave a nod. "Okay, Specklestar," he meowed, and sat down. He was oddly muddier than usual today - maybe it was because he'd gotten his paw stuck in a spot of mud and tripped (how embarrassing, a senior warrior, falling?!). With a shrug, he set out to remove all traces of mud from his fur while they waited for the WindClan cats.

[Yoko]

The leader of ShadowClan sat tall in the shadows of morning light. Her long slender tail wrapped easily around her paws but she continued to curl and unfurl it as waves of excitement passed through her. She was going to get what she had demanded. Never before had it seemed so simple. Perhaps Old Gorsestorm had a point. There was no need for war, she could simply demand ThunderClan's land. If WindClan was too frightened to challenge her, surely the ThunderClan cats would throw themselves off a cliff rather than face the mass of fierce warriors just across their border.

Already, Specklestar was devising many ways that she could claim the land that her soon to be starving Clan so desparately needed. She could send Snaketail and his brothers. Or, maybe just line all her warriors up along the border and shout the message at a border patrol, that Ashstar should surrender a portion of the land or be overrun. Or better yet, maybe she could taunt them into attacking, and claim the land as reparations after the battle. So many clever ways to go about it! Her tail flickered across the forest floor, and her green eyes glinted with excitement.

...But as time wore on, her excitment dulled. She sat with a content smile fixed on her face, trying to force herself to keep being happy, but she could hardly hide the irritated expression on her face. The morning wore on, and Dawn was behind them. Dawn Patrol could be returning to camp any moment now. Dustpaw would be wondering about her training today. Specklestar's tail tip twiched and at last she dropped the false smile in favor of a snarl.

"Where is he?" she hissed under her breath, deadly serious.

[. s p o r e l e t t ♪]

His warriors were following him, Willowstar was there as well, and both of the kits were either walking or being carried towards their destination. Ravenstar padded quickly over the moors, keeping his pace moderate so that the RiverClan cats and kits could keep up, but nevertheless progressing at a rapid pace. The sun had long-since cleared the horizon, and the sky was pale and blue like a robin's egg. Specklestar would be suspicious and impatient, and it was best that they get there as soon as possible.

They reached Fourtrees swiftly, and the black tom paused briefly at the top of the rise to look for ShadowClan. At first his hackles began to rise when he saw that there was no one in the clearing, but then he spotted Specklestar and two warriors sitting at the crest of the slope that led from their territory. He hoped that there were only the three of them there, and that no other cats were hiding in the shadows, but there was no point in lingering at the top of the hill.

With a glance at Willowstar, he sprang agilely down the rocky slope that led down from the moors and arrived at the flat, even bottom of the clearing. The four trees cast the hollow into deep shadow, but it was still more than bright enough to see clearly. To reach them, the ShadowClan cats would have to walk down a bare slope; they would have plenty of warning if Specklestar and her patrol were not as alone as they appeared.

[Kitty]

That was a very good question.

Icepelt had been excited, tail-tip twitcihng anxiously as he awaited WindClan with his leader and Whiteheart. But as time wore on, he grew more and more irritated that WindClan had yet to make their appearance. Where in the name of StarClan were those cats with their kits?! Amber eyes were watching out for any movement, any sign of life from the direction of WindClan's territory. He had better things to do than sit there and wait for Ravenstar to show up! He had an apprentice to train!

Finally, after what seemed like all day, Icepelt caught a glimpse of movement up on the ridge leading to WindClan territory. Ravenstar. At last!

"Specklestar, there are here at last," he murmured to his leader, nudging the she-cat and gesturing with her muzzle to the black tom. WindClan's leader bounded down the hill, and Icepelt was surprised to smell RiverClan as well when he rose to his paws to scent the air. His hackles bristled. "What's RiverClan doing here?" he muttered, looking down at Ravenstar standing in the shadow of Fourtrees.

Cindertail followed along behind Willowstar and the WindClan cats, lingering near Leopardfang all the way through WindClan territory. While the land was not unfamiliar, she wasn't exactly comfortable with it. She'd been here a few times, of course - on the trip to the Moonstone that every apprentice made at one point in their apprenticeship before becoming a warrior many moons ago, and she'd even snuck in with her apprentice friends a couple times (namely Leopardfang). Even so, she hadn't been here for many moons. Not sicne she was a younger, more foolish warrior.

It wasn't long before they were across the grassy moors and reaching Fourtrees. Ravenstar bounded up the slope and paused at the top just like the leaders did at Gatherings. After a couple heartbeats in which he glanced back at the cats following him, he bounded down the slope and into the shadows of the four great oaks. Cindertail wasn't about to follow him, though. She was going to wait for Willowstar's orders. ShadowClan were there, obviously waiting for WindClan. Specklestar was there along with two of her warriors - Icepelt and Whiteheart, she thought. She obviously wasn't expecting what WindClan had brought with them.

Gingertail padded along with the crowd across the grassy moors of WindClan's territory. She stuck nearby Dustfur - beside him actually. She eyed the poor kit hanging from Dustfur's jaws quite frequently the whole trip there pityingly. Poor little she-kit, being taking from her mother and her siblings. She still had one with her, though, and hopefully they would help eachother and be there for eachother. They were probably going to be the only familiar things in their new Clan, except perhaps their father.

It didn't take very long to reach Fourtrees, but it seemed like moons to Gingertail, with Dustfur carrying that kit right next to her...ugh. This was a huge mess! How could a mother decide to part with so many of her kits like this? She obviously regretted it - the ginger she-cat had noted that back in WindClan's camp. Rivermist wasn't happy about two of her kits leaving WindClan, and there were still four more to go.

They reached the hill and Ravenstar headed down it to sit in the shadow of the great oaks, obviously expecting the others to follow him. Gingertail hesitated at the top of the slope, and then decided to remain beside Dustfur - one of her favorite cats out of all of them there. She would go down when he and that kit did.

[Yoko]

Specklestar looked up. It had taken so long for them to arrive that she had curled up and started calculating how she would care for these WindClan kits. They would need cats to look after them, and have to be protected from hostile clanmates. Punishments would need to be severe to keep certain cats from teasing and harassing them. It would be difficult at first, but like Foxfur, she expected they would prove themselves and be accepted soon enough.

There was no attempt to hide her frustration now. She rose and glared down the slope. Her eyes narrowed as she recognized, as Icepelt had said, that Willowstar was present also. With an impatient tail gesture, she signalled her two warriors to follow.

She did not appear to run but rather to glide smoothly down the slope. The late morning light filtering through the canopy fell brilliant patterns onto her golden spotted pelt. As she reached the base of the slope, her face passed through a patch of sunlight, her green eyes flashed emerald as she fixed them upon Ravenstar, whom she knew had somehow betrayed her deal.

Suddenly, there was shadow again. Even in the blocked light, the hard expression on her muzzle and the silent rage of her eyes were quite noticeable.

"Ravenstar," she hissed, just repressing a snarl. Her stance was tall and steady, not one of attack. Not yet that is. "What is the meaning of this?! Why is Willowstar present?"

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

((Psst, Heathertail isn't with them, she stayed back at camp. ;3))

Whiteheart crouched at the edge of the hill, peeking occasionally into the large empty hollow. Her splotched pelt was mostly hidden by the thick undergrowth and she stayed very quiet, all to assure that no other cats in the area would notice them there, and so that when WindClan arrived they would make sure it was safe before going down to meet them.

As the minutes dragged on they remained waiting, and eventually the ShadowClan warrior had to wonder if WindClan would be late. She shrunk a little lower to the ground at Specklestar's snarl, and trained her bright yellow eyes on the moors across from the hollow, anxiously wondering whether they were going to show up. Oh, there they are. she thought when she finally saw cats appearing and moving down into the hollow. She picked up the scent of WindClan, but to her surprise RiverClan as well. A look of shock came over her face when she recognized Willowstar among the cats leading the large group into Fourtrees. "What's going on?" she whispered in the same suspicious tone as Icepelt, but nowhere near as aggressive. She could already feel herself fading back, knowing how inferior their three-cat group would look standing off to the several RiverClan and WindClan cats. But Specklestar was already signaling for them to follow and descending to the forest floor. Whiteheart picked herself up and scrambled up some courage and followed her leader into the hollow.

She could tell Specklestar felt angry and ambushed. The other two leaders had brought many cats and didn't appear as if they were thinking of cooperating. Whiteheart spotted two kits among them, kits who would hopefully be ShadowClan's new members. But why only two? Hadn't Specklestar and Ravenstar agreed on four?



As the large patrol approached Fourtrees, Willowstar slowed her pace and quieted her steps. Ears and nose alert, she climbed up the slope with Ravenstar until she could look over the edge and into the hollow. Where in the world are they? Was the first thought that crossed her mind when she saw the deserted place. ShadowClan were supposed to be here by now, right? She returned Ravenstar's glance and when he sprang over the edge, she hesitated for a heartbeat. Then she was right behind him, signaling for her cats to follow her, and bounded down the slope.

So there they are, she silently remarked as she saw the ShadowClan cats appear from the other ridge. Specklestar was at the lead and had two cats with her. Two, that was it? Willowstar barely contained her shock when she saw the small patrol. Truthfully the RiverClan leader had expected more, at least a reasonably sized patrol to assure that the deal would still go through. That was why she had brought her deputy and two senior warriors along with her. But this was for the best; things would go more smoothly when Specklestar realized there would be no point in fighting. The three ShadowClan cats wouldn't stand a chance against them. Unless there were more cats hiding in the bushes- in that case she would watch her tongue.

Willowstar just watched Specklestar with a bit of a smirk on her face, a look that clearly said, I win. She would let Ravenstar to the explaining for now, but she still relished in the irony of the moment.

Carrying the three-moon-old kit had started to tire the warrior out by the time they reached Fourtrees. His neck ached and he was almost certain his grip on Sandkit's scruff was loosening. Dustfur waited as the leaders observed the area, unable to see the hollow from where he was. When Ravenstar started to lead the cats down, the gray tom followed along with the rest of the cats, carefully picking his way down the slope until he stood on the soft floor of the familiar clearing.

He placed Sandkit down gratefully and glanced around. Specklestar didn't appear pleased; she hadn't been expecting RiverClan to come, had she? He glanced at Gingertail, still staying near her, and wondered what would happen. The confrontation was already starting, but hopefully things would resolve peacefully. They were already getting two kits, so that was good enough, right?

Sandkit felt soft grass beneath her as she was placed down. Unfamiliar scents came at her and she looked around, hoping Swiftkit was still near. Even in her state, as confused and dull and defeated as she was, she couldn't help but look up at the four huge trees surrounding them. Were those the Great Oaks? If so, this must be Fourtrees. This wasn't right, she was supposed to see Fourtrees when she became an apprentice and it was the Gathering, not now. With a sinking feeling in her heart she remembered that this was different. Her life was changing and those three cats over there were probably the ShadowClan cats coming to take her away. Training her eyes once more on the ground, she listened but wished she could shut her ears completely.

[:c a i:]

To her surprise, Skytail noted that Swiftkit had indeed walked the whole way to Fourtrees on his own without so much as a word. He was silent, actually. Almost worryingly so. But, she reasoned, it was hardly surprising that he was feeling down. After all, his life was being changed for him. With a sigh, she looked down at the two kits, but soon her attention was taken by the fact that they had indeed arrived at Fourtrees. And there was Specklestar. She did not look best pleased. Skytail frowned and gently guided Swiftkit to sit next to Sandkit before padding lightly up to sit just behind Ravenstar, watching the other Clan's cats solemnly. The meeting had begun in earnest.

All the fight seemed to have vanished from Swiftkit. He had long since stopped shouting or resisting. Now he was simply passive, almost as if he were in a trance. He barely registered the fact that he was now in the famed Fourtrees, and if he had seen the great oak trees for any other reason, he might have been beside himself with excitement. Instead he felt empty; unable to really care that this should be a great moment. He was tired from walking and he felt sick, completely and utterly sick. How could his mother have given him away so willingly? Chosen to let him and his sister be pushed away like they didn't matter at all? WindClan didn't him. His family didn't want him. What did that leave him with? [/size][/blockquote]

[. s p o r e l e t t ♪]

Ravenstar waited patiently as Specklestar and her warriors made their way down the slope towards them. Both of the kits seemed to be behaving themselves now, which was for the best, as it meant that they wouldn't have to hold their discussion over the cries of rebellious young cats. He wondered briefly if they realized who the ShadowClan leader and her escort were, and what they would do when the time came for them to go back with them. But that was for Specklestar to worry about; by that point it would be out of his paws.

Well, the ShadowClan leader did not look pleased in the least about his unexpected company, no she did not. Ravenstar suppressed the smirk that wanted to appear on his face, deciding that he didn't need to push the she-cat any closer to the edge than she already was. It would be interesting to watch the explosion, but his Clan didn't need any more trouble than they were already asking for. "Specklestar," he greeted calmly, as if they were leaders talking calmly at a Gathering. "I apologize for my lateness. I had things to discuss with the other leaders that could not wait.

"As you can see," he continued, "Willowstar has accompanied me here so she could speak to you as well. Upon further deliberation, both she and Rivermist have agreed that the kits should be split between all four Clans, as they have the blood of all four running through them. Ashstar has not given he her reply as of yet, but I am sure she will be agreeable." Now Ravenstar did allow himself a smile, a polite mask that matched his amiable and reasonable tone. But his eyes were cunning. "As a result, I can only deliver two of the four promised kits for you to raise. But I am sure you understand why it cannot be any other way."

[Yoko]

Specklestar listened to Ravenstar but blood was roaring in her ears. As she stared at his rather smug face, she imagined the pleasure of striking it with her claws...repeatedly. When he was finished, she had to close her eyes briefly and take two slow deep breaths. Her mind was whirling, and she had to fight her instincts to lash out in outrage. This was a time of peace...for now.

She opened her eyes and her green eyes flashed fiery. "Ravenstar," she mewed, her tone slicing the air, "surely you realize how pathetic it is that you cannot even uphold a promise you made on the Sacred Night of the Gathering?"

She let the insult hang, but she knew there was no point in fighting it. Willowstar's patrol plus Ravenstar's own far outnumbered her. Her Clan was in no shape for a long war with two, maybe three, clans. But she was not one to forgive, or forget. Never again would WindClan have her trust. She would be sharper in the future and merciless if their fate should ever fall into her claws.

Quickly she added, "However, since you have gone and proven that you can't be trusted already, I don't expect you'll bring the other two. Icepelt, Whiteheart, take them. And Ravenstar," she glared hotly at him, letting the rage boil in her emerald eyes. "I will never forget this."

[Kitty]

Cindertail listened to the WindClan leader explain his tardiness, keeping an emotionless mask in place. She watched Specklestar's reaction warily, and for one scary moment it seemed that the ShadowClan leader teetered between keeping her promise and lashing out at the WindClan leader's face, claws unsheathed. After a couple heartbeats, the she-cat chose the former, instead insulting Ravenstar, then ordering her warriors to take the kits.

Her parting words were menacing, and Cindertail had no doubt that she was telling the truth. "I will never forget this."

Icepelt's hackles raised as Ravenstar spoke. The nerve of that filthy WindClan crowfood, going back on a promise that cats from all four Clans were there to witness! Telling the other two leaders about this before even consulting ShadowClan was an outrage! The white senior warrior felt the urge to leap at the black leader and claw that smug expression off his face, like a younger and more foolish tom might have done. But instead, he kept himself composed, and he appeared merely angry instead of outraged.

Glaring at the WindClan cats, Icepelt dipped his head at his leader's orders, and he went over to the WindClan warrior whom he thought to be named Dustfur and took the ginger she-kit from him. His amber eyes, in which you could usually locate at least a touch of warmth, now showed none, only an icy coolness.

As he returned to his leader's side, kit in hand, he knew that what Specklestar said was true. They would never forget the wrong WindClan had done them, and with the other two Clans' aid, too. Never.

While other cats' expressions showed anger, smugness, or calm, Gingertail's showed just about one thing as the little exchange between leaders went on. Fear.

And when that whtie ShadowClan cat headed her way, eyes burning with anger, she automatically sheid away to hide behind Dustfur. But the tom - Gingertail thought his name was Icepelt - only took the kit from Dustfur, shooting the WindClan cat a glare as he did so. She was too preoccupied with the ShadowClan cats' angry glares to catch what Specklestar's last words were, but had she, she would have buried her nose into Dustfur's pelt as if to hide from the threat they carried.

[☆ Y e l l o w ☆]

Whiteheart, predictably, stayed silent. Not even a hushed gasp of disbelief escaped as she listened to the two leaders. The anger, tension and the challenging air between Specklestar and Ravenstar was almost visible, and the warrior flattened her ears against her head as if trying to shrink away. She was afraid of Specklestar getting too angry, and that she would order an attack right then and there. They wouldn't stand a chance. She was also afraid that her leader would remain angry, and plot to get revenge. Wasn't attacking ThunderClan enough?

She was distracted from her worrying when Icepelt started to move forward. Whiteheart quickly joined him, then after watching him pick up the ginger kit, she bent down to take the black tom. Her eyes held sadness and sympathy for the kit, being suddenly taken from his home and mother. At least he would have his sister and his father. She prayed that they would adjust well to ShadowClan.

"No..." Sandkit murmured, her voice scratchy and faint. She saw the ShadowClan tom come over to her and protested when he started to pick her up. She struggled against his grip as she felt herself being picked up, but it was no use against the warrior's strength. Her legs dangled helplessly as she was scruffed and taken to the other side of the hollow. Was this it? She was never going to see WindClan again? Her mind was too beaten and exhausted to think.

Dustfur glanced over as Gingertail moved behind him. He gave her a sympathetic look, noticing that she almost looked scared. But what was she scared of? ShadowClan? Specklestar was beyond furious but he had a feeling most of her anger was directed at WindClan. He himself was unnerved by her threat to Ravenstar, but at least they had succeeded in avoiding a fight now. Having RiverClan here had been a good thing; Dustfur didn't know what Specklestar would have done if had been just WindClan. Maybe she would have even dared to attack. Dustfur looked back over as the white tom came to pick up Sandkit. He was caught off guard by the icy glare the other tom gave him and glanced at the ground. At least this was over with.

Willowstar was surprised at how quickly it went. Specklestar was obviously seething at the fact that Ravenstar had tricked her, but she seemed to agree anyway. That had been simple. The RiverClan leader was willing to guess that it was because Specklestar had so few cats with her at the moment, she was unwilling to risk angering them. Oh, well. The kits were being brought over by the ShadowClan cats and soon this meeting would be over. She kept her eyes on Specklestar, waiting for her to leave first before the other two Clans.

[Ki]

Leopardfang had stayed close to his mate as they traversed WindClan's territory. He didn't like it at all. It was too open and too dry. And too windy, for that matter. His sleek short fur was good for swimming and drying quickly once he was out of the water. Not for protecting him against the winds. How did WindClan stand it? Leopardfang was almost certain that ShadowClan would bring a large patrol. So he wanted to make sure that Cindertail did not get injured. Yet ShadowClan surprised him yet again: they brought a small patrol. He flicked his tail as Specklestar spoke. There was a tense moment where it seemed she might attack Ravenstar. In this moment Leopardfang unsheathed his claws, just in case. But Specklestar settled for simply insulting Ravenstar.

Yet her parting words were laced with menace. Specklestar meant what she said, he had no doubt.

[. s p o r e l e t t ♪]

Ravenstar let Specklestar have her moment without interrupting; he saw no need to cut in and steal her attention when that was all that she had left at the moment. There was nothing else she could do but make idle insults and veiled threats, and they both knew it. But her insults, to him, were less than nothing. They only served as an opening for him to plant his own barbs.

"To the contrary, Specklestar, I have kept my word to you perfectly." He corrected her politely, but with a faint undercurrent of exaggerated patience, as if he was explaining something to a kit. "I announced that I would speak with Rivermist and meet you here in three sunrises with WindClan's decision. As you can see, not only am I here, but I have brought with me two WindClan kits to return with you to your camp."

As usual, the small tom was keeping his composure, though the ShadowClan cats were all but hissing with rage. One might have thought that his face was as mocking as Willowstar's was smug from their enraged indignation, but this was not the case. To any cat who was watching, he would have appeared the picture of considerate calm. After barely a moment's pause, Ravenstar dipped his head briefly in his own farewell. "Wind Clan accepts your recognition of your debt to us," he answered her final comment with mocking formality. "Two of your kits returned to you, and then another two given freely in the space of three days. I shan't forget either, Specklestar."

Not waiting for a response, the thin WindClan cat whirled around and strode away from the meeting, signaling with his tail for his cats to follow him. Willowstar could, of course, remain if she wished; he held no dominion over the leader of RiverClan. But he couldn't see why she would want to linger. The ShadowClan cats would surely be seething even more now, and besides... there were important matters that they still had yet to discuss back at camp.

[:c a i:]

Seeing a ShadowClan warrior approach him with her horrible ShadowClan reek, Swiftkit recoiled away and dodged her attempts to scoop him up in the same way Sandkit had been. He curled his lip in a scowl at her, warning her away from him, his tiny features contorting angrily. He lashed his tail as he stalked round the she-cat, making to cross the hollow himself. He would not put himself in the jaws of a ShadowClan cat. It was not that he was putting up any more of a fight about being pushed out of WindClan, because he could now see that it was futile. The fact that Rivermist and Ravenstar had wanted to get rid of him and Sandkit had changed his attitude towards the situation. He would go to ShadowClan. He would not like it, but he would go.

As he walked, Swiftkit turned his head to fling one last gaze, full of resentment, at his leader - former leader - before he turned his back on his Clan for good. I will never forget this either. He thought coldly, burying his hurt, fear and confusion beneath a layer of frostiness. He barely heard what more was said, for he stood now with aloofness in his expression and the scent of the shadows rapidly engulfing him, infiltrating his fur and taking over the familiar scents of home. As he watched his old Clanmates stream away as if carried by the wind itself, Swiftkit's sorrow fought its way back to the surface. His ties to WindClan were severed completely.

[/size][/blockquote]