Wood for the Fire

[lakeripple]

At Wildheart's words, Flashpaw's heart leaped in hope. It would make no sense for EarthClan to be helping Berrydapple if they had been plotting! He knew that Burningstar must see it too. But being left alone with Foxcloud did nothing to sooth him. His heart raced. Foxcloud would drop her act now.

[icefeather]

"Flashpaw!" hissed Silentpaw. "We'll make Burningstar believe you sooner or later. Foxcloud can't keep this up forever, you know."

[~*Pikeru]

OOC: Ugh...GRANDson. Must have been thinking of Forestfur! I was close though, right? <_<"


IC: The sudden word angered Foxcloud. Burningstar leaving to listen to Wildheart's words didn't make her happy either. The she-cat's tail twitched with great frustration and bound up anger. Her sharp yellow eyes whipped around and dug into Flashpaw's fur. Claws itching to be used on his small neck. Foxcloud's equally sharp pink tongue rolled over her front canines before she hissed in a low tone so no other cat could hear them within the leader's den. "Listen to these words, you little peace of dirt! A Fox will lead the Fire to great things in this land of five. Thus the Fox will guide the Burning of a star to such a fate as great." The she-cat's words may be confusing to an apprentice, but they were clear to her. As the deputy's words ended, she gave a final twisted grin. For in the time it took to say those words, she had thought up many reasons to explain Berrydapple.

Calmly, Foxcloud flicked up her tail tauntingly to Flashpaw, and strolled out the leaders den. Her act rising to shield the true harsh nature as Burningstar came into view. She paused at the entrance, blocking Flashpaw's possible escape from within. The Fireclan deputy's yellow eyes reflected equal concern for the Fireclan warrior, which visibly startled most of the cats crowded to hear Wildheart's news. "No! Not Berrydapple! Starclan save her soul..." Foxcloud's voice quivered as she spoke the last words. "Don't be fooled, Wildheart! Treestar has plans for our trusted warrior. By now, he must have noticed his little spy hasn't come back with any news. She is bound to be their own captive by now. Burningstar! We must do something before she is harmed! One kind Earthclan warrior can not changed Treestar's possible dark intentions." Foxcloud turned her worried eyes to Burningstar at word of his name. She attempted to lock them with his, and beg greatly from within for action to save the warrior.

[lakeripple]

Flashpaw flinched. Her words seemed obvious enough. Foxcloud planned to take over FireClan, and make it the most powerful Clan. His heart beat loudly, in his stomach. He didn't even glance up at Silentpaw's words. All he could think was that he was doomed.

[Spottedshadow]

Dreampaw gazed past the two kind warriors. Foxcloud has just emerged from Burningstar's den. What had they done with Flashpaw? She wanted to find out so bad, but she help her position in the tree. Foxcloud or any other warrior still hadn't seen her. So maybe she would get Flashpaw out after all! Even some Fireclan warriors didn't like what Foxcloud was doing, so she could have help.

[icefeather]

Wildheart's eyes lowered. She knew her clan must thought she was an idiot. Leaving her own denmate in an enemy clan....

Silentpaw's dark black pelt rippled in anger and frusteration. He stood up bravely and faced Foxcloud right in her beady little evil eyes. "It wasn't Wildheart's fault!" he meowed, his voice not sounding like his own. It was contorted by anger. "Berrydapple would've died if she didn't leave them there. We would know that EarthClan would be truly evil if they had just thrown her out and make us drag her back to camp. She would be hunting in the lands of StarClan by now, so why would they wait to kill her? It doesn't make any sense!"

His eyes darted away, feeling nervous. There was an explanation for keeping her there. Maybe they would threaten to kill Berrydapple or keep her hostage forever and not give her back for us to give them part of our territory, or hunt for them. He hoped his plan would work, and hope Foxcloud wasn't a mind reader. "Surely, Burningstar," he meowed, turning to his leader, "I do not think even you would understand. I sure don't!"

Please, he pleaded, his eyes following up to the stars of Silverpelt, Let them not think of the other possibilities! The fate of the forest depends on their answers!

He hoped with all his heart that StarClan heard his quick prayers. He caught a glance to Wildheart and found her staring at their leade with eyes so bright, they almost glowed. Was it... hope?

OOC: crush their hope, Foxcloud! crush it! MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!

[~*Pikeru]

OOC: *mad laughter* A pleasure! >XD



IC: Foxcloud broke her gaze from Burningstar -that is, if she had had it- and turned to Silentpaw and frowned. The deputy's yellow eyes sharpened only for a heartbeat, before relaxing once more. Her words were forceably calm. "I never blamed Wildheart for what happened to Berrydapple. I'm simply pointing out that Treestar may think of keeping her now that we have Flashpaw! Now, think little one. Why allow your prisoner to die? Of course he will treat her scratches! What use would she be to him dead?"

Foxcloud flicked her fox red tail twice, before turning back to Burningstar. She kept herself firmly in the entrence of the leader's den. Her spine pricked a bit as she imagined Flashpaw still inside, straining his little ears and eyes to hear and see his fate. "Flashpaw has some point deep within his words, though. He might demand territory or us to hand over our prey for her return! Just so his warriors can be strong and plump while we remain weak with hunger. He proubly plans to attack as revenge." Foxcloud's sharp yellow eyes darkened with horror at her last words. A skill she had learned with her lying. Fake sorrow and horror went a long way.

Though it wasn't ALL fake. Foxcloud feared truely for her clan, and would rather die then see them weak and starving while Treestar and the hole of Earthclan smacked them over with one gentle paw.

[lakeripple]

Flashpaw walked up the path, and wiggled lithely past Foxcloud. He flinched from her and sat down angrily, showing that he wouldn't run. Flattening his ears, he bravely repeated in his head that she wouldn't hurt him with so may cats around. Once again, he turned his head and licked his shoulder free of grit.

[~*Pikeru]

Foxcloud's stomach flipped with annoyance at the sight of Flashpaw in her side vision. She gaze him a breif sideways glance of warning. No cat will stop me from breaking your neck when you are all alone... Her dark mind cooed playfully to the apprentice threw her eyes.


OOC: Foxcloud's evilness is fun. =P

[lakeripple]

Flashpaw shivered, feeling Foxcloud's hard gaze, but kept his eyes averted.

[~*Snowstep]

Burningstar rested his eyes on all of them; Foxcloud, Wildheart, and Silentpaw, for equal amounts of him. His amber eyes seemed thoughtful as he pieced the puzzle in his head, aware of all the cats' reactions. He couldn't understand the surprise of half the clan when Foxcloud came out, worried about being attacked, and for Berrydapple.

He didn't take too long to figure things out in his mind. but the thing is, he wasn't at the battle site; he didn't know what was true and what wasn't.

In the end, seemingly like all cats were drowning in suspense, Burningstar nodded. His eyes returned to his loyal (LOL) deputy, "Foxcloud, you knew precicely what happened and lead the battle well. You are right; we will not stand having Earthclan trying to take over." He noticed a couple gasps from the clan, but his eyes were still on Foxcloud, full of trust. "What do you suppose Fireclan should do?"

Although it was unintended, it sounded like the leader was putting the whole clan into Foxcloud's paws... or claws.

[lakeripple]

Flashpaw shivered, and his eyes clouded over. He felt all heat leave his body, and desperately wanted to cry. Holding them back, he looked around the camp at the stunned faces, and groaned as Dreampaw was still hiding.

[Glyph]

Redwing suddenly snorted loudly, startling a couple of (NPC) apprentices who had been intently listening to the exchange. The young tom had been at the battle; he had seen Treestar's condition. Make FireClan weak while they were strong and plump--bah! Their leader had barely had the strength to lift his claws in defense, let alone enough to rally a territory siege, and his Clan hadn't looked that much better off.

The ginger and white tom growled to himself as Foxcloud's words began to strike a sour chord in his heart. Sure, some of her concerns were believable, and he even shared a few of them, but the she-cat seemed to have an explanation for everything. It just didn't sit right with him.

[icefeather]

Fox dung! Silentpaw cursed inside his head. Everything has been going wrong! Wildheart's crushed and lost faith in StarClan, Berrydapple is in an enemy camp, and Flashpaw is held hostage... by... by us!

Had Foxcloud planned this in advance? Had she wrought to ruin this clan and make it turn evil?

Was she born this way?

Silentpaw couldn't understand how a cat could be so evil

His eyes narrowed at Foxcloud's fake understanding and niceness and he stalked away, his tail treading on the dirty floor. He pressed his head into Wildheart's neck and whispered soothingly, "I'm sorry I couldn't try harder." Wildheart turned her head to him and answered, her voice cracking as a tear slipped down her cheek, "It's not your fault. And Foxcloud's words are sort of true. We did just attack them and make them angry. There is a possibility that Berrydapple could be held hostage... and it's all my fault!"

[Silvah]

ooc: can someone explain to me what's happening on this thread? cuz then i can post with goldenrose...

[lakeripple]

OOC: Go to "Scarlet Darkness" in EarthClan territory to get the first half. Then come back here and READ!!!

[icefeather]

OOC: *taps at watch* let us continue, shall we?

[lakeripple]

OOC: mhmm

[icefeather]

OOC: hello? DId this thread like, die or something?

[~*Pikeru]

OOC: No, I just hadn't had time to post. Everyone was waiting on me. ^^" SORRY!!!



IC: Foxcloud tipped her head slightly, as if in thought. But in fact, the she-cat had already planned this all out moons ago. "Waterclan" she finally chirped after a moment of silence. Her sharp yellow eyes came back from the clouds of thought, and gazed back at the leader. "Waterclan is always strong in Leaf-bare. They will be a powerful ally if Earthclan goes to get Lightningclan to help them with driving us out." the dark Fireclan deputy let her fox red fur prick briefly, trying to imitate the image of having a wave of worry rush threw her. "But first, we need to get Berrydapple back." Foxcloud added suddenly, cursing herself for forgetting the warrior for that heartbeat.

There had been a reason she picked Waterclan. One warrior in particular caught the she-cat's dark intentions by the horns. . . . Brightstream . . . .