A burning quest amid dark skies...

[Spottedshadow]

"Usually only elders need coltsfoot, younger cats don't need it, but it's always good to know," Darksky smiled. She pondered her herb stash. I guess I could use some chervil, that's a good one to have... "Um, the scents are hard to desribe, but I need some chervil, it smells sweet, it has leaves like a fern, and at this time of year it'll have small white flowers..." Darksky meowed, trying to explain.

ooc: Oh, jeez Foxx is rubbing off on me, that didn't sound right to me....

[lakeripple]

Sunset couldn't stand it any longer. Even if it would cut short the embarrassment, she had to do something. Jeez, they were talking about herbs! She wasn't exactly interrupting anything...

Stepping out into the sun, she let it catch her flaming pelt. It glinted off her eyes and made rainbows on the ground. But she was just staring at her son wordlessly, waiting for him to sense her there.

[wolfwarrior4jesus]

"Chervil? Okay, little white flo-" Burning's eyes widened. He'd turned around to look at a small plant he'd seen earlier that resembled this chervil when he spotted his mother, glaring at him. "Ehe..." He meowed, "Er, hi mom! I-I-er..." He stuttered, her sudden and unexpected appearance chasing away his words...

[lakeripple]

Sunset's nostrils flared. "You were what? Being thoughtless and stupid? I think I can agree to that..." She gave a long stare to the cat he was with before turning back to her son. "Do you want to give me a heart attack? Do you want to force the fighting sooner? I know I have taught you better than this!" Sunset's voice rose in desperation. "Did you even think about me or your father? Did you even think about how we might worry when your scent leads strait to FireClan? You remember what happened when your brother was taken... do you want that again? It was a disaster! You can't afford that now!"

[wolfwarrior4jesus]

Burning wilted under her angry onslaught. "But mom, " He meowed trying to get in a word, "I was just trying to see if I could rescue Jet and Mint....I....I was impatient, and thought maybe I..." He fell silent, his ears flat against his head. The full magnitude of his actions had finally dawned upon him, thanks to Sunset. He lowered his head, unable to meet his mother's eyes. "I just wanted to be like you, fearless and brave, and able to do anything, including rescue my brother and mint...."

[lakeripple]

Sunset glowered. "By yourself? And how did you expect to do that? What if Foxcloud was sitting right in front of them and she spotted you? Should you escape, you might have wounds that would never heal! And I just know that she would love to get her paws on another of my kits! Burning!" Sunset's voice was exasperated. "You know there is a plan, it would be good if you stuck to your part. No cat can do this alone." She glanced over at the FireClan Medicine Cat. She would be loyal to her Clan, no matter what. She could not risk revealing anything.

[wolfwarrior4jesus]

Burning said nothing, only sank lower to the ground, his belly almost touching the dirt. There was nothing to say- Sunset was right. He'd recklessly endangered himself, and his Band...but...He could see Darksky out of the corner of his eyes. He'd made a friend at least...He looked cautiously up, Sunset's eyes still boring into him. He crept over to her side, his posture and motion telling her that he was coming home with her, and that he'd been chastised enough...

(lol! poor burning! .. .. and you type to faast!)

[Spottedshadow]

Darksky distanced herself slightly from the two band members. I would never give Burning away, I know I should, but i can't. I don't know why... she thought. I don't know what her problem is, I'm the only one who knows he's here... Well, if one of those cats are hers, I guess I see her worry... "Don't worry, I wouldn't let Burning get caught," the black she-cat meowed. She stepped confindently next to Burning, and returned the ginger she-cat's cold gaze with her own deep blue gaze. "I've taken care of the cats from your band, I've done everything short of releasing them to make them comfortable. I healed the tom when he was sick, Foxcloud wanted him to suffer. I get them out at least once a day, and this, yelling at Burning for trying to be brave, this is how you thank me?" Darksky challenged. This has been a day. I've gotten in a fight, made a friend, tried to sneak the cats out to see Burning, and had to watch this arrgument. I'm going to need a nap...

[lakeripple]

Sunset stared at the she-cat with anger clear in her blue eyes. Her temper was fraying, and she was beginning to feel what Bird felt. "I thank you for taking care of my Jet and little Mint, but perhaps you can try to see things from my eyes. I wake up in the middle of the night to find my youngest child gone and my best friend's daughter as well. We follow their scents out to the dirt-place, natural enough, and it is there that, that, Foxcloud that miserable piece of dung who calls herself a cat, comes into the picture. We once again follow the scent, only to loose it at the end of your territory. I've already had a family member taken by her before and, thankfully, he is back where he belongs, but there is no sign of my son and we cannot come close enough to the camp to see if he is there. My other son vanishes and I find him this way, with a FireClan cat. Do you understand why I'd be frightened? Why I'd be angry? I am a mother, young medicine cat, and I have been hurt before. Do I care that you wouldn't turn him in? Yes, and I am thankful for that, but I am so tired of being hurt just because I had the 'right' to be born. Do you understand now?"

[wolfwarrior4jesus]

Burning glanced at the two she cats, both with a fire in thier eyes, and neither of them backing down. He felt a rush of gratitude towards Darksky, for her promise to keep thier secret, and for her defense of him.. He shot her a grateful glance when Sunset wasn't looking. "Hey mom, she said she wouldn't tell...." He winced, waiting for Sunset's sharp remark to him...

[Spottedshadow]

Darksky forced herself to hold the ginger she-cats gaze. The medicine cat wanted to look at Burning, to nod her condolences for the tom's support, to smile warmly for his defence, to- Stop! I have to remain completely undistracted, Darksky thought to herself. How does she expect me to know this? I'm not allowed to have kits, let alone a mate, there is no way I can understand a queen's love of her kits, other then what I see... For the first time in Darksky's life, she felt saddened that she was not allowed to have kits. It was an odd feeling... "Of course I don't understand, how do you expect me too?" she snapped.

[lakeripple]

Sunset felt singed. Her own son was siding against her. "Do I have to break it down for you? I would go the end of the world for my kits, I don't own my heart, they do, and my mate. They are my life. You are telling me that you have nothing that feels that way for you? Not even your Clan, not even what you feel is right? I know you can't have kits young medicine cat, I am not stupid and I know the Clan ways well. I've tried my hardest to walk in other cat's pawsteps, not one cat in need I ever turn away, but hear me well. Am I angry at you? No. Am I angry at my son? Not really, but I am annoyed. Am I even angry at Foxcloud? No. But it feels like my heart has been torn out."

[wolfwarrior4jesus]

Burning winced again. He felt torn between his love for his mother, and the loyalty he felt towards Darksky, as a new friend... He cursed himself silently for making both thier lives worse. If only he'd never set paw on Fireclan territory... But that made his heart ache. Darksky was important to him, for some reason... He resolved to do everything in his power to make this up to his mother, but...he had to convince her he just liked having a friend, even if she was from another clan...

[Spottedshadow]

"I care for all cats, but I feel none of the troubles that haunt you, I don't care deeply for any cat, only herbs, and they can't be kidnapped and they can't be mutinous," Darksky explained. She felt sad for the cat, but she couldn't share her pain. But I've never really had a friend before, maybe Sunset wouldn't mind if Burning came to hang out and look around for herbs with me, he must be lonely too... she thought. "I am truly sorry for being confrontative earlier. I only felt defensive of my friend here, I didn't mean to cause you grief..."

[lakeripple]

Sunset sighed. "I nursed Burning for three moons, trust me, I'm just as defensive. And I know that you do not mean him any harm, but I will not allow him out here without one of our band." She fixed Burning with a firm gaze. "And by one of our band, I mean one of the adults, not Moonrise or River!"

[wolfwarrior4jesus]

Burning averted his gaze. How'd Sunset know he would have chosen one of them? He made a face, but then grinned apologetically. "You know my thoughts too well, Mom. You got me right there." He purred, trying to appease her.

[Spottedshadow]

Darksky lower her gaze. It appeared that she would never see Burning again. If he were forced to come here with an adult of the band, then it was impossible. There was no way that they'd allow him to come. So much for that then... she thought with dismay.

[wolfwarrior4jesus]

(hmmm, How should Burning do thiiis? He wants to see Darksky again.. AHAAA!!! He leaves a message XD)

Burning nodded, already thinking of who he could ask. Perhaps Courage, or maybe his father? He didn't know yet. He'd have to think about it. Meanwhile, he should probably leave a message for Darksky. He still wanted to be friends.....How would she know, and not Sunset of where to meet? Aha, he thought. An Oak leaf, with... what was a good herb that....maybe... catmint? Cat mint was irresistable, and so was his desire for friendship, and perhaps hers. He blinked, approving of his plan. He hoped Darksky could figure it out. It was just his luck that a small catmint bush lay near by, and oak trees weren't hard to come by. They were definitely plentiful. He scooped up an oak leaf, and studied the lines of it's broad flat leaf. He toyed with it for a bit, much like a bored apprentice or kit would do, before strategically flinging it aside. Much to his glee, it landed right atop the catmint bush, and his scent was on it. That way, he wouldn't be violating his mother's wish, and he'd even take an adult with him...he did regret the pain he'd caused her...

[lakeripple]

Sunset didn't even laugh at Burning's question. He had the 'get out of this' look in his eyes, one she had seen far too often and usually ended up getting him into way too much trouble. Her tail flicked as he played with the oak leaf and knocked it over to the catmint. He was planning something. She was sure of it.

Narrowing her eyes, Sunset sighed deeply. She knew she would hate herself for doing this... "You may only come into the territories of FireClan, WaterClan, LightningClan, and SkyClan with me or your father. EarthClan you may go to with any adult."

[wolfwarrior4jesus]

(LOLZ Sunset= uber uber smart XD)

Burning opened his mouth to complain, but then shut it. It wouldn't do any good, that he knew from experience. He muttered to himself, and glared at the ground. What was so wrong with making friends? And Darksky hadn't taken his brother or Mint, he thought rebelliously... He sighed. "Fine, Mom..." He meowed at last