Ironkit!

[Mossshadow::Ivorykit]

Poisonclaw walked through the underbrush into the ThunderClan camp and dropped his mouse into the fresh kill pile. Ironkit had been gone for over a moon now. Poisonclaw had thought about this all day. He hadn't gone to look for his son, using the excuse that he couldn't just leave the clan. "So why don't you ask Snowstar if you can go look for him?" said Crystalheart, Poisonclaw's mate, earlier that day. Poisonclaw had been assigned to hunt that day, but he told himself that after the hunt, he would go talk to the new clan leader. But it was nearly sunset, and soon the clan would be off to bed. It's now or never, thought Poisonclaw. So he headed off to Snowstar's den. He peered through the lichen that served as an entrance to the den to see Snowstar curled up in his cozy little sleeping spot. He wasn't sure if Snowstar was asleep or not, so he sat down and looked around at the den. It was very spacious and very dry and warm, due to the lichen door. He looked back at Snowstar to see that his leader was looking at him. "Oh! You're awake. Snowstar, I know that you know what has happened to Ironkit and you're doing all that you can to get him back, but it's been a moon and Crystal and I are worried. I was wondering if, maybe, I could go look for him?" Poisonclaw held his breath as he waited for his leader's response.

[Snowstar]

Snowstar looked up from his nest to see a lean figure making his way toward him. He blinked, deep blue eyes adjusting to the gloom of his den. He couldn't remember when he fell asleep; too many evening patrols. A half eaten wood pigeon laid on the rocks beside him, and he was aware of a voice echoing up the tunnel. He shook the sleep from his head and pulled himself into a sitting position, his tail flicking anxiously behind him. Once he was within his view he decided to speak, his voice calm and certain.

" Ironkit. Yes, he has been gone quite a while, hasn't he?" he continued smoothly, raising an eyebrow. " Yes, I have doing everything in my power to search for him, though it seemed to be all in vain. You want to search for him, now do you? Well, I guess I can't blame you, after all you are his father. So, then yes, you may search for him. Just don't get yourself in the same prediciment he was in and bring one more warrior with you, just in case you go missing. "

He paused for a moment, looking intently at his warrior. Although he didn't know the pain that Poisonclaw might me going through, he could imagine the anxiety of waiting for your son. If, he had said no, Poisonclaw woudl be restless and wouldn't of use to the clan anyhow. It was best to let him go now, to see where Ironkit was and if found, wold be returned, giving everyone peace at mind. Nodding to himself, he was certain that this was the right choice.

[Mossshadow::Ivorykit]

Poisonclaw looked at his leader with relief in his eyes. He had prayed to StarClan that Snowstar would approve of him leaving. He had mad up his mind that even if his leader said no, he would go look for Ironkit. But his understanding leader had said yes! And he could bring Crystalheart! Poisonclaw knew that she would be restless wondering what was happening to her mate and son if she couldn't go. But they could go together! And they would find their son together! He couldn't wait to tell Crystal! "Oh, thank you Snowstar! Thank you!" Poisonclaw raced out of the den, yowling for joy to go find his mate.

((Where should I put Poisonclaw searches for Ironkit since it's in Twoleg territory? Where I had the other part of the story in Tallpines?))

[Snowstar]

{ You could either post their, or you could make a new thread. I Don't think it matters though. }

[Mossshadow::Ivorykit]

((Ironkit is back now, so...if you want the details, go to ThunderClan territories, under Tallpines, and click on Ironkit.))

Poisonclaw yowled as they lept through the last few foxlengths of underbrush into camp. The trio didn't even stop to take some prey from the fresh-kill pile. They had been running all day, and it was dusk. Cats were already heading for their dens. Cats stared at them, and some even cheered as the family ran straight to Snowstar's den. "Snowstar! I'm back!" cried Ironkit.

[Snowstar]

[[ Wait. Since Ironkit didn't know that Flamingstar died, his parents told him. Right? 'cause Ironkit dissapeared before Snowstar had received his warriorname. ]]

" Good, Good. " he meowed, still stretching from his nap and he looked down at young Ironkit with a smile. He sat down silently, his tail curled over his paws and examined each of them carefully. Craning his neck, so he remove some of the moss of his back, Snowstar turned his head again and looked back at the trio, more refreshed.

" Crystalheart, I'm sure you're tired and you can go if you wish. But, Poisonclaw I want you to stay for a moment and Ironkit, you as well. This is important. Firstly, Ironkit will you tell me what happened, before you were rescued?"

He silently awaited for their responses, his gaze never leaving them even if his mind slightly wandered. He needed to know what had happened, even if they were tired and wanted rest. This was important. He had to tell the clan if the Twolegs were going to be any threat in the future - to steal any other cats or anything else.
[/color]

[Mossshadow::Ivorykit]

((Yeah, his parents told him))
Crystalheart looked at her leader, taken aback. How could he think that she couldn't provide as much information as her mate or son? But the she-cat had to admit she was tired, but she would stay. "Thank you for the offer of sleep, but I'll stay here. I might be able to provide some info."
Ironkit sat down and curled his tail neatly around his paws. "You might want to sit down Snowstar. It's a long story." So Ironkit sat down and told his leader about what had happened. He stressed the point that Scruffy had helped him escape. I mean, come on! A dog!
"However, I don't think that the Twolegs will be a problem. At least not for a while. They might come looking for Ironkit, but I doubt it. Crystalheart was trapped there the same way ironkit was before she came to our clan."
"Yes, I was. But they have had plenty of cats, whether they be kittypets or loners. All of them, at some point, either got old and died or ran away. They didn't look for the runaways then, so I doubt they will now." replied Crystalheart.
Snowstar listened to the story and thought for a while. Ironkit was the one to break the slightly uncomfortable silence. "And congradulations on becoming leader! A lot happened while I was gone." Snowstar had either not heard or was still in thought, since he didn't reply. "Have you picked a new deputy? I've been gone for over a moon, so I was just wondering." Ironkit waited for his leader's reply.

[Snowstar]

For a moment of silence, he surveyed the warriors again; this time standing on all four paws with his tail silently wavering beneath his haunches. Holding in a sigh, he shook his head to himself at what he had just told Crystalheart to do. He had been wrong to think that she wouldn't want to take part in listening to her thoughts as well as Poisonclaw's and Ironkit's. Still, it was done and he couldn't go back in time - even if it was only a few seconds. Jaws widening in a yawn, he looked down at the queen and with a flick of his tail, nodded.

" That's fine, I have no problem with that - the more the merrier as they say. "

Shaking his coat, the rememaining moss on his coat fell silently to the ground and he turned his head towards Ironkit, his ears pricked at hearing the young kit's voice again - for the first time in moons. A smile crept over his muzzle at seeing him again and he realized, that he would have alot to listen too afterall. Nodding slowly at every word that touched his ears, his expression thoughtful, he looked at Crystalheart and Poisonclaw with a glint of curiousty. He still had yet to find out how they managed to find their lost kit.

A dog? A dog?! Great Starclan. Must have been an annoying little thing. Such a strange name, Scruffy. Not all dogs could be bad, I guess. This one helped Ironkit get home anyways. It isn't strange, anymore that is, that a creature - one of greatest enemies - would help us. Afterall we've talked to badgers before in the past, when the great Firestar had been living.

His ears flicking back, as he stared ahead towards the entrance of his den ; seemingly deep in thought. Eyes narrowed, he paced around his den and wondered what would have happened if yet another one of the cats of Thunderclan would be caught again. When and how long would it be, until another cat was faced with danger like this again. Would they come back?

Shaking his head, his eyes cleared into a calm look and he smiled gently at the three. Pausing to listen to Poisonclaw's words and Crystalheart's thoughts, he looked at the intently, his mind straining with thought. Nodding slowly, as if a gesture to say he understood, a glint of confusion entered his eyes and he tried to remember when Flamingstar had let them into the clan - when he had only been proclaimed the rank of a warrior a couple moons before. He was there with the patrol that had found Crystalheart - then Ziggy - and Poisonclaw. From what he remembered nothing had been mentioned that she had been captured by twolegs. But, perhaps that was something best left unmentioned to a un-expeirenced warrior like himself and Flamingstar was probaly aware of that - but just never mentioned. Understanding, he sat down and cureld his tail calmly over his paws before deciding to speak, his voice smooth and calm with an understanding tone to it.

" I don't suppose that they might go looking for you, Ironkit or even you, Crystalheart - he announced, flicking his tail to each of them in turn - but it never hurts to be careful. I think we should still be on a lookout for any signs of Twolegs that might be a threat to us. Don't tell anyone just yet about what I just told you to do, I might tell Flintpelt later and if needed, I'll announce it to the clan in time.

Ironkit, you can make yourself noticed to the clan and tell them all about your escapade, they will probabaly be intrested. Until you are made an apprentice, I don't expect you to wander out of camp at all - even if you claim that your parents said you can. You should know that already though.

I suspect that's it and you can - "

He cut himself off pausing as his warm gaze falling upon Ironkit; remembering that the young kit had been away from the clan so long that he wasn't aware of any other news that had happened. A silence passed the four, as Snowstar continued to think what to tell him and his ears pricked again, at the tiny voice of the kit. Letting out a chuckle, he twitched his whiskers in amusement at his cheerful voice that he hadn't heard in so long - after the death of Flamingstar. Grinning inside him, he looked down at the kit and gave him a warm, comforting look.

" Thank you, Ironkit. I may never be like Flamingstar - his eyes flashed with sadness at each mention of his beloved leader, but for Ironkit's sake, let it pass and that was replaced with a soft look of happiness - , but I try. And, yes I have already picked a new deputy, though I'm a bit surprised that your parents haven't told you already, I thought they would have after telling you about Flamingstar. Anyway, the new deputy of Thunderclan is none other then Flintpelt. And, you're the only kit in the nursary now, Ironkit, because Starpaw has been made an apprentice. That won't be long, I'll make sure that you'll be made an apprentice in time soon to come.

Like I was saying before, if you don't have anything more to tell me, you are all welcome to leave and take a well deserved rest. If you were hurt in anyway, however, make a stop to Rippedbelly's den first. Farewell. "

[Mossshadow::Ivorykit]

((I think I'm gonna end this post here, since Ironkit is back and the discussion with Snowstar is over. Thanks to all readers!))