Silence... has died.

[Flintpelt [Spideh]]

Grasses swayed and bent like exotic dancers, entrancing the soft blue light of the moon, mesmerizing the twinkling illumination of the stars, echanting the minds of any who watched with their sweeping movements, the wave-like breaths of wind running across their lithe strands, the dust of the ground swirling up in puffs of shadowed brown, enveloping their frames with transparent covers of earth. Yes, the Far Prairie was a beautiful country. As beautiful and magical as the travels of the sun across the mid-day skies, as the ripples of water streaking outwards from a disturbance, as the budding green flowers in spring. But these were happenings of daily life, and in the lands of StarClan, eternal time, seasons, days and nights were what all experienced. Beautiful... as beautiful as it was deadly. One would easily become mad at the simple thought of endless repetition. But something else, something in the whispers of the air, in the soft spatter of rain on crumbling dirt, made it all as bearable as any day on the living grounds.

Alone, as alone as she would ever be surrounded by land, cats and prey, but still alone, sat a she-cat. Her silvered platinum-blue pelt, graying with age, clung tightly to her slim frame, telling of a healthy lifetime. Sterling audits swiveled on top of the female's skull, twitching this way and that, the glow of the moon reflecting off of the myriad of thin hairs creating her shining coat. Muscles were relaxed, showing that she was sure no danger would come of her, but her body was still neat and straight, back tense, holding her upright, as if she was standing to attention. Ash-tipped tail twitched lazily, contradicting the look of wariness and caution the tightness of her figure. A faint smile crept up her maw, curving the ends of her mouth upwards in an elegant upside-down arch. Dark green eyes, becoming misted over with the many moons of the she-cat's existence, glinted slily as she glanced over her shoulder, ears twitching again. An almost imperceptible sigh whistled through the thin opening in her mouth, and she poke, voice soft and caring, but playful all the same.

"Now now, Ziggu, stop hiding. I know you're there. Oh, and bring your friend out, too. I don't think I've met her yet."
"Farg."

The lithe body of another female cat slipped free of the grasses, her mottled pelt wildly exotic beside the uniform silver of the older feline's coat. A thin grin of amusement adorned her thin muzzle, and a simple flick of an ebony ear brought another she-cat coming from the dancing strands of grass. The newcomer dipped her dark orange head in greeting to her elder, amber-yellow eyes blinking in slight surprise. The pale she-cat nodded back, a warm smile replacing the thin smirk-like line that had been on her face moments before. The first one who had come out grinned joyfully at the ashen feline, onyx maw split in half with two rows of sharp, jagged teeth. The first she-cat to have been there shook her head in amused exasperation, moss-green eyes rolling mockingly in their sockets.

"Whatever. Come on, introduce me. Who is your pretty friend? A new cat?"

The one named Ziggu shook her head heartily, silver-striped tail flicking the amber female's shoulder to indicate that she could speak for herself. Nodding quietly, the youngest of the three hesitated before finally letting words slip past her mouth.

"My name's Spiderthorn, ma'am. I came to StarClan many moons ago, but I met Ziggu - and yerself, of course - today."

Then she went quiet again. Ziggu rolled her eyes in turn, nudging her friend, but Spiderthorn would not speak any more. She was a bit shy, and wans't sure about speaking to a new cat.

"Oh, whatever," the dappled female sighed, turning to the silver she-cat. "She's also got a question, Moonpelt. Been asking if anyone saw Dragon... what was it again? Dragonheart?"

"No, no," Spiderthorn mewed quickly, shaking her head. "Dragonfang."

She waited patiently for an answer. The older she-cat paused, seeming to think, and then shook her head regretfully.

"Sorry. Never heard of... him or her?"
"Him."
"Never heard of him. I may have been here pretty long, but I don't know everyone. Sorry again."
"Oh, that's all right."

But by the worried look in the orange she-cat's amber gaze, it wasn't all right at all.

[Fernpaw]

Far across the prairie, a cat stirred. A large tom lifted a finely chiseled head, blinking sleep from bright golden eyes. Socks splashed with a red as bright as blood ran up his forelegs as the brute swiftly leaped to his paws. When Dragonfang looked around, he was surprised all over again to find himself in StarClan. Just as he was beginning to feel relaxed and happy again, a thought flashed through his mind. Spiderthorn! So he was in StarClan, wonderful. But even a lifetime of peace and enjoyment would be nothing without his love.

Dragonfang called, "Spiderthorn!! Spider-r-r-thorn!!" The call echoed across the prairie, scattering birds like pinwheels in a gale. The reddish-tom looked helplessly around. No cat answered his silent plea for help, for finding his she-cat. The tom lifted his muzzle and yowled, "SPIDERTHORN!!"

A startled mockingbird flew out of a nearby shrub, squalling loudly. Dragonfang hung his head, where was she?

Another male, but this time much larger than Dragonfang, pricked up his ears at the sound of the yowl. Prowling forward, striped pelt blending in with the grasses, Tigerpelt strode forward. Powerful shoulders slipping between stalks of grass as easily as a hot knife through butter. Amber eyes swirled, showing and masking the confusion in them at the same moment. It didn't bother Tigerpelt that he was in StarClan. What bothered him was that he might meet his ancestor Tigerstar. Ooohh, would the tongues wag over that! The tom was looking for an answer, or even a clue to who he was. The clue to the missing puzzle piece was one word. One name. Ziggu.

Tigerpelt had once saved the Clan-turned rogue from drowning, he had also nearly killed her in a fight. If anyone knew a single thing about who he was, or who he might be, it was her. She was a cat of a crazed past, she used to talk with her mind until, in a coma after the near-drowning experience, she had faced her fear and conquered it. Maybe she could help him conquer his past. As much as it killed the powerful tom, he knew that this enemy---his likeness to Tigerstar and his own mind---was not one that he could conquer alone.

Dragonfang looked up. A presence in the grass had alerted him of another being approaching. For a moment, his golden orbs blazed in hope and delight as for a moment he thought that Spiderthorn was there! But then the light faded, and the cry of joy died unspoken on his lips. Dragonfang could see it was another tom. Dragonfang peered closer, than leaped back, fangs bared. "Tigerstar!" he spat. "I didn't even know they let filth like you into StarClan!"

Tigerpelt paused, hurt and a bit annoyed by this outburst. "I'm not Tigerstar," he began. "I know I look like him, but that's just because he's my ancestor. My name is Tigerpelt." The tom was about to add something sharp, like I may be the descendant of a piece of mouse-dung but at least I know about something called manners, or I didn't know they allowed kittypets into StarClan, but he didn't. One look at the tom's face told him that Dragonfang had suffered enough without his adding more pain. The massive tom sat next to the other and sighed. "Looking for someone?"

Dragonfang heaved a bitter sigh, "You have no idea. Ever heard or seen a cat called Spiderthorn?"

Tigerpelt tipped his head back, considering. After a pause, he shook his chiseled head, "Nope. Sorry. Seen a cat called Ziggu? Couldn't miss her. Strange markings all over?"

"Sorry." The red tom looked around, "Maybe we could search together. It's better than being alone, by ourselves."

"Guess so," Tigerpelt stood up, completely dwarfing his new found acquaintance. "Let's go."

[Flintpelt [Spideh]]

((Yeeehaw, yer here! Neh :3 Happy ta see ya in StarClan!
Oh, and by the way, great post. -thumbs up-))

"Dragonfang?"

Spiderthorn's head lifted hopefully, dark orange muzzle twitching as she tasted the air. She was sure she had sceneted something there, a trace of something, and it had definitely smelled like her love. Whiskers lashed the air desperately as she advanced with a hesitating step into the grasses, amber-yellow oculars shining with joy as she picked up the aroma of her beloved tom once more. Her pace became quicker as voice escaped throat once more, slightly louder in intensity, a hint of belief that she had truly found her cherished mate.

"Dragonfang! Are you there?"

She halted in her tracks, frowing as the smell escaped her. Biting down hard on her lip, she snorted in exasperation and set off again, blood-red toes pushing determinedly against the hard earth, amber legs extending one after the other to grasp the ground in front fo her, pulling her onwards faster as a frantic confidence took hold of her heart. She would find him, she would. She had picked up his trail for a moment, she would get it again, not long to go, not long to go...
Her head snapped back up as she realised that she was staring ardently downwards, both orbs trained upon the swirling motes of dust tumbling across the roots of the grasses. Then her maw opened wide, gleaming fangs shining under the soft glow of the moon, and an almost scared yowl ripped itself from her mouth to rent the silence that had settled while she searched.

"Dragonfang! Dragonfang, where the farg are you?"

Back where the three she-cats had met, Moonpelt and Ziggu stood silently, listening to Spiderthorn's desperate screams. An impassive expression had overtaken the dappled features of the younger female, though a warm glint shone brightly inside her crimson orbs. The silvered cat had a concerned look upon her pale face, and was biting her lip worriedly. They waited, however, for something to happen. Something.
Finally, something overcame Ziggu. Sighing in exasperation, she set off after Spiderthorn, determined paws thumping against the ground rythmatically.

[Fernpaw]

Dragonfang lifted his head, a light coming into his eyes. He sprang to his paws, "Spiderthorn!" he cried. He leaped forward, ears pricked toward the faint cry of his love. "I'm coming, Spiderthorn!" he yowled as he vanished in the tall grasses.

Tigerpelt snorted and loped to catch up with his new-found acquaintance. Lovers.

Blood red stockings lifting delicately over shrubbery and small potholes made by rodents, Dragonfang pressed on. Behind him, a massive tom followed, gliding through the grass like a snake. "Dragonfang," Tigerpelt called, "Slow down! Come on, it was probably the wind!"

"No! No!" panted Dragonfang, the call was louder in his ears now. This time, Tigerpelt heard it too. He snarled a curse under his breath, Dragonfang wouldn't be able to talk sense for weeks after he'd found his she-cat. His keen amber eyes picked out a pelt in the distance away from them, moving rapidly towards the two toms. Tigerpelt sucked in his breath as he recognized the dappled pelt loping after her. Only one cat looked like that. Ziggu.

Dragonfang forged ahead, with Tigerpelt closing in behind him. The two toms were soon side by side, struggling up a steep incline. Dragonfang's eyes glowed, "Yes! It is Spiderthorn! SPIDERTHORN!!" he yowled.

[Flintpelt [Spideh]]

Moonpelt stayed where she was for a few moments, silvered coat ruffled slightly by the shoving gusts of wind, moss-green orbs shining with worry for her old friend and the new she-cat she had just met. Then, sighing with resignation, she rose to her pads and walked after the other two at a slow, deliberate pace. There was no point in running. All she would do is get herself tired.
That's what old age does to you, Moon, she thought bitterly, grimacing awkwardly at her own fate. No old cats desired to lose all of their abilities. Seeing, hearing, moving, sanity: those were all gifts for the minds and bodies of younger, healthier cats. Bah.

Ziggu, coming at a fast lope through the wavering strands of yellowed grass, finally caught up with her companion, dappled pelt cutting a clear picture next to Spiderthorn's striped dark orange form. The wild mixture of reds, silvers and browns seemed to intertwine and fall apart if stared at too long, especially when the air was blowing in a certain direction, or the light fell upon the colored hairs from a particular orientation high in the heavens. The barred she-cat had halted, hopeful amber-yellow eyes scanning the rest of the Prairie, for she had obviously heard, or smelled, something. Maybe even both. Ziggu came skidding to a stop beside her, scrabbling pads raising a thick cloud of choking dust from the dry ground below her, and both of the felines had to stop and cough before they headed out of the smoggish fog. As soon as they left the enveloping presence of the sand, Spiderthorn opened her maw wide once more, calling out with all the force she could muster.

"DRAGONFANG!!"

Her yowl echoed across the flatness of the land, renting the silence that had settled in the surrounding country into two clearly separate halves, resonating back and forth across the golden, waving, bending plain, ringing in the ears of the female beside her. Ziggu stuck a sheathed toe in her ear, wiggled it about until she was sure she could hear right, and then took it out again, glaring at Spiderthorn for having yelled like a completely insane she-cat. Then crimson eyes began sweeping over the dancing strands of grass, also searching for whatever Spiderthorn had seen, heard, or smelled. She could taste a definite scent on the air, slightly familiar, and another one that she knew nothing about. And she was sure that, riding on the wind as the yowl of the brown-streaked feline beside her had, a definite tom's yell could be heard, clearly pronounciating her companion's name. And out there, over the dry land, wasn't there a hint of stripey orange pelt, and the flash of crimson paws?...
That's Tigerpelt.
The memories rushed upon her in that instant. Though she could not remember most of her past life, she could recall happenings that had been recent before she had battled against her very mind. The River, falling, Tigerpelt... Maybe he could be the one that would explain to her why she had lost her memory after fighting the evil inside her soul, or at least why she had been so insane to start with. Ziggu was sure that, one way or another, she had turned into a mad cat, had started in the way she had died, and not with the insanity already present.
After a moment, she realized that she was staing hopefully in Tigerpelt's direction, even though he was one of her forsworn enemies. Still, he couldn't kill her and she couldn't kill him, since they were already dead. So no hard feelings, eh?
Wrong.

Glancing to her side, Ziggu found that Spiderthorn had left her, streaking off into the grass, joyfully crying out her beloved tom's name. Snorting in exasperation, the word lovers crossed the dappled female's mind, and she raced off after the excited she-cat, rolling her eyes mockingly. Really. Couldn't she get any normal friends?

[Fernpaw]

Dragonfang raised his head, a fire burning in his eyes. In one bound, he was ahead of Tigerpelt, and racing up toward the small figures ahead of them, yowling, "Spiderthorn! Oh, Spiderthorn!" Tigerpelt sighed in disgust, but didn't immediately follow after the tom. Now that he was coming close to meeting Ziggu again, he didn't know how he felt about that. He had always been difficult to manage, a rebellious kit and apprentice, and he had never cared for Ziggu while he lived. Would he care for her now? He wasn't even sure if she remembered him. He had fought her once before, saving Moonpelt and giving her enough time to warn their leader of the rogues gathering by Resting Place. He and Ziggu had nearly died killing each other. Later, they had both nearly drowned when she had fallen into the River, and he had dove in after her. Ziggu changed after that, and he could never understand why.

Anyway, whatever his feelings on the situation, Tigerpelt took his own sweet time coming up the hill. Ahead of him, Dragonfang was sprinting up the hill, paws pounding the ground in a timeless rythm. "Spiderthorn!" he shouted, joy ringing in his voice.

[Flintpelt [Spideh]]

"Dragonfang!"

This last call came as a faint whisper on the breeze, as if Spiderthorn had been too happy, too excited and too disbelieving of finding her loved one in such a way that it had made her breathless. Tears were pricking at the sides of her amber-yellow oculars, running smoothly down her stripey pelt like water across the porous surface of a leaf, leaving darkened lines of wet fur along her cheeks. She ran harder than ever, paws thudding against the ground frantically in a desperate attempt to reach her beloved tom faster. Her brown-streaked tail flew out behind her like a warning banner as she raced over the dry ground, pushing past the grass with a strength born of concern, worry for Dragonfang. She had always feared for him, ever since they had both gone off to find the cat they had been hunting with and had met a fox, having to fight it off by themselves. That memory was imprinted upon her mind like a white-hot iron upon the flank of a horse, or the deep track of some heavy prey in drying mud. And so she went on, and on, and on, flailing feet causing the earth and dust to rise up in thick, dry clods, scattering behind her at her passage. A furrow had been cut through the plants from her shoving shoulders, and Ziggu had absolutely no trouble following her, slowing her pace to a casual walk. She knew Spiderthorn was not in danger. After all, they were dead already. What the farg else could happen to them?
She trotted on leisurely, no worrying about what would happen when she reached the bottom. Oh, she knew that she would find those two - Spiderthorn and what looked like her mate - purring and nuzzling each other like a pair of mushy lovers, of course. But it was Tigerpelt that she was shrugging about. Not many felines liked him, mainly for his headstrong character, and the way he seemed to hate everyone. Not even Moonpelt could abide his presence, and that was a hard thing to do. Moon was a gentle and caring soul, Ziggu knew that. The old she-cat had taken her in, took care of her, just as Riverstone (or wotever his name was xP) had. The dappled female smiled slightly at the memory, but it soon changed to swirling, boiling water, and a thick paw descending to drag her out of the river's crushing grasp. A short snarl left her maw, vermilion eyes narrowing, and she seeked out her sworn enemy's striped pelt again. Might as well be cautious if she was going to meet Tigerstar's ancestor.
And Spiderthorn was still leaping and running, long legs grabbing at the earth to push herself forward faster and faster. She was much closer to Drgonfang now. Too close.
Suddenly, a rock got in her way. One paw smacked against its smooth gray surface as the rest of her tumbled forwards, right into Dragonfang. Was a corny joke this was turning out to be.

"Oops..." she muttered, quickly scrambling up, turning red all the way to her eartips. She looked away from her mate, quite embarrassed at her actions, and hunched her shoulders as if she wanted to disappear. But still, even humiliation could not get in the way of the feelings she felt for the tom, and she soon turned around to plant her nose against his cheek in a joyful nuzzle.

"Bah. I'm so happy to see you, Dragon..."

[Fernpaw]

Dragonfang looked startled at first, as his love came bowling towards him. Then the surprise turned to laughter. He threw back his head and laughed, a deep, rich laugh that seemed to come from his belly. No cat could laugh like Dragonfang could. His red stocks beat the ground in joy as he circled Spiderthorn. He pressed up against her side, murmuring, "I found you! Oh, Spiderthorn!"

Tigerpelt slowly approached, then decided better of it and gave the lovers a wide berth. He settled a few tail-lengths away, and turned to watch Ziggu. His eyes narrowed as he watched her approach. As much as he needed her help, that didn't mean he had to like her.

[Flintpelt [Spideh]]

Orange female followed the red-footed tom as he padded around her slim frame, amber-yellow orbs trailing after Dragonfang's thicker form, a glint of amusement shining in their mysterious depths. She laughed good-heartedly with her love, already contented with the fact that she had found him again, pure happiness etched clearly upon her stripey orange features. At his touch upon her flank, she purred roughly, though her voice was more used to this sound now that she had met the tom of her dreams, her beloved Dragonfang. It was absolute bliss to press herself against him, throat rumbling with her purrs, delighting in the feel of his reddish amber pelt against her own dark tangerine fur, oculars drifting over the fluid movements of sinew under her mate's coat. She could not tear herself away from this happiness, but their embrace had to stop. They could not stay like this forever. Still regretting her decision, she sat down besides the tom, golden-auburn gaze shifting to glance at Tigerpelt, who had settled a few tail-lengths away, but quickly drifting back to her loved one. Pure adoration shone warmly inside twin ovulars of molten sun, and she gave his cheek a recomforting lick, to show that her love had not expired. Then, maw opened wide, gleaming ivories revealed between parted lips, and she let words lip out of her throat to sound in the silence of the air.

"Dragonfang... I just don't know what to say. I feel so... so... happy. Yes, happy, if I were to say a word that could not translate even half of my emotions. It's so great to find you again. Where have you been? I was searching for you."

Her head tilted slightly to the side, one eyebrow cocked above the other in questioning way, though her serious expression was ruined by a repressed grin on her maw, which she was trying to hide, failing terribly in her attempt. Finally letting her cheeks take control, she grinned widely, that beautiful, full-toothed grin that was so amazing for a feline who had been so alone, so inhibited once long ago. Like the laugh that her mate could create was the one thing that signed his existence, her smile, wide and welcoming, showed plainly who she was. Impeccably clean fangs glinted shortly in the cold, fluid illumination of the celestial bodies shining down from the heavens before being hidden again beneath discreet lips. The enthusiastic she-cat blushed slightly, scrunching her shoulders upward and flattening her ears to the back of her skull, but she soon left her repressive position to grin again, laughing merrily. It was so much better when her love was around. She didn't feel just as alone, just as scared, and her heart opened to all and sundry like a blooming spring flower, waiting to show itself to the one who had won her heart. Yes, she needed him, and it was no lie.

As Spiderthorn enjoyed her meeting with her mate, Ziggu finished descending the last few tail-lengths of dry earth, the tendrils of dust rising at each of her cautious steps seeming to glow in the pulsating force of the moon's luminescence. Her slim frame finally slipped out of the thickest grasses, entering the clearing-like part of the Prairie where her friend had met her love, for the most part strands of yellowed plants flattened to the ground in the dark orange she-cat's rush to get to Dragonfang, or whatever his name was. Wildly dappled coat cut a clear picture from the blandness of her surroundings, grays and goldens tainted with silver-blue. Crimson eyes immediately seeked out that massive tom, unable to miss in the dark yellows and drifting browns of the Prairie with his dark amber fur and almost black stripes, the one called Tigerpelt, descendant of the traitor Tigerstar. A short snarl twisted the usually calm and spunky adult's maw into a leering scowl, but it soon left her, and she resumed her search. It didn't take very long.
There he was, sitting far enough away from the other two. Glancing over at the nuzzling lovers, the exotic she-cat padded softly up to the male's side, coat swishing faintly in the light breeze carrying over the plains. Silver light shone brightly upon the long strands of hair, lighting her up like a torch, until she stepped into the shadows of the grass. She preferred the dark places instead of open ground.

"So..."

Her voice, a quiet whisper so that the mates nearby wouldn't hear her, whisked against the wind near Tigerpelt's ear as she sat down beside him. Her casual air was betrayed by the fact that all the sinew in her thin body was as tense as a spring, and that both ebony ears adorning her skull were pricked cautiously to alert her of any dangerous action from the tom's part.

"I know you came here for something, or you wouldn't be with that mushy tom over there."

She stuck a sheathed toe in Dragonfang's direction, stating the facts bluntly, without softening the edges nor hiding her knowledge of the matter. She knew Tigerpelt, and he wasn't the sort to associate with love-struck felines. Still staring at the tom's chiseled figure, vermilion gaze drilling into the skull of her sworn rival, she continued speaking, voice just as quiet as it had been when she had started her phrase.

"So spill the sparrows already."

At this particular moment, Moonpelt arrived upon the scene. Silvered figure stalked into the cleared space, thin, agile tail swinging in the air casually as she continued walking. Inside her thoughts, she noticed the presence of the others and the fact that she had arrived upon her destination only when the sound of Spiderthorn's silky voice reached her old, ragged ears. Head snapping to the side, a soft smile crept up her maw as she looked upon the lovers together, a perfect picture in this moonlit dream. But her eyes soon saw more than the two mates, and mossy gaze shifted to the other pair of cats near the edge of the grasses. A hiss escaped her maw as she spotted Tigerpelt, that headstrong tom of massive girth. Though he was loyal, he loved battle too much, and that was something the aged female could not abide. But when Ziggu came into view beside the striped male, she calmed slightly, letting herself sit down where she was to watch the others quietly.

[Fernpaw]

Dragonfang tilted his head to the side, eyes bright. "Been? Where have I been? I've been all over, looking for you!" He pressed himself into his love's pelt, murmuring, "Oh, Spiderthorn, it's good to see you again."

Tigerpelt sat, watching a blackbird flutter over the grass. He flicked an ear, annoyed at Ziggu's comment. "Who I associate with is my business, not yours!" he hissed. Striped pelt rippled as the massive tom stood up. He jerked his head over to the shadow of a shrub, "Come on. I'd rather not talk with those two over there. Enough to make a cat hack, it is." Without waiting for an answer, he strode over the shadows and seated himself. Amber eyes impassive, he waited for Ziggu to follow him.

[Flintpelt [Spideh]]

Spiderthorn licked her mate's ear affectionately, the purr rumbling louder than ever in her joy-constricted throat. Golden-auburn gaze was hidden from view as lids lowered over her oculars, scrunching together tightly in an obvious expression of sheer delight. Dark tangerine ear flicked casually at him as he pressed himself closer, but she welcomed the gesture, nuzzling the tom's warm cheek with her moist pink nose. A slight repressed giggle blocked her happy purrs for a few seconds as she laughed at how mushy they were these days, compared to the playful insults they had thrown at each other once long ago. But she still loved it, loved him, that strong, caring tom of her heart. He was her sunlight on a rainy day, her guiding star when the moon goes out. He had led her out of the corridors of depression, pulled her away from the wide, welcoming doors of insanity, and pushed her into the bright, glowing luminescence of what was truly light. The past was now only a memory, something to look over but not dwell on, and she respected this new view of the world, finally settling into her place. He had opened her eyes to the beauty and the danger, turning her from a terrified, inhibited kit to the strong, loving warrior she was. And only he, him and no other, would have ever been able to mend the tears in her heart and mind, to sew back together the scattered pieces of her reason, and to give it as a gift to her in exchange for her love. And she loved him, loved him harder than ever, a burning passion she could feel inside herself. A warm smile of adoration spread on her cheerful features, sweeping her whiskers upwards in one fluid movement, and a question she had been aching to ask him since she had set eyes on him all the way across the field finally left her open mouth.

"Do you remember our little ones? And Mooneye. Do you remember her? She disappeared that one day without a trace, and I was so worried for her. When I found out she had taken her place in ShadowClan, I was so relieved, even though she couldn't recall me. And do you remember your grand-daughters, those two little girls? Spiderbreath and Soul, I think they are now called. I'd like to see them again, in the Pool. What about you?"

The phrase had come out in one single long breath, and she sat there, taking her time to inhale each gulp of air, reoxygeniating (or wotever) her lungs. Apricot-hued cranium tilted to the side questioningly as she waited, the faint outline of a smile appearing on the flushed colors of her face, warm gaze radiating devotion and affection, the leisurely rise and fall of her spine showing that she would be ready for any answer. She reached upwards, for she was slightly shorter than the tom beside her, and rubbed her cheek against his crimson-auburn jawline, the purr starting again deep inside her chest. She wouldn't mind if he wanted to stay here a bit, or just talk to her for now. It was all the same to her. She loved him, and that was that.

Meanwhile, Ziggu stayed stubbornly in her sitting position, small pink tongue flicking out impudently at the tom's back as he moved farther away, towards the shadows. She didn't care about his comments, hissed, spat, scornful, smug, whatever they were. It didn't really matter. But still, before she raised herself off of the dark, dry ground, she muttered a few words under her breath in response to the massive male's last phrase.

"Puke is more like it."

Suppressing a smile of amusement, she glanced over at the lovers, nuzzling and sitting close together as if they hadn't seen each other for moons on end. Well, maybe they hadn't. It was hard to tell with the time passing so quickly here, in StarClan, but not really going. Rolling crimson eyes comically and shaking her head in mock despair, an ebony ear flicked in Moonpelt's direction to reassure the ancient she-cat, and then Ziggu plunged into the darkened parts of the grasses, settling down besides her enemy once more. Vermilion eyes scrutinized his face, searching for something other than impassive expressions, but she soon gave up and instead let her gaze drift upwards to the moon, its silvered light reflecting on the dark iris of her orbs.

"Well? Hurry up, already. I don't have limitless patience, farg it."

[Fernpaw]

Dragonfang laughed again. "Do you remember when you were afraid to laugh or smile, because you might've split your lips?" he teased. Auburn pelt shone glossily in the warm, perfect sun of StarClan. At her last comment, he sobered. "Yes, I would greatly love to see ours descendants."

Meanwhile, Tigerpelt was preparing himself for a not-so-nice comment. Making sure his eyes were blank and revealed none of his feelings, he began, "I came looking for you. I need to know if you remember how you won over your mind." He looked away, as if ashamed to admit he needed help from a Clan-turned rogue, "I need . . . help. Okay? And stop looking at me like that!" he spat. He was about to say more, but he was interrupted by a rustling in the bushes. The massive tom crouched, preparing to spring. Before he could do so a lithe shape tumbled unto the grass before his paws.

The cat sprang up, embarassed and licking his gray fur. "Stupid log!" Rainwhisker muttered. "What a stupid place to put a stupid log!" He looked up at the two and dipped his head respectfully. "Evening. I'm Rainwhisker. Used to be Rainpaw. Have you seen some of my friends, Clawfoot or . . ." the young cat cocked his head, thinking. His eyes lit up, "Oh yes! Have you seen Clawfoot and her brother Spiderfang?"

[Flintpelt [Spideh]]

((Rainwhisker's funkeh xDDD))

"Yeah, I remember. That was when I beat you in the race, wasn't it?"
She gave him a thin, teasing smile, half-closed oculars obviously showing the fact that she was only playing with him, and a faint flick of her earth-streaked tail touched his shoulder lightly in a reassuring gesture. She took a deep breath of the night's fresh air, filling her lungs with sweet wind, and listening to the tom's next phrase.
"Well then, let's go!"
Her excited outburst cut through the peaceful night-time air like a knife through soft butter, and she grinned warmly up at her mate, heaving herself back to steady legs, a comforting lick of her tongue placed on the flat of his skull, right between his pointy ears. She gave him a nudge with her muzzle, urging him to get his fat bum off the ground to follow her, an amused light glinting inside amber-yellow gaze. Purring heartily, poking his shoulder with one sheathed toe, she kept on annoying him, knowing that, sooner or later, he would give up and come. She knew him well, very well, in fact. After all, she had lived most of her life with him. Yes... and he had been the one to show her that she wasn't the only unfortunate cat on the surface of this world. Grinning to herself, she poked him again, mewing teasingly.
"Cummon, fatty-butt, let's go!"

As Spiderthorn teased, poked and prodded her poor mate, Ziggu listened intently to what Tigerpelt had to say, ebony ears pricked and attentive. At least, if he didn't have her respect nor companionship, he had her attention. It was better than nothing at all, unless you counted the loathing hate for his massive hide.
The dappled female nearly burst out in mocking laughter as the tom pronounced the words 'looking for you', but retained herself mightily, finally overcoming the urge to let her breath escape in a long stream of bubbling giggles. She continued listening, putting on a sufficiently blank expression as she desperately tried to hide her intense amusement, ears flicking this way and that to either drift off of or pick up the different words, leaving out what she didn't care about. He went on speaking, and she let a relieved sigh echo in her thoughts that he, at least for now, had not noticed her laughing fit.
At the word 'help', the laugh threatened to overwhelm her defence, and she had to paste one thick tawny paw against her mouth to stop from bursting out. Her cheeks bulged out comically as she halted the outburst, and at this she was happy that the tom was not yet looking towards her, and deflated just as quickly as the air had filled them. However, she would not have respite for long. Tigerpelt had sensed something in the grasses, and was already stalking after it. Ziggu had been too busy stopping herself from laughing to notice yet.
As soon as the lithe shape of another feline tumbled over right in front of the massive tom's paws, Ziggu knew she recognized him from somewhere. Not a Gathering, since she'd never been at one, but from a Clan, she was sure of that. Searching carefully through her memory, she sorted through the different cats, and came up with one that, though much younger, seemed to fit the description of that ball of gray fur. Rainkit, he had been called. Back when she was a rogue, she had often gone hunting in ShadowClan territory, and had spied on the camp many times.
As the feline's voice cut the air, the dappled female glanced over in Moonpelt's direction. The silvered she-cat did not move, but shot her a warm glance, and Ziggu briefly nodded her head in thanks. Then the raven-eared female turned back to current matters, audits pricked and directed to the one-sided conversation of the new tom present, just in time to hear the introduction and query. One crimson eyebrow cocked high, the other descending down her brow in a serious expression of questioning curiousness, Ziggu thought for a second about this new information.
Rainwhisker. That fits the name of the kit I remember. He's grown a lot, she added to herself, a slight amused smirk creeping up her lips, but wiped the smile of her features swiftly, before the other could notice it. Clawfoot and Spiderfang... fang, not thorn, so it can't be the mushy female over there. Spider... where else have I heard that name? Spider, Spider, Spider... Hey! Didn't Moon talk to me about that ShadowClan apprentice once, Spiderpaw? Yeah, I'm sure that was his name, but I haven't seen him. I'll check to be sure, though. Might be someone else this Rainwhisker is talking about.
"Dark black fur, gray around eyes and muzzle, right? Blue-gray eyes?"
Her question cut in sharply. By the way she had posed it, it could seem as if she did know where the two warrior cats were, but she knew nothing of their whereabouts. However, knowing who you were talking to was a good thing, and if she learned the name and description of these two felines, new to her, then she would have more to add to her memory.

[Fernpaw]

Dragonfang sighed comically and heaved himself up. "It's my fate to be pushed around for the rest of my life!" he announced dramatically, before bouncing around his mate. "Fatty-butt?" he echoed, whiskers twitching with suppressed laughter. "If I'm a fatty-butt, what are you?" He poked his mates' belly, "Is that the beginning of a pot belly, I see?" he teased, before bounding away.

Tigerpelt meanwhile had turned back and had seen Ziggu struggling to retain her laughter. With narrowed eyes, he contemplated his options:
1) Bowl Ziggu over with one hefty blow, but then get attacked by Moonpelt, from the way she was looking at him.
2) Ignore her and concentrate on Rainwhisker
3) Leave

But options 2 and 3 seemed pretty good choices, so Tigerpelt decided to do both. He turned his attention to Rainwhisker. He listened as the young cat described his two friends, and the questions Ziggu asked. While Rainwhisker was thinking over the answer to the last question, he took a step backward. He paused, waited. No one had noticed hs movement. He took several more steps---nothing. When his hindquarters brushed the shrubbery, he whirled on his hind paws and vanished. Nothing was left of his presence except the faint quivering the stalks of grass, but soon that was gone too. At least now he knew what it felt like to lay out your feelings and be laughed at, and if they weren't in StarClan, that would've been the last mistake Ziggu made. The massive tom slipped through the grasses, suppressing a growing anger that boiled up inside of him and that turned his veins to liquid fire.

Rainwhisker was thinking hard, not noticing Tigerpelt's disappearance. "Um, yeah, I think that's him. It's been awhile since I've seen him. But yeah, that should be him." He looked around, "Any idea where they might be?"

[Flintpelt [Spideh]]

((xDDDD
I like the option thingeh. Hehehe. Maul.))

Making a comical 'oomf' sound as Dragonfang poked her belly, Spiderthorn swept a dramatic paw to her brow, falling over backwards in a mock faint. Landing on her back, dark orange pelt now covered in tan dust, she began laughing and sneezing at the same time, her chest heaving as she desperately tried to take a steady breath in without blowing it out as soon as it reached her lungs. Eyes streaming from the dirt, still giggling madly, the joyful she-cat rolled over onto her belly, let a phenomenal sneeze push all of the air out of her body and then rolled again, free of the clinging dust cloud. Her sneezes stopped as she righted herself again, leaping to her paws and chasing after Dragonfang with flailing paws, yowling out to him in playful outrage.

"Hey, wait for me! Don't hog all the prey!"

((How about making a thread in the Pool, eh? I will, if ya want.))

Ziggu did not move as she felt Tigerpelt moving away, not truly caring about where he went. She was actually quite happy about him leaving. His presence was not welcome in twenty yards of her dappled pelt, and Moon was very much of the same opinion. Both she-cats would rather maul his sorry hide than be nice to him. The ebony-eared warrior suspected that the tom had found out about her laughing fits, but she shrugged indifferently. One more, one less. What would she care? Except for Moon. If Moon went away, there would be nothing left to hold her back from ripping the pelt off that mouse-bile of a Tigerstar's ancestor.
Her attention swerved again as Rainwhisker answered her questions, and she shook her head, trying to put an expression of regret on her exotic features, but only succeeding in leaving a blank look on her face. Raven ear twitched slightly as a fly alighted upon its tip, and then she opened her maw again, continuing the action with words.

"Sorry. Never seen him. Maybe Moon has."