We bring [[S.i.n]] and {D.e.a.t.h}

[Fallentear ||]

if you ::feel::
so [[empty].x
so {used} up
so ((let down))

Fog swirled across the floor of the dead forest, making it seem all the more ominous. Usually, strange sounds drifted around as well, but not tonight. Tonight, a deadly silence hung like a muffling cloth upon the whole area. Two pairs of bright yellow-green eyes glared through the gaunt black trunks, growing closer like headlights on a road. It was moonhigh, and pearly white light spilled like milk across the scene, falling down on the ground without much trouble, because the trees here were quite bare. A ghostly tom and a dark calico she-cat strode through the trees, their paws making no noise that was noticable unless one was watching them. They had offered to go out on the night patrol for two reasons.

if you ::feel::
so [[angry].x
so {ripped} off
so ((stepped on))

One was to make sure that there were no stray rogues on the borders tonight. If Firefly and Rose showed up, both cats would be inclined to return to camp without finishing their task. The second reason was because they had to meet somebody in secret tonight. Somebody that had sent them to the clans in the first place, in search of a better life. Somebody that had a past as unclear as Fogclan on a winter night, and that had told it to nobody but his most trusted comrades. Somebody, that the clans would never be able to trust, and that was feared by all.

you're [n.o.t} the |o-n-l-y o-n-e|
.refusing:. to back down

The calico she-cat stopped, and her brother did the same. Both cat had their wide eyes fixed on the same spot. What they were looking at was a shadow. A strange shadow, darker even than any other shadow in the forest, which was perched atop a gigantic jagged rock. The shadow stirred, rising off of the ground like a hellish creature in flight as it leaped forward. It landed with a loud dull thud many taillengths in front of the rock, without so much as a flinch although it had fallen from a great height. But then again, upon greater consideration, the thing was bigger than a badger. Bigger, even, than a fox. He was as big as the hunting dogs that chased after foxes, and so much more ferocious with his long claws and long, curved fangs. The creature moved forward with huge strides, and he looked like he was gliding. The two cats watched him calmly. And they knew he was probably not alone.

you're [n.o.t} the |o-n-l-y o-n-e|
so .:get up.

Both of the new additions to Blazeclan bowed respectfully and silently for a few moments as the huge black animal stopped before them. His eyes were as dark as his black pelt, and if one studied him closely they could see that he had two lighter patches of dark brown on his sides that were shaped, interestingly enough, like wings. The hellish creature of the night studied the two cats and then, finally, spoke in a low, bone-chilling voice. "Up now. And give the report. You won't have much time." The collosal tom remained standing, or more like towering, before the two cats. Even though they both had great reason to trust him, tiny flickers of fear could be caught in each of the twin sets of eyes.

let's start a riot ((a riot))
let's start a riot

First the calico she-cat rose, and then the tom did so after, more cautiously. The older cat obeyed and dipped her head, speaking in her rasping, venomous voice, "Nesa and Kristy have abandoned the plan Lucifer. And even then, they have not merely turned their backs on us, but have turned full circle to fight against us. They have joined Firefly, Rose, and the other rogues involved with Ivorystorm. However, they have tried to propose a compromise. They propose that you let The Fallen inhabit the rogue and loner territory, and that in return you do not come near the clans." Raising her head, her eyes glinted maliciously, "I say we can use this territory to our advantage. It is a long journey from Seared, and if our own proposition to the clans is to be posed, it should be done so in a show of splendor and power; not in a show of lethargy and fatigue." Stepping back, Sin let her brother have a turn.

if you ::feel::
so [[filthy].x
so {dirty}
so ((screwed up))

Death stood straight. Looking like a ghost was natural for him with his extremely pale ginger fur, but tonight he looked almost transparent under the moonlight. "Lucifer, I have come to be a part of Blazeclan. I feel like I fit in. Back in Seared, I felt...disgusting. We were contained, and lived like filthy rats in that stormdrain. I have developed a loyalty to this clan that you may never understand, but I still have loyalty to you also. I know you want The Fallen to have a better home, but I don't want to take it by force." His face grew uncertain as he paused, but then he continued strongly, "I know that you owe me no favors, but it is my only request that you change your goals. If Blazeclan refuses to merge territories with us and take our cats in as part of their kin, we should not force them with bloody war, but merely a tactical show of force. We must make it strategic, and not brutish. We should be able to strike awe and respect into their hearts...without battle. I have promised protection to a litter of kits in the clan, and I will die protecting them before I join your side of a fight." His words rung clear and soft, but they were powerful as well.

if you ::feel::
so [[walked].x on
so {painful}
so ((pissed off))

Lucifer looked down at the two cats stoically for a moment, but then bared his teeth in an impish smirk. He did not laugh though, although amusement and anger danced in his eyes. No, this tom did not laugh often. Looking down his muzzle, he considered both cats. "Sin." He said, turning to look into the eyes of the female, "Your words show sense. This territory could be of use to us. I accept their offer, but on one condition." His eyes took up a tricky quality, flickering like flames, "If this territory does not satisfy the needs of our growing pack, we may be free to move on in search of different territory. Tell them that." Turning, he adressed the young tom now. "I see you have taken to this place as your home." The pure midnight tom looked around at the trees passively before continuing, "But it cannot be so. You may grow a connection with the cats here, but you belong with The Fallen. You may be able to use your connection to convince these cats to ally with us, and I hope you do so instead of turning against us as Nesa and Kristy have done. Denying a pact is truly shameful, and you I know are not shameful. I will honor your wishes, and use brain more than brawn. But I warn you that if Blazeclan cries for battle, I will not hold back." Death couldn't help but glance warily at Lucifer's huge paws, and imagine how much detruction this leader alone could cause with his claws like a badger's.

you're [n.o.t} the |o-n-l-y o-n-e|
.refusing:. to go down

Death nodded, and Sin lowered her head in silent agreement. His words sounded reasonable enough. They were lucky that he had even decided to waver a bit at all. They were pleased. Just then, all three heads snapped around to face the sound of a twig breaking. Someone was there, and had been watching them. Death crouched and pinned his ears to his head in fear, not wanting to be caught. The young tom did not want to be expelled from Blazeclan. Sin growled low and threateningly in her throat, ready to attack the watcher and dispose of them if need be. She did not want their plans to be ruined. Lucifer narrowed his eyes; the situation had grown intriguing. He did not care who the cat was, because if he really felt the need they could be easily taken care of.

you're [n.o.t} the |o-n-l-y o-n-e|
so .:get up.

[.feather//oceana.]

xx.//And it takes me away.]]

Moonlight bathed a barren trail that wound between ghastly dead trees. A cat the color of the trunk of a sturdy oak tree cautiously broached her patrol through the Dead Woods. This was not something she enjoyed, merely something she had been forced into. No mentally stable cat enjoyed prowling around through the woods in the dead of night, even when there was nearly a full moon.

xx.//As if it's only in my mind.]]

The feline cringed as a fog as thick as the Blaze Plants in new leaf encased her, trapping her mentally. It seemed as if her sense of direction was swallowed up in the fog as well. She may as well have been caught in some horrible unknown creature's bite; she could invision a dark shadowy character swining her around until she was so disoriented that she could know longer see from her lime toned orbs.

xx.//Same old set of feelings.]]

Yes, Timbercreek had to admit, she was extremely frightened. Although she was not certain what had been the cause of her fear on this particular night, for she had done midnight patrol several times in the past. Perhaps it was the element of being alone. Nevertheless, the auburn femme trekked on, stepping carefully and cautiously, pausing every once in a while to inhale the scents around her.

xx.//Happen faster still.]]

All I have to do is get to the border and do a quick scan, then I can sprint with all I've got back to camp she reassured herself as her unease grew like mold, pesky and problematic. The femme longed for the comfort of her den right now, to be curled in close with her clanmates, hearing their soft breathing, like the ebb and flow of a tide. She longed more than anything for the closeness of another life form. Out here tonight, Timbercreek felt as if she had accidentely fell upon another realm. This was not the BlazeClan she knew.

xx.//My friend I hardly knew you.]]

Something cried out in the dark, but the fog muffled her senses, so the cat could not tell what direction the cry was coming from, nor could she tell what sort of creature had emitted it. The only thing it did for Timbercreek was frighten her further. A feeling of panic crept it's way like a deadly spider up her chest and forced its way into her mouth and down her throat. Timbercreek cried out in fright and terror.

xx.//Though I tried so long ago.]]

Timbercreek could restrain herself no longer. The fog, the noises, being alone, it had all blitzed her at once. The femme absconded like she never had before in a direction that she prayed would lead her either to camp, or the BlazeClan borders. It was of little worry to her now that she would look like a fool and others would see her behavior as kit like if she returned to camp. Something about the woods after sundown had caused her sheer terror. As if she'd been there before, but for a strange reason, was unable to recall any previous encounter.

xx.//I've been thinking it over.]]

It had not yet registered for the amber toned she cat that she could not run forever. No, she would never be able to evade this nightmare until the sun rose, to save her, or at least until she could find her way out of this billowing fog. Her breath began to transform from quiet easy strokes to pained hard pants. The muscles in her legs sweltered in pain, and she began to slow.

xx.//Or at least I'm trying to.]]

In her altered state of mind, Timbercreek had not realized that the thick fog had begun to diminish into a fine mist. She paused to allow her body to catch up with her mind. Claws unsheathed she stood firmly in place panting. What was happening to her? Running like this made her remember leaving Heatherkit. The femme groaned quietly. No, now was not the time to add painful memories to the list of issues.

xx.//Remembering that Saturday.]]

Her breathing was finally beginning to settle and her auburn fur was returning to its usual position. Timbercreek gazed at the moon longingly. DreamClan, why must you play tricks with my mind? Timbercreek was still somewhat confused at what had happened in the barren foggy forest, perhaps DreamClan knew?

xx.//When we wrecked our shoes.]]

Onward, the mist had diminished completely and Timbercreek felt decisively safer. Her green optics scanned the terrain ahead for signs of life nearer the border. The ground beneath her paws slowly grew from a wasteland to more grassy and vegetated. The femme closed her eyes for an instant and inhaled some fresh air as she walked. However, in a mere second, her feet were lifted from under her as she tumbled down a tiny grassed hill after stumbling over a protruding tree root.

xx.//We were coverd in love.]]

With an thud that was so earsplitting compared to the deathly silence that was, Timbercreek landed square in the center of a group of cats. Embarrassed, she abrubtly threw herself to her paws and turned to face the others. She recognized Sin and Death, clanmates, but she had no recollection of the other. His mere size took her breath away. At first glimpse, Timbercreek wasn't sure if he was a cat or a badger. "Sin, Death, what are you doing here? I didn't know you were sent on the midnight patrol as well?" it felt strange to hear even her own voice after unbearable minutes of silence. The femme licked her white chest fur back into place and made an attempt to veil her embarassment.

xx.//Or maybe the lack thereof.]]

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[Squid]

His fur should've been quite noticable to any lifeform in the Dead Woods by now. Chancestep's white pelt and gleaming hazel eyes would have given him away instantly if not for the dead plants he'd been hiding in, on top of being covered in mud when he'd slipped somewhere. He stared intently at the group for a long time, hearing the entire conversation. Of course, Chancestep was frightened, who wouldn't be, with the larger cats fierce looking demeaner combined with Death's ghostlyness, but being the tom cat he was, Chancestep kept a serious look, the only mistake he made, was that when Timbercreek tumbled into the center of the three cats, he himself leaped up as if on instinct, giving away his position he'd kept for so long. Upon hearing Timbercreek, Chancestep strolled to her side like it was nothing, his eyes narrowed with a challenging but fierce gleam to them "Well now Timbercreek, I don't really think they are, why else would they have been chatting with this rogue for such a long period of time" Chancestep's first thought when he had followed Sin and Death to the Dead Woods, only to see them have a good long chat with a rogue was Traitors... But then again, Chancestep often took things a little bit out of context, not always quite understanding what would be going on in some situations, but quick to land blame and jump to conclusions, but also having been Ivorystorm's brother is what caused him to grow up like that, not that he hated his sister or anything.

[Fallentear ||]

Sin and Lucifer did not show their surprise at all, merely narrowing their eyes in fury. Death, however, looked incredulously at the two newcomers. Sin snarled softly, "We are on the midnight patrol." She didn't know what else to say, seeing as Chancestep had seen their whole conversation, and probably was either very confused, or very angry, or maybe both. Her yellow eyes were like becons, and even in the darkness her fur had it's oddly reptilian look. Her lips drew back to reveal her teeth, like a snake waiting to strike.

Death looked over to Timbercreek, who looked terrified. He had been about to lend her his shoulder and help her to her paws, but she'd leaped up so quickly that it had seemed she'd been on a loaded spring. Chancestep looked quite accusingly at them, and although Sin would say no more, he felt the need to explain a little. "What she means," He began, "Is that we WERE on the midnight patrol. We ran into him, however," He nodded his head at the black giant the stood a bit off to the side, "And stopped to speak. You see, before we came to the clans, we lived in a terribly dirty city with a group of rogues and loners. We were sent here by the leader of our group, to find a better home. And also-" Death stopped short as the dark tom stepped forward, placing himself in a more lighted spot. Crouching defensively, he wondered if he had said too much.

Lucifer cast a meaningful glance down at his son. There was nothing in his dark eyes except reassurance. "And also, he is my son." Came his soft, deep tone. Raising his powerful head, he made it clear that he was not afraid of these two cats in the least. In the forest around, two eyes watched all five cats, four of which were unaware of their presence; and Lucifer knew that the cat those eyes belonged was there with him. Studying the two latest additions to the group, he spoke a second time. "And Sin, is my daughter. Naturally, I wanted only the best for them, so I sent them away, and this is what they've found. I came to speak to them tonight, because I knew that on the new moon they would be out on patrol."

He paused, bringing his black eyes to look straight into Chancestep's hazel ones. This was his way of testing the cat. If the cat spoke a challenge to his next words, then he would be telling the three how much he really knew. But if he remained silent, that meant that he had only just arrived, as Timbercreek had. "I arranged to meet them here tonight, before they left for the clans. I wanted to know how they would be faring after a moon in Blazeclan, and it seems that they have been doing quite well." The tom's eyes strayed behind Chancestep, into the brush for a moment. But they weren't there long, because they now were moving back and forth slowly from one cat to the other, with a gleam flashing there.

[.feather//oceana.]

xx.//I wish my memory would serve me.]]

The auburn femme sat down slowly as she tried to comprehend what she'd just been told. As former deputy of BlazeClan, she knew that it wasn't right for her clanmates to be having meetings with an out of clan cat, even if he was their father. However, a pang of similarity would not go away inside her chest. Timbercreek tried to observe Lucifer's point of view, which was incredibly simple for her, since she had once been in a very similar situation. He must have missed his kits terribly.

xx.//But its more like mythology.]]

The femme knew it was extremely difficult to turn your kits over to something you knew was better for them. She could feel salty tears welling up in her eyes as she began to recall things she had previously blocked out in her past. No, not now! she scolded herself. "Uhm," she shook her head and brought herself back to her senses. "Death, Sin, if you're really loyal to BlazeClan you cannot continue to see cats that are outside the clan," she paused. "Even if he is your father," the words came out like molasses.

xx.//Ancient history of stories.]]

On the other hand, Timbercreek was unsure whether to believe Chancestep or the two siblings. She couldn't recall them being sent on the midnight patrol. It seemed to be far more likely that they just came here to meet up with the beastly tom that was their father. Timbercreek was afraid to look at him directly, worried that her words would offend him. She was fast, but if he caught her, Lucifer would be able to crush her in an instant with his huge paws. She stepped nearer to Chancestep, as if it would offer her some protection.

xx.//That I made up, up.]]

[Squid]

Chancestep spoke no more than the words he'd said before after Timbercreek spoke. When Lucifer looked straight at his own hazel eyes, Chancestep did not falter, holding his fierce and challenging gaze at the tom, daring him to try something. When Timbercreek stepped closer towards himself, Chancestep unsheathed is claws, as if actually expecting a fight "Alright, then if we're all done here, we should get back to camp" There wasn't a doubt that he would tell Flamestar of the meeting, but cats were probably wondering where the four of them had wandered off to

[Fallentear ||]

The two younger cats looked at their father, questioning him silently. The large black tom's eyes were fixed on Chancestep, who glared defiantly right back. Admirable, this tom is. Lucifer thought. Not many would dare look me in the eyes with such a haughty stance. Approval flashed momentarily in his eyes before he brought them slowly over to look at Timbercreek, who had spoken. He blinked slowly, his ears twitching. "She's right you know." He said simply, glancing over at Sin, who had opened her mouth to say something. "But there is no need for them to meet me again anyways. We have arranged for this one meeting, and this one only. I have heard what I needed to know, and will leave now to let you all go back to your camp." Stepping back slowly, he looked towards Chancestep's unsheathed claws, his maw twisting into a slow smile. There might be some cat around that would not take kindly to this kind of threat. Lucifer certainly wouldn't be goaded into a fight by this display of a threat, but she might...

Sin narrowed her eyes, but yet was somewhat greatful that her father had spoken first. She had been about to throw out a retort about how it was only one meeting, but thought better of it. "Yes, I suppose you're right. It's nearly dawn, and the others will wonder where we've gone." Death rose from his instinctive crouch, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Will you tell the clan about this?" The young tom squeaked, his eyes widening. Although he didn't truly have much faith in Dreamclan, he threw up a silent prayer anyways. 'Please don't let this hold up my naming ceremony.' The two cats had been with the clan for a few moons, and he hadn't been given a mentor yet, nor his sister been given a warrior name.

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[.feather//oceana.]

xx.//Listen to me when I tell you.]]

At the mention of the word dawn, Timbercreek surveyed the night sky and noticed that the dusky night sky began to transform from black to a deep purple. She must've spent longer than she'd suspected roaming in the Dead Woods. She nodded as Lucifer spoke, glad that he agreed with her; a disagreement with that cat could easily be fatal. The femme then adressed Death. She noted a tone of nervousness in his voice. He had every reason to be nervous. A cat that originally came from outside of the clans breaking the Warrior Code would be taken very seriously by the leader and the other cats in BlazeClan. She wasn't harsh, but she also wasn't going to allow the younger cats to think that it was okay for them to do this. "I won't say anything to the others about this," Timbercreek promised, "But don't do something like this again," she concluded. However, Timbercreek knew she could not speak for Chancestep, he would have to decide whether he would reveal what he saw or not.

xx.//You've got no control.]]

[Fallentear ||]

Death nodded, his eyes gleaming greatfully. "I won't." He promised. Sin looked over at her brother with curiousity. Was he seriously concerned about this? Maybe he had higher hopes for Blazeclan than she'd expected. He'd truly let himself open up to this new life, and she hadn't even noticed it until now. She stepped up beside her younger brother and nudged his body with her own, telling him it was time to go. She looked up at her father and meowed in her rough, venomous tone, "Goodbye Lucifer. I don't know when we'll see you again, but I'm guessing it won't be while we're in Blazeclan." Not feeling obliged to show affection towards the same tom that had left her alone at birth, she merely nodded curtly and then turned towards the camp, heading into the trees. Death muttered a soft goodbye and followed her quickly, his eyes looking at his paws as he went.

Lucifer's eyes followed his kits until they were out of sight and then they roved back to the warriors before him. "Thank you both, for not sending up an alarm or anything. I didn't want this all to be such a big deal, and I'm glad you both handled it so calmly." He blinked slowly, his ears flicking back towards the shadows behind him. The black tom's tail hung behind him in a crecent moon shape, arcing up higher than his head.

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