[Fawn]

Lionstar

 42 Moons || Tom || TreeClan

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In the entire six moons that had passed since the StormClan battle, Lionstar hadn't a single perfectly peaceful night; something always kept waking him up, or his dreams were filled with strange cats and even stranger scenes – muted, as though someone had blocked his ears with kitten fluff, and they always ended with a familiar face looking at him, trying to communicate without the usage of words.

After so many moons spent waking up puzzled and a little less comfortable with life as he knew it, Lionstar had finally decided to act, letting his gut take over.

Brief consultations with Littletimber as well as a trip to the Moon Tree had confirmed one thing for the golden forerunner of TreeClan; all this pent up guilt and stress most assuredly had something to do with StoneClan, and StarClan's cryptic messages had been surprisingly clear to him.

It was time to make up for ducking out of the battle that had cost StoneClan nearly everything.

Stepping out of the shadows of his den, Lionstar's golden eyes immediately surveyed the camp, targeting the select few he had chosen for this very important mission – feeling a little uneasy about a certain someone, but resolved to see this through to the end, even if he would not personally be going.

”Sixtoes, Grayowl, Silverpaw and Emberstorm, come with me.”

It was luck, really, that placed all four cats within the immediate vicinity, and Lionstar flicked his tail, immediately padding back into his den and resuming a back corner to allow for the four other felines to settle in comfortably.

With no desire to stand on ceremony, Lionstar immediately gathered the air in his lungs and began, looking from the wide leaf-green eyes of Silverpaw to the sinister gold of Grayowl, Lionstar conscious of the potential confusion running through the gray wraith's mind at this unexpected summoning.

”After much deliberation and consultation with StarClan, I have decided to send a search party into the mountains to find StoneClan, and if they're willing, help them reclaim the territory they've lost. You four have been chosen for that mission.”

Lionstar made sure to meet each of their gazes steadily – even that of his nemesis, for this was a task that, in his mind, went far beyond his usual paranoia and suspicions – continuing after a small pause. ”In the instance that something goes wrong or you need to send a message, send Silverpaw back, as she is the fastest.”

His younger half-sister blinked in surprise at this unexpected compliment, and hastily bowed her head in quick accent, a silent vow to do her best on this mission-out-of-the-blue.

”Sixtoes will be in charge, if neither of you have anything you wish to say, then I ask that you get traveling herbs from Little Timber and leave immediately.”

A resolute glint entered the golden gaze of TreeClan's leader, his shoulders broad and drawn back, decision final. He would speak more in depth with Sixtoes about what to possibly say to Hawkstar, as well as include a warning about Grayowl's...behavior, but that would come later.

With this unorthodox but highly effective group on the search for StoneClan, Lionstar was a firm believer that it would be successful all he had to do –which was perhaps the hardest part – was wait.

OOC: Amber, nimble, Insidious!

[Insidious]

The gray warrior had been busied with his own tasks firm in mind, having planned since early dawn to escape from TreeClan's camp and hunt in the forest with his own privacy as the only source of company. Swift paws steadied to a firm halt, however – Lionstar? Dark gold eyes, newly glazed with momentary surprise, locked upon the leader's large frame, searching his expression for any indication that the long-overdue, yet still somewhat unexpected talk was finally to come. This was an illogical thought; Lionstar, surely, wouldn't be of such remarkable stupidity as to invite three other cats – an apprentice nonetheless – into this discussion of his eerily violent behavior directed towards their noble clan leader. But his steps still indicated a touch of confusion, though not left unaccompanied by the ordinary haste that followed anything Grayowl was required to tend involving spending time with Lionstar.

It was upon the inside of Lionstar's den that Grayowl's confusions were put at peace. Dark gray ears, although highly displeased with himself for paying the regal tom such genuine attention, were factually intrigued by this sudden mission, if not simply by the idea that Lionstar entrusted Grayowl to be a part of it. Admittedly, his mind had fleetingly wandered to StoneClan upon the odd occasion, but said thoughts were never followed by the urge to send out a rescue party. They hadn't answered their pleads when StormClan had first striked, so why was it that Lionstar wished to aid them now when it was a little too late for sympathies? Regardless of his own opinions, he could read in the leader's eyes that there was no room for skepticism or, in Grayowl's case, complaints. But that was perfectly fine; the charcoal warrior content with the mission newly placed upon his shoulders (his only complaint would have perhaps revolved around his expedition partners, if not solely the one placed in charge).

Grayowl rose from his seat, planning to be the first one to Littletimber's den and, more importantly, the first one ready to leave – Sixtoes, even while in charge, would simply need to learn how to keep up with him, for he would not be left in charge lightly; he already had enough issues bending to the current authority's will. Grayowl did not depart, however, without a final glance in their leader's direction. In his best attempts at establishing eye contact, a malevolent grin cracked the very edges of his lip. It seemed Lionstar was already rather stressed with StoneClan's entire situation, so why wouldn't Grayowl ensure to stretch it just a tad farther before venturing into the unknown?