[Insidious]

Sleekshade had been instructed to lead NightClan back to their camp without him. She had protested, following his eyes towards Lionstar and choking back a displeased snarl, but his mind was made up, and she knew better than to try and convince him otherwise. The nature of the conversation they were going to have had been no concern of hers in the moment, but as the deputy of their clan, he would opt to discuss it with her upon his return if she insisted to be in the loop. She had, obviously, insisted, and since Dimstar’s word wasn’t to be taken lightly, she settled into a satisfied silence and agreed to lead NightClan back. Anyone who asked would be told that he had important business to tend to, and nothing more.

The Gathering had slowly dispersed, and Dimstar made a beeline for the outskirts of StarClan’s Claws, confident that Lionstar would join him at his own pace. He intended to truck towards the border between their clans, taking a quiet, secluded route that would hopefully allow for no disruptions. This wasn’t a conversation he wanted any of his clanmates to listen in on, and the same went for the cats of TreeClan; Ravenstar’s death sat idle in the recesses of his mind, for it had been properly avenged when Bloodtalon was killed, but he knew that some of his clanmates wouldn’t agree that one life was enough in exchange for hers. She had been a respected and well-liked leader, but her reign had come to its inevitable end, and Dimstar didn’t think her position made her more important. At the end of the day, they were all cats, warriors, and a life for a life would always balance out.

“This is where she died,” The stoic tom said matter-of-factly, not bothering to glance behind him and confirm Lionstar’s presence, “and that, I presume, is where Bloodtalon died in return.” He gestured curtly over the border, and allotted a brief pause in which his fellow leader could confirm or deny his suspicions. He turned, then, the notion sharp and calculated, to fixate the maned tom with his colourless eyes. His expression was oddly dispassionate for someone who spoke in regards to the death of their previous leader. “I want you to know that I hold no ill will against TreeClan for what transpired. Ravenstar’s death was unfortunate, but because it was avenged, I’m not inclined to take further action.” He considered, as an afterthought, that Lionstar wouldn’t appreciate his warrior being implied any disrespect, but he didn’t feel the need to apologize. “If you can agree, then this doesn’t need to become a problem.” Coming from anyone else, it might’ve sounded like a threat, but Dimstar’s voice was eerily hollow.

Fawn
leafbare twenty-six

[Fawn]

♕
LIONSTAR
57 Moons.  Leader of TreeClan

---

Lionstar felt little remorse over making Dimstar wait—he took the guardianship of TreeClan very seriously, and had chosen to return with Skyfall to their camp before issuing a few necessary orders. A patrol along NightClan's border was not necessary until he and Dimstar had resolved this peculiarity surrounding Ravenstar's and Bloodtalon's death.

He had his doubts about this cat. The first words that sprang to mind were eerie, unsettling, but perhaps that was a good thing. That Dimstar was nothing like Ravenstar in temperament might be of benefit to TreeClan; Dimstar's warmongering, bigoted predecessor had been a briar in his nest for far too long.

Forgiving the puns, Lionstar wished to turn over a new leaf with NightClan. But that could only happen if certain things were... clarified.

"To speak frankly, Ravenstar's death came as a shock to us." Lionstar began, gazing at the charcoal tom with an air of diplomacy. "We did not know Ravenstar was dead until you were seen leading NightClan at the gathering. For a while, I thought Ravenstar had murdered Bloodtalon." Lionstar walked to the spot where he had found the senior warrior's body. "Bloodtalon's body was found on our side of the border, right where I am standing. We smelled Ravenstar on him, and there was her fur stuck in his claws, but that was all. You said your leader was avenged. Who was the cat?"

There was something wrong, here.

Lionstar had not allowed his warriors to investigate NightClan's side of the border, but they had smelled blood and fear and fur in the air, same as every battle. The NightClan swampy odor mixing with TreeClan's woodsy scent. Not for the first time did Lionstar regret holding so tight to the rules—NightClan had 'won' that battle, but it wasn't a clean battle.

For a while, he had thought he was too biased against NightClan, so biased as to see a border skirmish that had turned lethal as being an attempt by Ravenstar to murder a TreeClanner. It had made his blood boil, at the time, but time had passed enough that he could look at Dimstar and the place of battle without severe prejudice.

Suspecting the charcoal tom had quite a few thoughts to sift through, Lionstar fell silent, giving him ample time to consider what he had said.

---

DID YOU SEE THE SPARKS FILLED WITH HOPE? CAUSE YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

SOMEONE'S OUT THERE, SENDING OUT FLARES.

Word Count: 408 Words Tags: Insidious , @zen Notes: Hopefully that is correct! If something's off, please let me know. =)

[Insidious]

Lionstar veiled his suspicion, but it was etched into his eyes. Dimstar hadn’t been present when the cats had died, but he knew Sandviper’s point of view (if not solely from his words) and he chose to believe his warrior unconditionally. However, that didn’t stop him from reevaluating the scene, and tying Lionstar’s details into the story to see if they matched up with what Sandviper had said. Ravenstar’s body was found on NightClan’s side of the border because, from what he had been told, Bloodtalon had crossed over and killed her, but Bloodtalon’s body being found on TreeClan’s side of the border was new information. Dimstar hadn’t asked about the dead TreeClan cat, and Sandviper hadn’t ventured into too much detail. All he knew was that Sandviper killed him to avenge their leader. That had been enough for the stoic leader.

“Sandviper.” He had stayed silent for long enough, the events flashing behind his eyes, and chose to begin by answering Lionstar’s question. The identity of Bloodtalon’s killer wasn’t something he intended to keep secret. “Ravenstar’s body was found on NightClan’s side of the border,” he recapped monotonously, “which would infer that Bloodtalon crossed the border and took her life. That would explain why her fur was caught in his claws. If you say that his body was found on your side of the border…” Dimstar paused, searching for a plausible explanation that would keep his warrior safe from TreeClan’s suspicion. “… then I wouldn’t be surprised. Sandviper is a beastly fighter, and more than capable of pushing a battle a few fox-lengths backwards.”

He was satisfied with his explanation. It made sense to him, but that didn’t mean Lionstar would take it to heart without further questions. He would never be inclined to assign blame to one of his warriors without explicit proof, and since nobody else had been present when Ravenstar and Bloodtalon died, a part of him could understand why Lionstar insisted to uncover something that, in Dimstar’s eyes, wasn’t there. He would do the same thing if it was one of his cats being pinned for a crime. “Do you think Sandviper lied to me, Lionstar?” Dimstar wasn’t one to dance around a subject. He could see that Lionstar was uncomfortable accepting the story as fact, and he promptly addressed it. From the blankness inscribed permanently onto Dimstar's face, it was clear (to him, at least, and to a cat who understood his mannerisms better) that he didn't consider it a possibility. He asked the question without a trace of uncertainty.

Fawn

[Fawn]

♕
LIONSTAR
57 Moons.  Leader of TreeClan

---

"How many lives did Ravenstar have left?" He answered Dimstar's question with a question, his curiosity piqued. Had this been a cat who preferred to keep Clan secrets secret, Lionstar wouldn't have bothered asking—but this charcoal wraith before him was a logical, rational creature. The truth would matter more than any so-called 'secrets'.

Besides, if Ravenstar really had gone on to StarClan, then other cats would know the truth. Lionstar too would eventually find out, when he went to join his ancestors in some (hopefully) many moons to come. That is, if he still cared. Lionstar's tail-tip twitched, a subtle sign of his troubled mind. He couldn't say whether or not Bloodtalon was the sort of cat who would want revenge for his untimely (but possibly deserved) death at the claws of a NightClan cat—more than likely, the scarred tabby warrior would be more upset over his own death than something as petty as vengeance.

If there was an upside to this, Lionstar noted, it was that Bloodtalon now had all the opponents he could ever possibly want—if StarClan would allow friendly sparring from time to time.

With a contemplative gaze, Lionstar again considered Dimstar's words. He clearly thought very highly of Sandviper; Lionstar had not fought this tom personally, but rumors had circulated through the valley every once in a while. Usually, any talks of demons were attributed to LightningClan's ghastly albino warriors, or the lynx skulking just out of range of TreeClan's border. But every once in a while, the name Sandviper would pass from the mouth of one cat to another, and the warrior's reputation would spread.

Lionstar's opinions on the matter had been neither here nor there—until he had one dead senior warrior and so little information to go on. If there was an easy answer to be found here, Lionstar didn't see it.

Sometimes certain things would remain a mystery to any cat who didn't see it first hand.

---

DID YOU SEE THE SPARKS FILLED WITH HOPE? CAUSE YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

SOMEONE'S OUT THERE, SENDING OUT FLARES.

Word Count: 348 Words Tags: Insidious , @zen Notes: ---