[Silver]

Silverglade

I stand alone between my heart and the coming danger that lies ahead.

Loner || Queen || 22 Moons

A few days, that was how long they had been here in the heart of Stone Clan territory. It made Silverglade increasingly nervous with each day that passed without the appearance of the leader. She knew he was giving her time to rest before approaching, but she was still worried. She knew that she and her kit shouldn't be here; knew enough of the Warrior Code to know that they were moderately safe until the leader had come to have his say, but still. She knew what her plan of action was. If it came down to it, she would leave Sandkit in this place and trust the clan to raise him; knowing they were more likely to take a long kit than a kit and his mother. She knew that meant she might not survive through the cold season but that was alright with her. Even if it meant her own death, if Sandkit were to survive she would do whatever it took.

She stretched, wincing as her entire body throbbed in pain before she settled to let her exhausted body rest once more. She sat quietly, watching as Sandkit roused and began to explore the Medicine Den with avid curiousity. She smiled faintly as he stumbled all over himself because of his large feet and her heart clenched with pain as she was reminded of her beloved Dappleback once more. Sandkit looked and acted so much like his father, and she did miss him so. She tried not to linger on the past but times like this made it impossible not to do so. She had kept Sandkit alive; knowing it was what her mate would have wanted after he'd managed to save him, but that meant staying alive herself and it was so hard when she missed him so. Him and...Her heart clenched again, more painfully this time and she let the thought go as grief threatened to overwhelm her once more. She could't think about them, not now, it still hurt too much.

A warm presence at her side had Silverglade startling just slightly as she was suddenly pulled from her dark thoughts. She looked down to meet her kit's bright green eyes staring up at her in concern. She smiled for him faintly; amazed as she always was just how perceptive Sandkit was for one so young. He always did know when her thoughts were dark ones and he always came to her side to remind her once more just why she was still alive and fighting each day to live. Oh, but she did love him so. It was why...it was why...well when she spoke to the leader at last, it was why she'd do what it took to ensure this little life she loved so much never had to want for anything ever again. It would be hard for him, when she had to leave, but at least he'd be alive.

--

Words: 491
Tags: BlooRey DVD

My fate is unknown, but I will remain strong.

[BlooRey DVD]

Hawkstar

may your dreams be larger than mountains

Pale amber eyes stared at the rock walls surrounding the den he called his own. Frozenrain wasn't with him, having been assigned to a patrol earlier; it was just him for the time being, the solitude lingering over him despite the wake of Clan cats just outside. A heavy sigh stirred the air, the sandy tabby's shoulder drooping slightly as though he might collapse beneath his own weight. He couldn't remember a time when being leader had felt so burdensome, not even when the entire Clan had been chased from their home and forced to live among the mountains.

Perhaps I'm getting to old for this. He thought, an almost bitter snort leaving him. Pushing himself to his paws, he ducked his broad shouldered frame through the entrance of his den, desperate to shake the unnerving solitude looming over him. He spent a moment just watching the cats of StoneClan, his Clan. There were so many familiar faces, faces of those he trusted and those who trusted him. Among the crowd of cats, his pale gaze found Eagletalon dipping out of camp with a pretty she-cat not far behind him. Ears pricked forward in curiosity, a strange sense of deja-vu flooding him.

...I've seen him with Duskflower before. The though struck him so suddenly, the StoneClan leader couldn't quite figure out how this hadn't clicked before. Unable to suppress the grin that spread over his maw, Hawkstar felt his previous worries melt away for the time being. I'll have to pay my brother a visit in the near future. He mused, vowing to bug Eagletalon about his she-cat friend, until his best friend divulged all. Chuckling to himself, he surveyed the Clan again, his eyes finding Crimsonshadow as the tom returned from a patrol. The former TreeClan tom crossed paths briefly with Hawkfall, and a sudden thought bloomed to life in the StoneClan leader's mind.

Hawkfall and Crimsonshadow had one thing in common; they had not been born in StoneClan. There was another cat among them who was not of StoneClan origin. Two technically, for she brought with her a kit. Setting course for the medicine cat den, Hawkstar managed to flag down Dawnblossom just as she was directing herself toward the camp entrance to collect some herbs. She assured him that their guest and her little one were well enough for his visit, although the mother still suffered from some symptoms of exhaustion.

Thanking the healer for her time and her aid, Hawkstar picked his way among his Clan, greeting friendly faces as they milled about. Finally, his large frame closed upon the medicine cat den, the StoneClan leader ducking his head through the entrance as he glanced about. His pale gaze soon found StoneClan's current guest, the tom offering her a kind smile. "Hello, Silverglade. I do not know if you remember me from when you first arrived, but I am Hawkstar, leader of StoneClan. Do you mind if I come in? I believe we have a few things to discuss."

His voice was strong, but kind as he spoke, and it was evident this meeting depended on her. If she told him she wasn't well enough and needed more time, he would return at a later date. All she had to do was speak.

leader of stoneclan

and may you have the courage
to scale their summits

background image | harley king | Silver | table by phoenix

[Silver]

Silverglade

I stand alone between my heart and the coming danger that lies ahead.

Loner || Queen || 22 Moons

Ears perked as a noise from the entrance to the Medicine Den caught Silverglade's attention. She shifted to rise, then winced as her entire body again protested with a sharp wave of pain. She took a deep breath to ride out the pain but kept her feet as the leader of Stone Clan entered and she knew her time had come. She held her stance, strong and aware with her tail perked up like a proper adult should, then quietly greeted the leader. "Hawkstar, I know who you are. I remember...very little of when we arrived, but I know who you are. Sorry but, I'm going to have to sit back down for this conversation. I'm still tired, yes, but well enough for this talk. I hate leaving things unsaid, so this is fine." She slowly lowered her tired body back into a sitting position; pleased to have greeted the leader on her feet.

She took another deep breath to steady herself for the difficult choice she knew she had to make, but one look to Sandkit made her mind up again. "We have much to discuss, you and I. First I..." She paused, startled, as she watched her tiny kit curiously approach the large tom that led this clan. She felt panic seize her heart but kept her composure and watched. She knew enough of the Warrior Code to know that a kit would never be harmed. She had to believe that, or she'd ruin this chance for her son. Even so...well she'd keep an eye on him.

Sandkit stumbled over to the large tom and fell head over feet when he tried to stop. He sneezed again before righting himself, his little tail sticking straight out to try and keep his balance. Green eyes looked up at Hawkstar curiously, before the questions and comments began in earnest. "You are huge! Like really, really huge! Like bigger than the stones and trees kind of huge! I didn't know cats got that huge and...Mama, stop laughing at me, it's not funny!" He turned to the sound of his mother's laughter, trying to look indignant and angry but instead making his fur puff up comically so he looked like a puff ball more than a kit.

A tiny squeaking sound issued from the young tom that made his mother laugh harder at him when she realized he was trying to hiss at her. The small kit scowled at his mother before finally seeming to ignore her in favor of his curiousity about the large tom before him. He sniffed delicately at Hawkstar, toddling this way and that around the leader and sneezing occasionally when dust got into his nose. His ears perked forward, before he waddled backwards so he could look up at Hawkstar with a sort of admiration in his green eyes. Then he firmly announced his intentions. "I'm going to be bigger than you are someday! That way I can protect Mama and stop the bad things from hurting her anymore. Just you wait and see!"

Silverglade shook her head at her kit, deep fondness and amusement filling her as finally Sandkit wandered off to sniff and the various herbs around the place. She almost felt bad for the poor Medicine Cat that was likely to be getting an ear full soon, but it was alright. Better he wasn't here for what she had to say anyway. Once her kit was far enough away, her expression fell into serious lines as she addressed the leader once more.

"I know...enough about the Code to have a sense of what I'm about to say being true. Normally, a clan doesn't except loners like me, but neither would you turn away a kit in need. That being said...I don't expect you to let me stay here, but Sandkit...if at all possible could my son stay here in your clan? It would be...safer for him and he would have a better chance at surviving here than if he stayed with me. I've protected him as well as I can so far, but everyone that saw us enter the Medicine Den knows the state I was in when we got here. I'm still tired, but I'm strong enough to make this choice."

She rose back to her feet even as pain shot through her exhausted body so that she was more level with the leader and could properly look him in the eyes so he would know just how serious she was in this. It was too important to sit down from here on out. "Hawkstar, would your clan accept my son? He's young yet, but I think he could do well here. I'm not asking for myself, a Loner like me doesn't belong to a clan like this, but Sandkit..." Her hears perked forwards, every line in her body tense as she held herself as strongly as she could.

This was important, she had to make him understand. She knew what would happen to her when she left the territory; she'd never last through leafbare. That was fine, so long as Sandkit survived. Even still, her lean body trembled with exhaustion and there was a hint that she was still a bit young by the look of grief still stamped in her dark blue eyes. She was used to being in a group, not alone like she was, but for the love of her kit, she would do anything.

She took another deep breath, before asking one final thing for herself and only because it meant the difference in keeping Sandkit here or not. "All I ask for myself is the chance to recover my strength enough to walk out of this territory on my own four paws. I can hunt for myself and Sandkit, and I won't be a bother in the meantime. So please...can't he stay?" Such sorrow in her words, but also determination. She'd followed the Code most of her life, but she didn't know what it meant for this situation. It was likely Hawkstar would take in her kit and she would have to leave, but that was alright. The clan took care of it's own.

--

Words: 1030
Tags: BlooRey DVD

My fate is unknown, but I will remain strong.

[BlooRey DVD]

Hawkstar

may your dreams be larger than mountains

The young queen began speaking, and Hawkstar had been fully prepared to give her his full attention. Before she could get more than a pawful of words out, a small bundle of kit fur tumbled into the open to stare up at him with eyes as wide as the moon. Alarm flashed in the large tom's eyes to begin, but he was soon left purring in amusement. Tilting his head, his ears pushed forward to catch the words tumbling from the young tom's mouth. With a smile, he nodded his head. "I have no doubt that you will, young Sandkit. Train hard and be the best you can be, and you will earn the title of true warrior."

When the little tan tom wandered off to explore some other nook in the den, pale amber eyes returned to the queen sitting in her nest. His muzzle tilted curiously, listening to the words she spoke. He blinked slowly, his mind doing it's best to sort through what she was saying. It sounds like she thinks... He thought to himself, his pale gaze widening slowly. When she finished her part, the big tabby stood on his paws, stepping towards her just enough to sweep his tail in her direction.

"Silverglade, please sit. I appreciate your efforts at showing respect, but you are not well." He meowed gently, moving to do the same in hopes of showing her it was alright. His tail tucked over his large paws, concern in his eyes. "I'm... Afraid you've misjudged the situation, Silverglade. We would not turn away a kit, that is true. But I've come here to let you make a choice. You would not be the only non-StoneClan cat to join our ranks. We've not yet had a loner join in my time as leader, but two of our warriors were born to other Clans."

He explained, watching her carefully. "It will not be an easy transition... Nor will it be guaranteed all will accept you. But I believe Sandkit's life would best be lived with you in it. I am offering you a trial period in our Clan, to determine whether you believe you can fit in with us." He paused then, considering his words. "You will be treated just as any other joining member would be; you will be given an escort any time you wish to leave camp, until you have been deemed loyal."

His tail tip twitched. "It is nothing against you, we simply must ensure our Code is respected at all times. We cannot afford accidentally starting a war. And unfortunately, as you were raised a loner, you will undergo much of the same training as an apprentice would if you wish to become a warrior. We must ensure all StoneClan members can defend their Clan. But that can be discussed at a later date, when you are feeling more yourself. To answer your question... Yes, Sandkit is welcome here." So far, there had been minimal consequences to Hawkstar's more.. Benevolent approach. Crimsonshadow and Hawkfall had both proved themselves capable and loyal.

I hope that doesn't change.

leader of stoneclan

and may you have the courage
to scale their summits

background image | harley king | Silver | table by phoenix

[Silver]

Silverglade

I stand alone between my heart and the coming danger that lies ahead.

Loner || Queen || 22 Moons

Silverglade's ears perked up and her blue eyes went wide as Hawkstar corrected her notion of what it would take to keep her son safe. Wait that meant...she could stay too? She did sit down then; relief rushing through her system. She might have been fully prepared to leave the territory if that was what she needed to do for Sandkit to remain, but she hadn't wanted to have to abandon her kit to the kindness of strangers. He was all she had left and she far from wanted to be alone in a place where it was almost certain she would soon die. She let out a low, happy purr of sound; tail twitching calmly around her. She might be tired, but this good news was really just what she'd needed.

"So you're saying I can stay too? That's...I didn't even consider it was a possibility. Thank you, really. I...I won't make you regret it I promise!" Her tone was fierce and determined but also openly honest. He had said she could stay, it bothered her on several levels to be stuck in the position of an Apprentice - as she understood the term to mean one that needed to learn how to be a Warrior - but with the good news that she could remain with her kit, she felt she could deal with anything Hawkstar threw at her. She felt herself smiling and her ears perked up when she heard the sound of Sandkit scampering back up to her side. He took one look at his mother's happy face and toddled back over to Hawkstar with a serious expression on his young face.

Sandkit looked at his mother for a long moment - seeing how happy she was and the small smile on her face - and then looked to Hawkstar. He wasn't sure just what the leader had done to make his mother so happy, but he was glad for it. The result was a happy mewl directed at the leader and his mother's shocked expression when he toddled right back up to Hawkstar and started purring happily at him while rubbing up against his legs and chest in a show of gentle affection. "Thank you, I dunno what you did to make her so happy, but thank you so much!"
--

Words: 384
Tags: BlooRey DVD

My fate is unknown, but I will remain strong.

[BlooRey DVD]

Hawkstar

may your dreams be larger than mountains

Hawkstar dipped his head just so in a nod to her, noting again the surprise etched on her features at his offer. Though he found slight amusement in her reaction, he kept it hidden, for fear she misinterpret the amusement. Instead, his light tabby tail swished from its position at his paws. When he spoke, his deep voice was kind, reassuring. "Of course it was a possibility, Silverglade. Although some seem to think we are, us Clan cats are not savages. I do not seek to separate families." The slightest sadness seemed to tinge his next words. "I know first-paw the importance of family."

Sandkit's sudden reappearance dispelled the darker cloud hanging just out of sight, curious amber eyes flicking to the little kit as he scampered up beside his mother. A smile spread on his features at Sandkit's mewl of joy, following him with his gaze as the kit made quick work of any space between them. Feeling the little tom rub up against him, the big tom lowered himself to the ground, returning the kit's appreciative gesture with an affectionate headbutt. The touch was light, barely enough to move the kit at all; it was more of a gentle poke.

Meeting Sandkit's gaze, the StoneClan leader continued in a gentle rumble. "I did very little, Sandkit. I simply added to the happiness she feels when she looks at you. You bring her more happiness than I ever could, do not forget that." Gently nosing him back in the direction of his mother, the sand colored tom rose to his full height once again. "Your mother needs her rest, Sandkit. Can you help me by ensuring she rests? And once you are sure she is comfortable and settled, you make sure you rest up too. A warrior must be strong and refreshed, after all." He told the kit.

It felt as though just yesterday, his own two kits were no larger than Sandkit. How the time had passed so quickly, he was unsure. He hoped Sandkit would never lose the light of joy Hawkstar could spy in him just then. Despite the rough start to his life, little Sandkit burned bright with curiosity and a desire to make others smile. It was heartwarming to see. Slowly dragging his gaze away from the kit, he met Silverglade's eyes and smiled again. "We can discuss this further once you're feeling more yourself."

With a dip of his head, the StoneClan leader took his leave, allowing mother and son time together as it should be. There was much to discuss, but he did not want to rush her. StoneClan was faring well, despite the coming Leafbare; he bore no hesitancy in allowing Silverglade and her kit to join StoneClan. As he glanced up toward the sky, he could only hope StarClan agreed with his decision.

leader of stoneclan

and may you have the courage
to scale their summits

background image | harley king | Silver | table by phoenix

Hope you don't mind me ending it here! Figured it was a good closing ^^ Feel free to post with Silverglade's closing thoughts!

Note: 78 moons old.