[Taxx]

Teller of the Mountain Sky

It had all gone wrong. The Gathering that Skyteller had hoped would give the Clans a chance to get to know him and his Tribe had instead turned to horror- and what else could he do but blame himself? He'd led those... foxes... right to the cats, and whatever happened was on him. Cats hurt, cats dead, because he hadn't had the sense to run away from the Gathering and the cats who hadn't expected any of it. He wanted to at least let them know it hadn't been intentional- he had not wormed his way into their good graces only to bring harm on them. Ideally, he would be able to tell each of the Clans, but he had only truly met two of them, and he couldn't yet risk himself, or his cats, in the hopes that the other leaders were trustworthy. Better to start with StoneClan and TreeClan. He'd sent both Dusk and Snow to ask the leaders of the Clans to meet him the following night, with one cave-guard apiece for protection- Dusk to StoneClan and Snow to TreeClan, and they had both returned with word that Hawkstar and Lionstar would be willing to meet, much to his relief. Just after dark, Skyteller and Green headed out; the thought briefly came that for a cat who was supposed to remain in the cave, he was sure spending a lot of time out of it. But- he was trying to help his Tribe, for whatever lay ahead for them, and this was part of it. Staying away, staying quiet, in the wake of the attack, was the surest way to undo the work he'd put in to securing allies. Green had made her dislike of the idea plain- he was putting himself at risk and they both knew it, but he had to at least try. The moon was just rising as the two reached StarClan's Claws, and Green paused outside the ring of stones, present but allowing her Healer to be alone in this meeting, and then the two waited for the other leaders to arrive. Fawn BlooRey DVD Phoenix

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[Fawn]

Lionstar

The crown is getting heavy
But they've written my name in the stars

Two figures wove in and out of the trees like wraiths. One was long-coated, dense fur a deep gold with black shading. The other was smaller, lighter, appearing far more slender next to the robust build of his father, Lionstar. Their moods couldn't have been more different, either; while Lionstar cut a somber figure across the forest, Brackenpaw's movements were alive and carrying him forward with badly suppressed interest.

Even with the recent horrors from StarClan's Claws, Lionstar didn't have to be a mind-reader to see that his son was more than excited at the prospect of going to StarClan's Claws for the first time.

"Do you think there'll be any blood?" asked Brackenpaw, gold eyes carrying a mixture of disgust and awe. Lionstar's temper over the entire ordeal, which had not cooled with the seasons, flared. "Settle yourself, Brackenpaw, or I will send you back home to Honeysong. We are going to a sacred place, a place where cats have recently died. If you cannot show the proper respect, I will send you back to the nursery until you can."

It was a harsher rebuttal than necessary, but Lionstar - even when he saw his son's ears flatten against his skull and his posture stiffen with offense - did not yield. He gave himself a shake, casting aside some of the tension before he ended up bringing his bad mood right to Skyteller. Truth be told, he almost refused to meet with the Tribe's leader. It wasn't until the heat of battle cooled that Lionstar realized Skyteller was the cat that had warned the gathered Clans - and, in that same vein, also the cat that had led the foxes right to them.

Or maybe the attack was inevitable, and Skyteller had been a blessing in disguise, an alarm cry they otherwise would not have gotten.

When Lionstar saw the large ginger tom waiting for him, he raised his jaw in greeting. Brackenpaw whistled behind him, awed by the towering spires of StarClan's Claws - and the strange cats with the strange scents. "Are we really meeting Hawkstar here too?" Brackenpaw stage-whispered to Lionstar just before they were within talking distance with Skyteller.

"If he shows," replied Lionstar. "Now I want you to—"

"Keep my mouth shut and my rump on the ground?" Brackenpaw's amber eyes flashed with insolence. Lionstar, exasperated, flicked his son's ear with his tail as he passed. "Good, you already know what you're supposed to do." Golden gaze finding Skyteller, Lionstar's voice lost the stern fatherly exasperation in favor of cool diplomacy. "Greetings, Skyteller. This is my son, Brackenpaw. I brought him along for the learning experience; it's not every day he gets to see other valley leaders up close."

I've been building up all these kingdoms for so long
It's good to be king

93 Moons || TreeClan || 450 Words || BlooRey DVD Taxx Phoenix

[BlooRey DVD]

Hawkstar

may your dreams be larger than mountains

From the side opposite the arriving TreeClan leader, another figure slipped over stonier territory toward the small gathering of cats. Now within viewing distance of the others, the large StoneClan figurehead had done away with most of the signs of his aging body. He was advanced in moons by this point, that was no secret; but he could mask some of the telltale signs when others were present. The cream and white she-cat at his flank had been privy to it, for she shared a familial link to him. No point keeping such trivial secrets from family, now was there?

Silently, Hawkstar thanked StarClan that they had thus far kept his physical form in tact. Despite his one hundred-odd moons, he still bore the musculature and stature for which he had become renowned. His pale amber eyes, however, usually alight with warmth and wisdom, were dulled in deep contemplation, and tinted with a flicker of sorrow. The last time he'd been here, he had hauled the body of his best friend, his brother, out of a carnage-strewn battlefield. Swallowing a lump in his throat, he cast a sideways glance to Herondive. Bright blue eyes met his, and he could see the slightest evidence of tears that wanted to be shed.

She is thinking of you too, brother. He thought silently, his tail momentarily draping over his daughter's flank. When she nodded her head to his silent question, the broad-shouldered sandy-coloured tom accelerated his pace to close the remaining distance. Colossal paws did not falter as they maneuvered changing terrain seemingly effortlessly, while his eyes remained focused on the leaders before him. Slowing to a stop as he approached, the big tom nodded his head to each cat in turn, though he only named the two he recognized. "Skyteller, Lionstar."

No pleasantries left his jaws, for now did not seem the time for such things, not with the looming memories of what had occurred here not long ago. His tail swept sideways to point out Herondive, who had stopped further back than her father. "My eldest daughter, Herondive." He introduced her, and the creamy she-cat straightened in mild alarm, before bowing low in respect to the two other leaders. "Pardon my delayed appearance; I hope neither of you have been waiting too long?" His low voice rumbled, subdued gaze slipping from Lionstar to Skyteller and back again.

leader of stoneclan

and may you have the courage
to scale their summits

background image | harley king | Taxx Fawn | table by phoenix

Note: 102 moons

[Taxx]

Teller of the Mountain Sky

Lionstar was the first Clan cat to arrive, the smaller, sleeker tom at his side an unfamiliar face, but Skyteller didn't question it. He was uncertain of why the TreeClan leader had brought his son- for the experience, he'd said. Did he intend to, one day, pass on leadership to the younger cat, and meant this as a lesson for him? Dipping his head to both, Skyteller returned the greetings, "Well met, Lionstar and Brackenpaw. Thank you for coming." Then, from the other side of the clearing, more pawsteps, and two more cats appeared around one of the tall stones: Hawkstar with a she-cat, not the gray calico who was his deputy- but his daughter. Again the Tribe Healer gave a nod and a greeting, adding a brief denial as to the wait. He would have remained until it became clear that neither would show, wasting the night sitting alone in the clearing where the Clans gathered once a moon. That both had come cheered him; it meant that they were at least willing to hear him. Forgiveness might not come tonight, but he could at least offer his apologies. "Thank you for coming. I wanted to say... to apologize. You had invited me to visit here on a sacred night and in so doing I brought trouble. I had not meant to do so, I hope you will understand. We came across those foxes- by accident. We'd meant to come through StoneClan territory, to head straight to the Gathering, but they spotted us only halfway there. Dusk knew what they were- neither myself nor any Tribe cat had ever seen a fox before. They are not a common presence in the mountains. "We ran- there were not enough of us, even if we were all cave-guards, to have fought. I know- I led them right to you all. Nothing I can say or do will change what trouble I caused. But I am sorry- I never meant for that to happen..." He hadn't been able to offer any help personally, but Light and Rose had fought, doing what they could to help while Skyteller, Leaf, Dusk and Leopard had remained sheltered in the cover of one of the stones. And for all that, he could only offer words in the hope that it made up for the fear and grief he'd caused. Not nearly enough, but all he could give- and hope that they didn't hold him at fault. Fawn BlooRey DVD

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[Fawn]

Lionstar

The crown is getting heavy
But they've written my name in the stars

Brackenpaw looked ruffled at being excluded in the introductions, but that was smoothed over quickly by his fascination with Skyteller's recount. Lionstar's gaze flicked from his only son back to the Tribe leader, letting the large ginger tom explain himself. It was clear to him that Skyteller had not had much choice; foxes were fiendish and greedy, destructive creatures. Whose to say if Skyteller's group had not fled when they did, the foxes would have simply let them go?

Lionstar withheld a humorless laugh. No, of course not. The foxes would have attacked Skyteller's group; emboldened by their success, they would have thrown themselves right into the Gathering as before. This attack had been coordinated, the likes of which Lionstar had never seen from predators in the valley.

"What's a cave-guard?" Brackenpaw chimed in as soon as there was pause for breath. Lionstar cleared his throat, sweeping his tail behind Brackenpaw to usher him closer to the group. "This is my son, Brackenpaw. I brought him here for a lesson in diplomacy. And respect."

Brackenpaw winced, but still kept his curious gaze.

"If you'll allow it, perhaps my son and your cave-guard can speak at the end of our meeting. Now then," Lionstar drew in a deep breath, collecting his thoughts and arranging them into their proper order. "Let's carry on. First I would like to say I am sorry for your losses, Hawkstar. If TreeClan can be of assistance, tell us." There had been no time to send a messenger with condolences, either shortly after the gathering or even a half-moon afterward. Truth be told, Lionstar's thoughts had been on in-house damage control. He hadn't had the luxury of thinking about their neighbors when he was too busy saying eulogies for his Clanmates.

"The Gathering was a disaster. However, I choose to believe that your warning did more good than harm. I do not know how long you have served as Skyteller, but I do know that leadership always comes with difficult decisions. TreeClan will not hold this Gathering against you." The golden tom let those words sink in, then added. "There may be those who do, but they are not the majority. I can't speak for the rest of the forest, or for StoneClan--" a glance to Hawkstar was spared "--and I don't advise reaching out to the other Clans until at least Newleaf. RainClan lost their deputy, Moonshine. NightClan has always been hostile to outsiders. Leaf-fall is a touchy season for every Clan, and our recent losses will make it that much harder for everyone."

I've been building up all these kingdoms for so long
It's good to be king

93 Moons || TreeClan || 427 Words || BlooRey DVD Taxx

[BlooRey DVD]

Hawkstar

may your dreams be larger than mountains

A few tail lengths behind the large StoneClan figurehead, Herondive sat with her gaze pointed to the ground. Although she was well within earshot of the leaders' conversation, she did her best to ignore the words exchanged to offer some sense of privacy. When a fourth, much younger voice piped in, her head snapped up in a mix of confusion and surprise. Blue eyes blinked at the short-furred apprentice, who was quickly silenced by TreeClan's leader. Watching Brackenpaw for a moment longer, she glanced toward the familiar frame of her father next to the leaders of TreeClan and the newly revealed Tribe.

Hawkstar's ear twitched briefly at Brackenpaw's outburst, but no morsel of annoyance glimmered in his pale amber gaze as he looked over Lionstar's son. Skyteller had said his piece, and following a brief silencing of the younger tom, it was Lionstar's turn to speak. Dipping his head in acknowledgement of the other leader's condolences, Hawkstar remained quiet through TreeClan's lion's speech. Every now and again, the sand-coloured tom nodded his head in agreement of Lionstar's words, tail curled neatly over his massive paws. Finally, the time seemed right for StoneClan's figurehead to add in his own piece. Straightening fractionally, he rumbled in a deep voice.

"First, your condolences are most appreciated, Lionstar. I return the same to you, for StoneClan was far from the only Clan to lose lives that night. StoneClan, no, I am eternally grateful to you for your extended offer. Should the necessity arise, you will be the first I approach. And may it be said, if TreeClan requires assistance in the future, both near and far, StoneClan will do what it can to assist." Finished with that brief piece, Hawkstar shifted his gaze to the Tribe teller. Despite the sorrow still heavy in his heart, the broad-shouldered tom offered a small but comforting smile.

"My beliefs rest similarly to those already expressed by Lionstar. I trust there was no malice in the Tribe's actions that night. You came with the intention of warning the Clans. And much like Lionstar, I believe the foxes would have attacked us regardless of your interception. Your arrival may very well have been a blessing from StarClan, for it altered whatever plot the foxes may have devised. With surprise on their side, as it would have been without your warning, who knows what further damage may have been wrought upon the Clans."

He paused then, considering Lionstar's closing remarks. "I would also be inclined to agree with Lionstar, however. Though TreeClan and StoneClan harbour no ill-will, the same may not be true for the other Clans, at least not in a time as trying as this. The Tribe remains an ally in the eyes of StoneClan, Skyteller. No accident will alter that. But take caution before attempting to approach any of the remaining Clans." The big tom shifted his weight briefly, considering Skyteller a moment longer before adding. "How fair the members of your Tribe who bore witness to the events?"

leader of stoneclan

and may you have the courage
to scale their summits

background image | harley king | Taxx Fawn | table by phoenix

Note: 102 moons

[Taxx]

Teller of the Mountain Sky

This had gone better than Skyteller had dared to let himself hope, but he knew that these two were only two of the five leaders of the Clans, and he wasn't sure what the others would think of the Tribe- he had not had time to meet them before the full moon and the disaster of the meeting he had attempted to join. His gaze flicked to Brackenpaw as the young tom asked what he meant by cave-guards, but Lionstar's offer stopped him from answering that, and he gave a nod of agreement. He wouldn't mind giving the to-be a chance to learn what he wanted to know about the Tribe, once the talk was finished. The TreeClan and StoneClan leaders did seem to be of like mind about the foxes, both seeming to be quite sure that no matter what Skyteller had done, the foxes would have found their way to the Gathering regardless. They must know more than he about creatures he'd never seen before, but it did little to ease his guilt that he had led the danger right to them- even if Hawkstar and Lionstar spoke their thanks for that he had given some warning, rather than having the foxes dash in unknown. A heavy sigh as his head lowered, a nod to all four Clan cats. "Thank you. I am grateful for your understanding. I am already decided that it may be best for my cats and I to remain away for the next Gathering, but perhaps at a later time, we may be welcome to properly introduce ourselves to all the Clans?" Fawn BlooRey DVD

made by redox of gs

[Fawn]

Lionstar

The crown is getting heavy
But they've written my name in the stars

Lionstar gazed at the sacred place, images of broken bodies and trembling forms ghosting before his eyes like flakes of snow. It was hugely fortunate that the losses were not higher; it was hugely fortunate, too, that both he and Hawkstar were being so agreeable about this. Skyteller seemed to realize this, and Lionstar saw the tom's body-language shift ever so slightly now that it was clear this was not going to be a hostile meeting.

"I cannot promise anything, or predict the future. But should you decide to approach the Clans again in better seasons, you'll meet no resistance from TreeClan." It was the best he could do at the moment. With war brewing on the horizon between TreeClan and NightClan, his thoughts were otherwise occupied. The Tribe, though he felt no animosity towards Skyteller or his group, was a sidenote to more pressing issues.

However... Something Skyteller said had gnawed at him. "There's something other than foxes you should keep an eye out for. Have any of your former Clan cats mentioned Demon? He's a lynx that prowls this valley. Larger than any normal cat, tufted ears and a gray pelt. No tail, and with paws as large as your head. He cannot be reasoned with." Lionstar's expression darkened with memory. "Take care to stay out of his hunting areas." Truthfully, Lionstar had not seen much of or heard mention of the lynx in recent moons, but he had not lived this long or held leadership over TreeClan so efficiently by letting his guard down.

There was a fine line between vigilance and paranoia. But any cat calling the valley home would know that there was reason enough for both.

I've been building up all these kingdoms for so long
It's good to be king

93 Moons || TreeClan || 284 Words || BlooRey DVD Taxx

[BlooRey DVD]

Hawkstar

may your dreams be larger than mountains

The large StoneClan figurehead listened quietly to Skyteller as the Tribe leader expressed gratitude for his and Lionstar's understanding. A sand coloured ear twitched from atop his head, and Hawkstar felt an honest pang of sympathy for Skyteller. He could not begin to imagine the weight of the other tom's guilt, since Skyteller appeared to be carrying with him self-imposed blame for the events of the Gathering passed. That was too heavy for any one cat to bear alone, especially when no one but the foxes themselves were truly at fault for what had occurred.

Pale amber eyes drifted to Lionstar as TreeClan's golden lion shifted the topic of conversation to a demon of another sort. Hawkstar's tail tip quirked uneasily at the mere mention of the mountain lion that stalked the valley, putting even the largest of Clan cats to shame. With a grunt of agreement, Hawkstar shifted his weight before finding his own moment to speak. "The carnage wrought upon us by that family of foxes pales in comparison to what Demon is capable of. You would be best to monitor your borders, and warn those who may be out an about of the danger that may be lurking."

With a thoughtful frown, the StoneClan leader glanced to Lionstar for additional input. "StoneClan has not had many dealings with him, yet his infamy does not go unnoticed by us. As I understand, it is best not to challenge him. He is cunning, and will not put in more work than necessary. Large groups of cats may go unbothered by Demon, but he will retaliate if challenged. He is best avoided, or the cost of besting him may be far greater than any reward." He warned, settling back to show he was leaving the metaphorical floor to Lionstar. From what he'd heard, TreeClan rather unfortunately had more experience with the lynx than StoneClan did.

And for the sake of StoneClan, he hoped that never changed.

leader of stoneclan

and may you have the courage
to scale their summits

background image | harley king | Taxx Fawn | table by phoenix

Note: 102 moons

[Taxx]

Teller of the Mountain Sky

Relief was still strong, a sense of peace replacing the worry he had carried since the Gathering that the allies he had made would turn their backs on him- not that they wouldn't have had good reason to do so. But both were willing to accept his apology, assure him that they did not blame him- going so far as to thank him for giving them some warning.

Skyteller dipped his head. "Thank you both. The same goes for you- if ever we can help, feel free to call on us. Our cave will always be open to both your Clans."

Ears pricked at the mention of Demon, the lynx, and Skyteller's tail lashed. "Yes, we know about him. He was quick to let us know of his presence; one of our cats fell prey to him soon after our arrival. We've learned. Tribe cats rarely go alone to hunt anyway, so we've had no further trouble, though we see him time to time. He has his den in the mountains."

"We have no borders," Green spoke up as she padded toward the group. "We hunt where we must to feed our Tribemates. But we will stay vigilant. Thank you for your concern." Her gaze turned to Brackenpaw now, her eyes amused. "Hello, young one. My name is Shimmer Through Green Leaves. I am known as a cave-guard- a protector of the Tribe. You have questions, do you?" She glanced at Herondive, including her in the talk. "What about you, Herondive?"

Content to allow the Lead to answer whatever eager queries might come, Skyteller tuned her out, continuing his own talk with the Clan leaders, all too willing to move on to lighter topics now that the most important matter had been laid to rest.

Fawn BlooRey DVD | table by amber

Tribe of Forgotten Waters