[Insidious]

R A Z O R S T A R
- - - - - -

His large paws were just on the edge of NightClan’s territory, eyes a pair of dark slits as he scanned their side of the border, finding that the recent quiet, despite events that had occurred, was eerie. Although he could go the rest of his days without finding himself in the company of a NightClan cat again, he ached for the chance to take his stilled anger out on an unsuspecting victim. A lot of his more . . . notorious qualities had since left him in the aftermath of becoming RainClan’s leader, having stepped up to the position as benevolently as he could muster, but some things were incapable of being changed. He had always had a particularly vindictive soul, so it was difficult for him to stop living in the past when the past concerned unfinished business, or strikes against RainClan. He could avenge the lives that had been taken from their Clan; he was a good leader, surely, but a strong-willed one, and there was no mistaking the glint in his aggressive, grayish-green eyes, searching for an opportunity to claim an eye for an eye regardless of how high it would make the price later on.

RainClan and NightClan could be on the verge of war, prepared to attack if one more life was lost, and still he would slit the throat of anyone that happened upon him untimely.

Looking over his broad shoulders briefly, he glimpsed Rippletail and Vultureback in his shadow, the two felines that had been elected to accompany him for this border patrol. Everything thus far had been disdainfully quiet. He was prepared to give the signal, gesturing with a quick motioning of his head that they turn around and make their way back towards camp, until a familiar stench infected his nasal cavities, causing him to pause in the midst of pivoting so that he might chance another look inside of NightClan’s skeletal territory. Razorstar was unnervingly still, not bothering to draw the attention of Rippletail or Vultureback into the territories of their newest enemy as well, for he was of the belief that they would be able to understand that a potential threat was nearby without his having to announce it. He did not want to risk losing anymore of his warriors to a fight, especially one of the same severity as the last - over a misunderstanding at best - but, nonetheless, he refused to back down from a challenge. If they happened upon a NightClan patrol, then he would maintain peace until the moment that something was said to aggravate him beyond the point of repair. Then, there would be nothing left to stop him from unsheathing his claws and ensuring that NightClan did not leave without one less cat at their side, alive and well. He could only hope that Rippletail and Vultureback would be equally as keen to get their claws bloodied.

- - - - - -

Tags: Fawn , Fate Admin , @lacihparg
Word Count: 481.

[Fawn]

At last, he was on a patrol that did not consist of an apprentice. No more buffoonery, not with Ravenstar at the helm of this little excursion; Blackwolf was in a good mood. His mate had just given birth to a litter of three healthy kits and the smallest one, Coyotekit, who had given them both so much reason to worry when he'd been born runty, was thriving with the rest of his siblings, Bonekit and Hollykit. He was thoroughly enjoying his new status as a 'family man', especially since it took nothing away from him; sure, Ghostlight would want him to be less reckless, but for Blackwolf, he saw it as a new reason to patrol a little harder. Hunt a little smarter, fight a little more fiercely than before. He had cats he needed to protect, after all.

Black paws came to a halt, his jaw raised, scenting the air as the pungent, fishy smell of RainClan wafted in a strong wave over the border separating their territories. They're close, he realized, they had quite possibly stumbled upon another RainClan border patrol. Just my luck. This was not a negative or sarcastic thought; quite the opposite, really. He didn't have to worry about the lives of the cats he had brought with him; they were more than capable of holding their own. The best part, Blackwolf noted with derisive glee, was that Oakblaze was nowhere in sight.

Another cat was, however.

Mismatched eyes sought the vindictive grayish green of Razorstar, this haphazard meeting between them not at all unwelcome. "Razorstar now, isn't it?" He drawled, as if he didn't know. The jet black tom made as though to crane his neck forward, ear turned towards the RainClan cat as though listening for something. "I'll take that thanks, now. For putting a Half-Clanner in charge of RainClan -- StarClan knows you got the lion's share after that battle." It had always been within Blackwolf to be cruel, to point out the flaws or insecurities of others when he felt justified in doing so. By electing Razorstar as deputy and then as leader, and then putting Timberwing in the deputy position, RainClan had opened themselves up to a horrendous amount of mockery and ridicule. The Clan was a joke, at least StoneClan, for how little they were actually worth, had the decency to choose StoneClan born cats, not halflings and traitors.

Sometime at a gathering, Razorstar's heritage and his choices had been shared with the other Clans by a cat who couldn't keep their mouth shut, and now here was Blackwolf, armed with the knowledge that his immense dislike for the pointy-toothed leader was fully backed up by his half-blooded parentage. How RainClan could trust him was beyond Blackwolf's understanding; either Razorstar had threatened his way into the position, or RainClan had really lost everything that made them at least semi-respectable. Blackwolf would have taken a guess that there weren't any other suitable cats, for them to pick an old NightClan traitor and a mongrel, but Violetclaw's temperament and ambition was no secret. Everyone in the valley knew she wanted to lead her Clan - and it amused him to think that Razorstar's leadership was not going as smoothly as he'd likely hoped. Opposition was treacherous for RainClan's survival, but in the eyes of the sneering NightClan warrior, it was funny.

Word Count: 559 Words
Tags: Fate Admin, Insidious, @lacihparg

[Deleted]

but all the stars that separate
disappear now when i'm dreaming of your face

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Slim silver followed black and creamy black, taking up the rear of the border patrol. She was certainly the weakest member on the patrol; Rippletail didn't even try to delude herself. However, she found herself wanting to go with Razorstar to almost prove to him that she was a capable warrior. It echoed the fishing patrol so many moons ago, one that still stood out in her mind where her deputy seemed vulnerable, and she helped him. Now, he was her leader, and when she pledged to follow the warrior code in her twelfth moon, it meant she would support her leader.

That's what she was doing now.

Razorstar's crouch on the border sent her scurrying back the way she came, checking on the border behind them and testing the air for prey while he scented. Vultureback was closer to their leader, but Rippletail felt something in the ground that pulled her away from the toms for a moment. She found herself also on the NightClan border, scenting the air because something just didn't seem right. A shiver traveled down her spine, raising her fur and taking her into alert mode. A pungent scent crossed the air, and she opened her mouth to raise an alarm, but the NightClan warrior raised his own alarm.

The second thing that crossed her mouth were two other scents: scents she knew (which surprised her). Ravenstar and her deputy were here, as well. Dropping into a hunter's crouch to sneak back to the rest of her patrol, Rippletail traced her steps back and was finally able to make out what the other haughty NightClan warrior was saying.

"...for putting a Half-Clanner in charge of RainClan -- StarClan knows you got the lio..."

Emerging behind Vultureback, her jaw dropped and she stared at Razorstar in disbelief. Half-Clan? Never! She raised her lips in an aggressive snarl, just begging the other tom to take that back. Heat rushed through her entire body and her claws stabbed the ground. She had never felt such intense rage take over her before, but she was ready, at any moment, to launch herself towards the NightClan cats and skin them alive.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

rippletail;; warrior ;; rainclan

insi: razorstar; fawn: blackwolf; raven: ravenstar ;; tag
366 ;; wordcount
those preggo hormones making her feel rage ;; notes
3 Doors Down - Here Without You [edited] ;; lyrics

do your duty in all things
never wish to do less
========

Slatenose nearly ran into Blackwolf when he stopped short at the RainClan border. Readying a harsh retort, she stopped when fish filled her nostrils. RainClan. Flicking a tail briefly at Ravenstar to warn her (even though she was sure that her leader already scented the nasty odor the other Clan called their scent), Slatenose was ready to issue a warning to the other Clan when Blackwolf opened his big mouth first. StarClan, please don't let him say anything stupid, the deputy breathed. The last thing they needed was some snide comment starting something. It was bad enough that the first incident was caused by an apprentice knocking themself out.

"Razorstar now, isn't it?"

She looked at him sharply, deciding on whether or not to cut him off then and there. RainClan did not need any more instigating. Yes, Slatenose was triumphant over their previous victory, she was fearful for her Clan's safety. While wars happened, it would look far better for them if NightClan was not the aggressor in every attack.

"I'll take that thanks, now. For putting a Half-Clanner in charge of RainClan -- StarClan knows you got the lion's share after that battle."

Well. There goes that. Sharp green eyes noticed movement behind Razorstar, where two other RainClan warriors stirred. The large senior warrior drew her attention first. That would be her target. The younger she-cat, while still riled up, did not seem nearly as dangerous as the tomcat could be. The snarl, perpetually a part of her face, raised to a larger one while her fur grew and her claws unsheathed. The hostility RainClan felt towards them reflected back. One eye on Ravenstar for orders and the other on the RainClan patrol, the deputy waited, claws out, heart beating, and mind yelling at Blackwolf for being such a stupid fur-brain.

========

slatenose ║ warrior ║ nightclan
insi: razorstar; fawn: blackwolf; raven: ravenstar║ tagged
307║ words
yep. blackwold hate is official.║ notes
robert e. lee║ quote

[Fate Admin]

Ravenstar had rather a lot on her mind. Her sister had returned after moons away, which she had never thought would happen the way Featherpaw talked, but she had also brought some strange loner kit with her, saying StarClan had sent her to find him, that he was meant to be NightClan. If that was so, why wasn’t he just BORN in NightClan? It made little sense to the diminutive black and white she-cat, but she decided she would not turn away the helpless scrap. He was only a few days old; if he was raised in NightClan, he could be taught to be loyal, he may grow into a valuable warrior, if StarClan meant for him to be there. She had named him Stonekit, since he had been born in the mountains, and given him to Ghostlight to nurse. From there, only time would tell just what StarClan meant by making him part of her Clan.

And then one of the LightningClan medicine cats had showed up out of nowhere, escorted by a patrol that had found him on the border at StarClan’s Claws, asking to be brought to camp. Apparently Featherpaw had invited him to the camp, to stay. At least for a time, to help her train. The fact that she had invited some outsider to live in her camp without ever consulting her had not pleased her in the least. Had she asked, she… would have been hesitant, reluctant… she would have required some convincing, but… she also needed a trained medicine cat to care for her Clan. She was certain she would have relented to the idea after thinking about it for a while. She would never have been happy about it, but it would have been for the good of the Clan, in the end.

It was with these thoughts still roiling around in her mind like an angry swarm of bees that she had decided a patrol might do her some good. She had called for Slatenose and Blackwolf, two cats she trusted most, and led the way to the RainClan border. Serving the Clan was always a good way to clear one’s head, and if they came upon a little trouble at the border, well… she couldn’t say she would mind, not that she was entirely expecting anything to happen. Things had been rather quiet with RainClan ever since Sandstar’s death, which was honestly somewhat surprising. Ravenstar would have expected more of a response from a Clan that had their leader taken from them. She certainly would have expected NightClan to do something should her life be at last ended at the claws of another Clan.

So when the stench of RainClan suddenly became nearly overwhelming, she was rather surprised. Were they finally going to give a response to their leader’s death? Blackwolf came to a halt and Ravenstar stopped beside him as she spotted Razorstar himself. Her ears twitched as Blackwolf spoke. She glanced up at the much larger warrior with some amount of interest. She had yet to hear anything of Razorstar’s parentage, probably because she never spent any time mingling with the warriors from the other Clans at Gatherings, she always made a beeline for the Great Rock. Her lip curled with disgust as she looked back to the RainClan leader. He was half-Clan? RainClan really was as disgusting as their scent, with a half-Clan leader and a NightClan traitor as a deputy.

[Insidious]

R A Z O R S T A R
- - - - - -

It was his voice that made the leader’s ears shift unpleasantly, gray-green eyes, sparking with powerful loathing, taking their sweet time meeting the familiar blue-and-yellow that accompanied the NightClan warrior’s commanding presence, though it could be argued for hours on end which, in the long run, made his fur bristle a touch more than the other. His lip curled back over his sharp teeth, a warning unspoken on the tip of his tongue because, whether or not he liked it, Blackwolf had already said his piece, and it did exactly what Razorstar assumed that he wanted it to do: it made him practically burn with the desire to shred his mouth into tiny, irreparable bits so that he would never have the satisfaction of wearing that mocking sneer on his face again.

He had no idea who amongst his Clanmates had opened their mouth, and had spread word of his Half-Clan blood to the filth that resided in NightClan’s ranks, but either way, there was a brief and sudden flash of disgust - no, disappointment - directed towards those that slept inside of the same camp. Razorstar had nothing to be ashamed of, and he knew that. It was only a matter of time until word of his background reached the other four Clans, but he wasn’t impressed with how soon that knowledge had risen to the surface, especially because, as of yet, he had hardly even managed to earn the respect of his Clanmates. He wanted to have everyone on his side, have everyone believe in him as their faithful leader, before he would have to deal with the repulsion of the other four Clans. But it was too late for that now; he could be disappointed, and maybe even a little mad, too, when he was tucked away inside of the leader’s den and not staring into Blackwolf’s mismatched eyes. He hadn’t even noticed the way that Ravenstar regarded him, as if this discovery instantaneously morphed whatever low opinion of him she already had into something far worse, because he wasn’t looking at anyone except for Blackwolf.

The whole of NightClan could have been facing Razorstar and Razorstar alone, and it still wouldn’t have stopped him from stepping across the border.

It wouldn’t have stopped him from charging straight for Blackwolf, having picked his target the second their patrol had stepped through the foliage, teeth sharp as his unusual namesake eager to make a home inside of the tender flesh along his neck. He didn’t care about defenses. He didn’t care that his reckless move would cost Rippletail and Vultureback the difference between violence and peace on this patrol. All he wanted was to have Blackwolf dead at his paws, another NightClan life claimed so soon after Halfmask, and he would do just about anything to get what he wanted.

There was remarkable power backing up his predatory sprint, rather fond of the odds that existed between a warrior with a single life and a newly crowned leader with all nine. It didn’t matter if Blackwolf tore through one, two, or even three, because he would stand up until there was nothing left of him to finish what Blackwolf had started the day Sandstar had died, and had so wrongfully continued here, and now, when he turned Razorstar’s history into something to laugh about. Maybe his Half-Clan blood was funny, but it would be funnier when the kits Razorstar knew him not to have - didn’t think he was capable of having - had to grow up without their father because he had decided to make an enemy out of the wrong cat.

- - - - - -

Tags: Fawn , Fate Admin , @lacihparg
Word Count: 601.

[Fawn]

Blackwolf's words had brought on the reaction he'd been hoping for - the peculiar teeth of RainClan's leader flashing like the stuff of nightmares; the NightClan warrior did not get nightmares. Not once in more than forty moons. It was either luck or arrogance that kept him from monsters while he dreamed, but it was claws and teeth and vindication that kept monsters at bay in the real world, and Blackwolf snarled under the mid-day sun. Hatred clashed with hatred, and the black tom felt his shoulder strike hard against Razorstar's, the sensation of pain shooting into the arm the shoulder was attached to likely felt by the both of them; rather than shake loose the wretched feeling, Blackwolf was already aiming his claws at the dark flank of his enemy, intending to enjoy this one shredding at a time.

Did Razorstar's multiple lives worry the tom with the mismatched eyes? It wasn't as though Sandstar had instilled in him a false confidence with how quickly he'd been able to choke the vitality from the pale tom's body for the vengeful sake of Halfmask; one look in the warrior's eyes hinted at something else entirely. Perhaps he felt that fighting Razorstar was, for all intents and purposes, a StarClan intended rivalry; here he was, pureblooded NightClan with his ideals that directly clashed with all that Razorstar stood for and in fact was, it was a private battle that pitted the ancient, bigoted ways against the newer, more accepting conscience of recent times.

Both Blackwolf and Ravenstar were happily entrenched in their idea of superiority, using the 'blood is thicker than water' idiom to their distinct advantage whenever possible; to their credit, they were willing to fight and die for that which they believed in, which must've counted for something - StarClan hadn't struck him down just yet. Aware of the position of Ravenstar and Slatenose fighting alongside him as Razorstar's attack unwillingly pulled Vultureback and Rippletail into the battle like an undertow, Blackwolf was confident the two she-cats could look after themselves. Rippletail looked young, though the more experienced Vultureback would likely support the youngest of the group if she needed help.

As he and Razorstar clashed, what little concentration wasn't being poured into staying one step ahead of those nasty teeth of his, was contemplating whether Slatenose had what it took to kill a RainClan cat. Would she do it? If it came down to a fight where Ravenstar was losing, badly, and the only way to save her was to take another cat's life? Blackwolf didn't need a situation as extreme as that to rip his teeth into someone's throat, but most cats did, and Slatenose struck him as one of those moral types that would later be appalled by what she had done.

For Blackwolf, war was war, all bets were off. Mercy was something only the victors could afford to give - and as of right now, it was hard to say which Clan was coming out on top.

[Deleted]

but all the stars that separate
disappear now when i'm dreaming of your face

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

With Razorstar's powerful leap, Rippletail hung back, suddenly exposed by the absence of her living feline shield. She scanned the battle for a second, realizing that Vultureback had leaped for Slatenose without any hesitation, leaving her with the last cat available: Ravenstar. A cold sweat ran through her body at that realization. A leader. Against her? Battle rage or not, that was not a match up she favored. But, Razorstar's honor needed defending, so defend it she would do.

Now is the time to prove your mettle, she told herself as she raced to meet the NightClan's leader in a match of teeth and claws, almost positive her fear scent was filling up the clearing. It wouldn't do to have the others smell her fear, but she couldn't help herself. Rippletail prided herself in being one of the best warriors at fishing (if not the best), but fighting wasn't much her forte. While larger than the NightClan leader, yes, she surely lacked the skill that had gained this she-cat her position in the first place. Not to mention the fact that StarClan had given the black and white feline nine lives. I only have one.

With adrenaline fueling her paws, she pushed off of the earth, leaping towards the smaller cat with intention to throw her off balance under her own weight. The only thing coming to her mind was how to use Ravenstar's size against her, throwing her off balance, pushing her over, and generally just bullying the cat. Wait, why am I trying to bully a cat? I don't like bullies!

While still under average, Rippletail was a decently sized cat (and she had been gaining weight recently), so she hoped that putting a little extra oomph behind her attacks would give her some benefit. Claws unsheathed, she reached to land on her opponent with claws and weight, doing her best to defend RainClan.

When you questioned Razorstar, you questioned StarClan's decision to give him the benefits of leadership. She would not let anything happen to her leader and her friend.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

rippletail;; warrior ;; rainclan

insi: razorstar; fawn: blackwolf; raven: ravenstar ;; tag
349 ;; wordcount
hormones + fighting = hilarity ;; notes
3 Doors Down - Here Without You [edited] ;; lyrics

do your duty in all things
never wish to do less
========

Razorstar's leap launched himself at Blackwolf, where her fellow warrior met him with equal passion. She was about to look at Ravenstar when a rush of wind told her a cat headed her way. She met Vultureback with a side step, causing him to rush past her in a gust of fur. She spun around and retaliated with unsheathed claws, raking pain along his flank. A yowl told her that the attack landed quite successfully, and she snarled, pouncing with even more ferocity than she imagined she had.

With Blackwolf and Ravenstar engaged in their own battles alongside her, Slatenose heard the harsh breaths of exertion, the cries of pain, and the sounds of battle. Six cats could raise quite a ruckus, she mused, barely missing an attack. She turned around to counter, but she was too slow and caught a paw to the muzzle, clubbing her. She fell off balance and scrambled to get back up, but suddenly the large RainClan warrior was on her back.

Rolling, the NightClan deputy crushed him under her and leaped away, catching her breath and staring at her opponent lying on the ground. Blood trickled down her face, leaking from a cut under her ear. Her side was stinging and her hind paw felt like it had a thorn in it, but she had no time to address any of these pains. A quick glance at Blackwolf showed him to still be holding his own with Razorstar. He had a big mouth, but he also had big claws that could do plenty of damage. Ravenstar also seemed well. While Slatenose was worried in the back of her mind, having never seen her leader fight with such tenacity before, the inexperienced RainClan warrior didn't seem to be much of a challenge.

Blood roaring in her ears and the call of battle flowing through her veins, Slatenose leaped again at Vultureback, rejoining the fray. This border battle would come out in NightClan's favor.

========

slatenose ║ warrior ║ nightclan
insi: razorstar; fawn: blackwolf; raven: ravenstar ║ tagged
331 ║ words
battle threads are hard ║ notes
robert e. lee ║ quote