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Ashfang - TEMPORARY

    It had been a crazy greenleaf.  So much had happened, and the season wasn't even half-over yet.  He had walked side-by-side with his lifelong friend and leader of NightClan, Darkstar, in silence since they had left Camp, and only when they were far along the trail did he speak.

    "Darkstar," he rumbled, somewhere between a purr and a sigh.  "What are you going to do?"  They were on the verge of war, the biggest one since the civil war, and for what?  Because Lionstar was being a mouse-brained kit and not accepting Darkstar's leadership?  It was ridiculous and insulting not only to Darkstar, but to all of NightClan.

    "We must show them that you're worthy of Leadership," he meowed, this time more firmly.  "We must show not only TreeClan, but all the Clans, that you're going to do great things."

    Ashfang lashed his tail as he walked, and unsheathed his claws, leaving deep score-marks in the ground.  Needless to say, he was a bit angry.

@zen

LAIKA OF ADOXOGRAPHY

[Deleted]

While quiet walks through the forest weren’t generally high on Darkstar’s priority list, after the whirlwind that was her ascension to NightClan’s leader and all the conflict that came with it, even she could admit it was nice to just spend some time with a friend. But it was no surprise when Ashfang brought it all up. She had not had much time to chat with the tom since becoming leader.

Her tail flicked back and forth behind her, her claws flexing into the earth as he asked her what she was going to do. Her ears twitched as he continued and her tail lashed once, her lip curling, “It matters little what they think of me. I am NightClan’s leader, NightClan is my concern. As long as the other Clans know I will not tolerate any moves against us, that’s all that’s needed. They can think whatever else they like. I need the other Clans’ approval like I need the approval of a mouse.” Which was to say, not at all.

A low growl rumbled in her throat, “Lionstar is a coward. He proved as much at the gathering when he spat insults in my face only to turn and run back home with his tail between legs before I could even respond. What do the words and opinions of a TreeClan coward mean to me?” Her tail continued to flick behind her as she continued to walk through the fog that covered the forest floor, swirling silver in the scant moonlight that filtered down through the pines.

“NightClan has dealt with enough recently. So long as Lionstar’s words were nothing more, the Clan deserves peace,” there was still frustration in her tone, but after some time to actually think on it all, including the advice of her deputy and medicine cats, as well as the advice offered her during her ceremony, her fury over the gathering had subsided some, “The Clan comes first. War over bruised egos is not something we need. Actions are what matter. Let cowards spit insults from the safety of their own borders. As long as their insults stay there, I don’t care.”

She drew in a deep breath, let it out, and her tail flicked lightly against Ashfang’s flank, “Not that we’re going to sit around like naive kits doing nothing. That’s why I’m overseeing the battle training for all our warriors. If Lionstar wants to put action behind his words, we’ll be ready.”

@airabelle