The Beginning of the End

[Seafeather]

Seastar

The next morning, or, mid-morning it should be said, Seastar woke from a long induced sleep. She arched her back, stretched her claws and paws, waved her tail and took careful observations of her heart beat. Nothing alarming besides the unusual heartbeat. She stared out from the entrance of her den, gazing at her clan. Warriors buzzed around, fixing the dens, eating fresh-kill, punishing or scolding apprentices, playing with the kits. Anything that should, and would be done was done by the warriors. A cold, fresh wind blew across her face, bringing scents of pine and snow with it. Snow...leaf-bare. Seastar cringed at the thought. She was to be bringing life into the clan, and it would be during leaf-bare. They had to start storing food right away for both herself and the clan.

She gazed at the toms. One would be her mate. But who? Cedarwing? No, he was a deputy, the clan wouldn't want that. Rivershadow? To young, and besides, Spottedwing would kill her. Ravenslash? No...just no. She gazed at the other toms, very thoughtful on who she should pick. They don't even have to be mates. Her ancestors used to do this right? Just pick one and go with it? Seastar could do the same, but it would be better if it was someone who actually loved her. None 'spoke' out to her as 'He's the one!' Maybe StarClan would help her out a little? Maybe?

Smokeleaf passed by with herbs in her jaws, heading to the elder's den. The frosts made the elder's joints stiff and crackly. And an agitated elder was not needed in this clan. They could do without the attitude of and elder. Duskwing set her head outside the nursery, obviously longing for the sun shine that would soon be hidden by snow-filled clouds. Sunkit was keeping her busy. What with the constant movement and adjustment to a new clan kept Sunkit and Duskwing's mind both busy. But she obviously loved the little guy. Iceglade was sitting near the warrior's den still sulking about Spottedwing's drama, and Rivershadow was just sitting. Like a stone he sat up straight and proud. But unless you saw his face, you couldn't tell if he was proud at all, but a smooth unwavering mask.

My clan... Seastar walked out and sat, waiting for the rest of the day to come at her in a rush.

[Fallinggaze]

~*Fallinggaze*~
Fallinggaze had gone outside of the Nursery, tasting bitter mouth taste that signified it was morning. She was to check on her apprentices that used to be her kits. They preferred to be called her apprentices or their own names, though in her thoughts, they were considered as Fallinggaze's kits. As she approached the Apprentices' den, she noticed Seastar scanning the camp worriedly. Fallinggaze, with her mother instincts, decided to go give the leader a warm greeting.

Fallinggaze padded over to the leader across the camp. However, she noticed to have stepped in something strange. Cold and wet it was. Fallinggaze looked down and spotted snow. Snow! But it's not leaf-bare yet, is it? As she shuffled through the snow, she noticed her three 'kits' lured towards the snow. Had they seen snow yet? Fallinggaze hadn't remembered. She approached the leader in a casual way, and smiled a small yet happy smile.
"'Morning, Seastar. Isn't it still leaf-fall?" she asked the leader. Fallinggaze turned towards the trees to note that they were covered in frost. That's FrostClan alright! she thought.

[Seafeather]

Seastar

"Morning, Seastar. Isn't it still leaf-fall?" Fallinggaze said. Seastar hadn't really looked at the camp. Giving without much thought, Seastar gazed at the camp. Snow had settled over night. The white flurries cascading down from the sky settled lightly on Seastar's pelt.

"It turned leaf fall some time ago Fallinggaze." Seastar gave a light laugh. "I think you mean it hasn't turn leaf bare yet." Seastar walked down from her perch and flicked Fallinggaze's pelt with her tail in a friendly manner. Time to see how Duskwing is taking care of the, -Seastar mentally stuttered- her kit. She padded to the nursery and found Duskwing with her head lying outside the entrance.

"Morning, Duskwing. How are things?" She waited for the tired she-cat to respond.

[Raccoonstar]

DUSKWING

Duskwing woke to the sight of snow on the ground. She looked at Sunkit. The little kit was still asleep. She stuck her head outside the nursery to find Seastar padding towards her. Seastar asked how things were. Duskwing stifled a morning yawn. "Good. Sunkit is very excited to learn what FrostClan is. She wants to be a warrior soon," Duskwing laughed, "But what kit doesn't? She does not seem to remember IvyClan much. But it's okay. More to learn about FrostClan! How are things with you, Seastar?" Duskwing smiled. Leaf-bare was approaching, and the snow was beautiful as a new-leaf dew. Duskwing awaited Seastar's answer while subconsciously pulling Sunkit closer.

[Seafeather]

Seastar

"That's good. More kits that want to become warriors means they'll be wonderful." Seastar gave a smile and peeked in the nursery. All the kits were asleep. Probably the cold and weather have made this the perfect nap day. It's affecting some of the warriors too.

"How are things with you, Seastar?" Duskwing asked. Oh, so many things. She could have responded with. The news of her death and choice of kits. But Cedarwing was going to be the first, outside of Smokeleaf, to know about that.

"I'm fine. Things are good with the clan so therefore I'm fine." Seastar continued nicely. Seastar mentally flinched at the thought of the clan's grief when they find out about herself. But they must learn to get along with it. "So," She began. "Has Sunkit developed any new personality traits?"

[Raccoonstar]

DUSKWING

Duskwing smiled. The Clan was doing well. Sunkit was proving to be more trusting than she was earlier. "Sunkit is more curious than she was. She trusts me more, and she does not burst out in anger when she does not know what is happening. She's a calmer kit, that's for sure." Duskwing stated warmly. "She'll be a great FrostClanner." Duskwing believed this. Kits were supposed to ask questions. Kits were supposed to trust their parent. What would Sunkit's warrior name be? It would have to match her personality. Her personality had not quite revealed itself yet. But it would in time.

[Seafeather]

Seastar

"Then you'll raise her to be an excellent one." Seastar assured her clan mate. "She has an excellent mother, so she just has to be excellent herself." Seastar glanced around the camp again. More and more of the warriors were awakening. Some were even getting ready for a patrol. I I haven't been with Dewpaw in a while... "Well, I think it's about time for me to go. I need to join a patrol and go with my apprentice. Take care. You and your little one." Seastar paced off in the direction of the apprentices den to wake up her own.

[Raccoonstar]

DUSKWING

Duskwing smiled warmly. "Take care, Seastar! Have fun with Dewpaw!" Duskwing stated warmly. She wished Seastar only the best when she trained with her apprentice. Dewpaw deserved nothing less. Duskwing watched Seastar pad away. Duskwing nuzzled even closer to Sunkit, relishing the warming pelt of the kit's-no. Her kit's pelt. Reedtail had disowned her, and Duskwing had found her. She was a better parent to Sunkit than Reedtail would ever be. This she swore.

[- - -evening ||]

ICEGLADE

Chapter 15 -Sulk.

Sulking? No, she wasn't sulking, just guilty. She was the shadow these days, her normal fiery attitude dimmed down, so that the flame was nearly extinguished. Why was everything this season related to love? Love love love! It was notorious, an uncomprehending feeling to her --she didn't love. She had no one to love, no one needed her --no one wanted her.

Being not need was one thing she could handle --what could she do? But being unwanted was another. She wanted to bet that just one cat in this clan did not really care if she was there or not. Her leader saw her as a nuisance. No one would stop to think that maybe, just maybe she was feeling guilty instead of sulking. What, in StarClan's sake, did she have to sulk about? That's right, being alone.

And it was her fault to --everyone saw her as the bad cat. The cat who didn't speak up when Spottedwing took the blame for herself, and then Rivershadow. Really? Really? She had wanted to, she really had --but that good-for-nothing-skank beat her to it; and there was no way she would do cleaning work with him, the one who stole her friend's heart and made them both look like maniacs.

Oh, yes --and Seastar had a soft spot for Spottedwing, that much of Rivershadow's story was true; but she wold never say it out loud. For StarClan's understanding --all she did was stick by Spottedwing's side and defend her. For a bit of mercy --was that to much to ask for?

How had she deserved this? She stood, and walked over toward Duskwing. Even she, the one who had so long ago been an outcast, was feeling fine, refreshed, and loved. She didn't need her anymore --she was crazy to think that she did, that she was her sister. Bah! No way!

She stared at them for a few minutes, not caring if they saw her not, and then turned away and bent her head. Well, maybe she was sulking --and feeling too sorry for herself, maybe.... she didn't know. Just didn't right now...

---

Occ: Hey, Sea, in you first post, you just power-played all of us...

[Seafeather]

OCC: Not really. I just suggested where they were. Power-playing them would be talking, making a lot of significant movement, maybe even making them have a scuffle. But I didn't power-play.