The End [ALL]

[» Sacrifice]

It was finally time; day by day he had watched as the moon had made its ever changing circle in the night sky, wondering when this nightmare was going to be over. He had met Clopar’s lunatic demands; he had rogues in his camp for better or for worse, and he was sick of seeing his cats still falling ill from this damned sickness. He had met the demands, he had done what was expected of him, and his warriors should not be getting sick like this! Now though, now it was finally time to speak with the other clans, and see if they too had met Clopar’s demands. With the moon as his guide, Darkstar of CresentClan padded toward Riverhill, the selected cats from his clan, which did include the rogues, falling in place behind him. Tonight would be the night that either Clopar gave them the cure, or the yellow cat was going to die; tension was thick in the air, almost suffocating the sensitive cat. There was no telling what was going to happen, there was only a dead certain that something would.

At last, the silver tabby tom reached the spindly white bridge to Riverhill. Above him, the moon bathed the cats in its luminous glow, casting a reassuring light about, as though to say StarClan was always with them, even in the darkest of times. Below the ghostly white tree, the river cascaded by, its dark waters not leaving much up to imagination if one was to fall in; even the powerful CresentClan cats couldn’t stay afloat for too long in this current. With a distasteful look down at the rushing waters, Darkstar watched carefully as his clan crossed, ready to spring into the dark waters if needed. At last though, everyone was crossed, and with a leap of his own, Darkstar carefully padded over the slick surface of tree, claws gripping into the wood as he did so.

CresentClan was the first to arrive it seemed, with a grin, Darkstar jumped onto his branch, settling down to wait. This was going to be his first gathering as a leader; little did he know that so many ranks had been changed as well. This was going to be an interesting gathering, no doubt about it.

[/blockquote]

[H-a-w-k-i-e]

There was a sense of unease that was just noticeable among the Pewterclanners as they looked down below to see the other clan in the clearing. Talonstar dismissed it; the silvery black tom stood at the head of his clan, eyes bright and tail lashing methodically. Tensions ran high in camp, seeing as the ex-Mapleclanners were not exactly welcomed with open paws, as well as the fact that they were also the clan that contained the clans' favourite yellow tom in their ranks.

Taking a quick glance backwards, Talonstar was relieve to find his long time clanmates, as well as his mate close behind him, all looking down at the clearing with the same single mindedness as he. It was now, that Pewterclan had to show that they were as strong as ever, with their increased numbers, so that they would not be threathened. Unlike some other clans, the rogues that had joined him were actually pleased to be following him, due to his heritage. Its not everyday that kin of legendary rogue leaders actually manage to step to the top of the clan. Literally. Not to mention a rival clan that he wasn't even born in.

With a flick of his tail, Pewterclan made their way across the bridge. With their mix of Mapleclan and Pewterclan blood, it wasn't likely that the cats would slip into the dark river, seeing as both clans were known to be good at keeping their balance, due to their respective terrains. They still had to be careful, though. For a moment, the leader stayed where he was, giving a meaningful glance at Clopar, before following after his clan, his long strides propelling Talonstar over the bridge and towards the tree, where he scaled it and seated himself on his branch where the late Goldstar had once occupied, nodding a greeting cooly to Darkstar.

[Marrowbone]

(( OKAY I'VE READ IT MWHA! FINALLY! Now to post >:/ I'll write my role-play bit later. I think I know how to take care of my forgetting that Clopar was in PewterClan, too. Having magical cats sure is convienient! Will you take up MapleClan and whoever is leading it if you don't mind, Sacri? *Gets to work*))

[» Sacrifice]

It was finally time; the moon was shinning at its fullest, the gaze of his ancestors looking down upon him, giving him encouragement, telling him that they had chosen him, that despite his actions, he had earned his place here. His price had already been paid for his actions; the loss of family, something that had changed him greatly, to see what he had done so often before reflecting in the eyes of his own family…
Enough, he wasn’t going to stray down that road tonight, not when everything was going to be as challenging as it was. Taking a deep breath, eyes glowing in the darkness, the tom stood on top of the hill for a heartbeat, watching the procession of cats as they made their way to the gathering. CresentClan was already there; he could smell the slightly fishy tang they always carried. PewterClan had just appeared, and for just a moment longer, Nimblestar watched as Talonstar, an exMaple Clan warrior now PewterClan leader made his way to the gathering; slightly envious of the cool way he handled himself. Ears flattening against the top of his head, he drew comfort from the familiar shapes around him, no doubt wondering why he had stopped.

Throwing away all of his previous thoughts, Nimblestar deftly made his way to the ancient tree that marked the barrier; its trunk stripped bare of bark from use, a fine slick mist of water coating the trunk. In the light of the moon, the trunk seemed to shimmer with stars; how could one ever doubt in StarClan when their presence was so obvious? Snorting to himself, blue gaze narrowed, Nimblestar flicked his tail once; watching as the chosen of his clan—which now included rogues—made their way across the slick surface. As the last of the cats he had chosen tonight made their way over the bridge, the ash gray tom cast one look down into the frigid rushing waters below, and jumped onto the pale surface, claws searching for a purchase they wouldn’t find. Ever so carefully—it wouldn’t look good for him to lose a life so quickly, and under such circumstances—the tom made his way across the bridge, easily jumping down onto the island, a dark grin flickering to his features for a moment or so. Talonstar and Darkstar were already here; where was Scythestar? Biting back a wave of annoyance, leave it to DuskClan to be last, Nimblestar jumped up to his tree branch.

”Darkstar, Talonstar.” He purred a greeting too, dipping his head once, before turning his gaze to the cats below him. There was a familiar yellow pelted tom within the mix, odd, he wouldn’t have thought Clopar would be ready to reveal himself until the right moment came, just being in the open was not like the cat. Sitting dead still on the tree branch, Nimblestar was quiet, feeling the tension in the air. Tonight was the night; they would finally get the cure to this damn sickness, this nightmare was finally going to be over. No longer would they be forced to deal with the Circuits, no longer would they be forced to wonder if they were going to make it through the day, never mind the worry of family on top of that.
They could finally be free.
Ignoring the urge to grin at that last statement; it wouldn’t have been a pleasant grin anyway, Nimblestar absently stretched on his branch, though his blue eyes were intent upon the white tree that took one on and off the island.
Scythestar better hurry; and he had better gathered some rogues. If he hadn’t, well, a night of peace didn’t always mean it was going to stay that way.

Especially not when everyone was so hopeful.

[Ok, just so everyone knows, Havoccrypt IS there, I just need to make up a post for him--I wanted to finish this one first. ]

[/blockquote]

[Marrowbone]

Usual meows of greeting were stifled by the thick aura of anticipation as DuskClan cats finally trickled into the clearing. Tonight was important, and no one dared break the silence, not even the youngest of apprentices perhaps for fear of the isle shattering with a single word. Everyone was here now, it was time for Clopar to explain himself, and as he made his way towards the head of the clearing with the other leaders an explanation was what Scythestar wanted.

-
Many eyes were on him from his place alongside the PewterClan cats, and his eyes drifted across all of them. There were Rogues here, and many were difficult to distinguish. While the cats of the Clans gave some of the more infamous a wide berth, many Rogues sat whisker-to-whisker with their adoptive family. There were new friends here, and new Clan members of Rogues that had decided to stay. He watched them all, observing each and every cat, feeling quite satisfied with their interaction. The test was over, and the cats of this forest had passed. Clopar couldn't suppress a grin.

-
The tortoiseshell leader's ears were tilted back, and the tip of his tail rattled. Though he had accepted Rogues into his ranks the future of his Clan, all of the Clans, was uncertain while in the paws of that mad yellow cat that was sitting among the Clans tonight, and Scythestar wasn't happy about it. Or about being the last to arrive. Reaching the tree where the leaders perched, Scythestar looked up towards them to begin his apology for being tardy, but was startled at the sight of new leaders and deputies. Much had changed, it seemed, but that was not the issue at paw... For now. The leader of DuskClan motioned for his deputy to join the rest and climbed up to his branch, quietly saying his apology to the three leaders. Now all eyes really were on Clopar, and this was the night, the time when the Circuits finally gave them the cure to the disease that had plagued them. Or when they were expected to.


(( TAKE THAT, Sacri, I be stealin' yur pretty html! Just lemme know if you mind ^.^

Anyway, I left it short to try and avoid rambling too much. If no one can think of a post, I'll just add more to mine later :3 ))

[/blockquote]

[» Sacrifice]

”Good evening Talonstar, Nimblestar, Scythestar.” The silver tabby said, curious about the leader changes, but at the moment, there was something a bit more important to worry about—they could get to the actual gathering a bit later. Right now though, those piercing blue eyes were focused on the yellow tom who had followed in PewterClan, looking a bit uncomfortable among the clan cats, who in all honesty, weren’t treating the other cat too warmly. Just because he could understand it meant that he agreed to it; he was going to give them the cure after all, they had finally agreed to what had seemed impossible oh so long ago; what fools they had been to let this whole thing go on for so long.

The silence seemed to have a sacred feel to it; if one let their gaze go out of focus, it was as if one could see it, quivering with excitement, tension, but most of all, hope. So many had lost their family to this curse, to think it might be over, to think that this horror was finally coming to an end…if they were lied too tonight, someone [and he didn’t have to wonder at who that was going to be] would die, despite the fact it was supposed to be a night of peace. And then, all hopes of the cure would die out for good, until there were none left, just shadows of what used to be.
They couldn’t allow that to happen. Despite the fact that he didn’t want to break the silence, someone was going to have too soon, and it was finally time for the truth, as fleeting as it was.
It was finally time to get their lives back.

”Clopar, we have all met your demands; we have brought the rogues into our homes and made them one of ours; they sit before you with clan names and friends, some willing to stay, others ready to go home but cooperating all the same. We have fulfilled our side of the promise, it is time for you to fulfill your promise. We have done what you asked with StarClan as our witness, now we ask you for the cure.” Voice soft, it carried over the silent cats that had turned to look at the yellow tom, emotions dancing in their eyes. There was such hope in those gazes, from the small piece he could catch; it was enough to make his heart shatter. What had they done to deserve this sickness in the first place? Tightening his claws on the bark of the branch, Darkstar had to work to maintain his calm, one worked up cat would get them all started in a riot, and they were too wound up for it to end in anything but bloodshed.

Staring at the yellow tom, the whole mass seemed to be waiting for his answer…

[Über fail. xP Should be an easy reply though--and I don't mind Marrow. xD]

[/blockquote]

[H-a-w-k-i-e]

The tension was quite thick in the air, as all gazes had turned towards Clopar. Even Talonstar himself, despite now being the Circuit representive's clan leader, pretty much had no idea what the yellow tom would say or do. Actually, Talonstar really had no leadership over the other tom. He came and went as he pleased, and there wasn't much the silvery black tom could do about it. The Pewterclan leader sighed internally; wasn't his job a piece of cake. Silence engulfed the masses, all awaiting the response of Clopar. The yellow tom seemed so nonchalant, so relaxed and so happy with himself that Talonstar wasn't really worried, but if anything were to break up, he'd step in. He was his clan member and that was what was right.

((Aw poopie faces. >< I have no idea what to say...it's really all up to Clopar))

[Marrowbone]

((*Sob* I'M SO SORRY! *Dodges rocks*
HERE'S A TWIST TO MAKE UP FOR IT! ))

Clopar's ears twitched and his eyes flickered across the crowd. For a moment he seemed nervous with all of those faces turned in his direction. Then he meowed,
"Well, I'd like to thank Talonstar for having me. Or rather; Having us. Sorry if I disappoint, but you see things have been rather busy of late..."
Lifting a paw, he rubbed away the yellow color on his face, the silvery fur underneath proving that the Clopar among them wasn’t the real Circuit cat.
”… So we switched places for today. We couldn’t just leave you by yourselves, could we? But now for the main attraction...”
The faker pointed up at the fallen tree where the leaders perched, a familiar yellow cat now standing beneath it with a small crowd of select Circuits clustered around. This was the real Clopar, but something was off. He was abnormally straight faced, and looked troubled. He looked up at the Clan leaders above, then the Clan cats and Rogues before him. Closing his eyes and taking a composing breath, he began.
”Clan cats and Rogue cats. Thank you for coming tonight. Thank you for offering your homes to one another and for accepting those invitations. I know you all look forward to being rid of this mess, and of me.”
His lips curled up into a small grin.
”But you see you have done nothing to help yourselves. Accepting each other had nothing to do with your illness. It was all a lie. But you all did amuse me so much.”

[*Sinister*Dreams*]

((*Bites everyone* Oi. Nimblestar is mine. What, is a seven month absence inexcusable? I kid. Any-who, I'm here and will maintain my character.))

Nimblestar sunk his claws deep into the bark beneath his feet, closing his eyes and resisting the urge to leap into a fray then and there. A lie... His clan was infiltrated with more rogues on the word of a misguided circuit cat. And yet, he was not to judge...He was scarcely more than a rogue himself. Still, this was no good. Despite the fact that his fur remained flat to his back, the ash tom's eyes pierced down to the ground in frustration.

"MapleClan lives to please no one. We will not pay price for your amusement. Do not think that, if this be a game that you play, we have lost to you, Clopar. Whether or you led us on or not remains moot."

Nimblestar lowered his head once, before raising it again with a slight challenge to his icy gaze, glowering at anyone who took him to be a foolish follower.

"Rogue or MapleClan, we have several sets of claws now who defend us and live with us. It matters not where we come from, or how we became together, but where we are. Know this, magic-cat. MapleClan will not be enraged at you for leading us to accept rogues, although we do not appreciate being misled. Consider that we punish our enemies fairly, and if you truly cannot cure us as promise, you may pay the same price as any enemy. Suffer the cost of your misguided attempt to help us. A half-hearted attempt is as good as condemning us to death."

Confident in his words, Nimblestar did not glance for reactions to his little speech, rather his ears turned down and his claws remained gripped against the tree, ready for the use that he would not grant them. Despite the fact that there seemed to be a bit of a bump in the road to fixing its' problems, MapleClan would not disrespect StarClan by fighting now of all times, when they desperately needed their ancestors.