IF THERE WERE ONLY WATER / all thunderclan

[Christalclear]

Firesoul

He listened to the conversations going on in front of him. This was why he sat in the back. He could hear Saltstar's resonating voice clearly, but he could also see and hear the others around him. He thought that by sitting in the back they would also forget about his presence and possibly feel more comfortable speaking. Firesoul knew that him and the leader, Saltstar, could be an intimidating presence. He suspected that others would also be able to feel the crackle of tension between him and his sister, Burningshade, if he had sat next to her at the base of the rock. 

He caught all of the thoughts going on in everyone's body language. Kestrelpaw and Cedarpaw's apprentice she-cat drama that probably stemmed from some source of jealousy. The way Cranewing and Honeybee practically reeked of fear and grief. There were those that were strong for the clan and wanted to prove themselves like Cedarpaw. Every plan had flaws, but there were pieces that seemed promising. The most worthless of plans was Silkwhisker's, though. Working together with the other clans? Firesoul knew that Silkwhisker was more optimistic than some of the others in Thunderclan, but this seemed too far of an idea. 

Firesoul hadn't heard any news of whether Saltstar had actually attempted to get in touch with the other clans. The leader had always been secretive, even more so when there were plans to gain Riverclan territory. The ginger tom wouldn't say it out loud, but he figured that part of the reason why Saltstar had asked him to become deputy was because he let their leader have privacy. He trusted Saltstar. If there was important information then he would share it with the deputy at the right time. Until then, he wouldn't ask questions, and he would assume Saltstar had not convened with the other clans. 

Even if he did, who would actually help them? Riverclan was there enemy and would certainly be happy to see Thunderclan's demise. There was some evidence that suggested this two-leg problem was not clan specific, but if it was happening mostly to Thunderclan, it would not be wise to share that information with the other clans. They would appear to be weak and they might take advantage. It was best to keep this situation among the clan. Even if they did not have as big of a population as before, they had the numbers to solve this problem themselves. 

Firesoul raised his voice so everyone could hear him from his position in the back. "I like the first part of Cedarpaw's idea. The apprentice shows Thunderclan bravery and strength wanting to attack the two-legs. However, attacking the two-legs would prove too dangerous even with our training. Placidstorm's ideas of small assaults could prove effective. If we created traps, small seemingly innocent ones, they may realize the forest is too dangerous and go back to their rock nests. For instance, we have observed that they have longer legs than we do. If we dug holes deep enough, they may trip into them and get themselves hurt. We could come up with other 'traps' like the apprentice suggested and execute them." 

Since Firesoul had the clan's attention he kept going, feeling himself grow more confident. It was one of those rare moments when he felt like maybe, just maybe, one day he could become the leader of Thunderclan. They needed him. He believed that deep within his soul. "We could in the mean time switch our hunting grounds and whatever like Birchmask suggests, but that does not feel like a permanent solution. Does it? Scurrying around like mice is not the Thunderclan way. What if, by chance, we perhaps study these traps?" Firesoul knew this was the part that would either make the clan think he had lost his sense or they would show their Thunderclan bravery and follow in his idea. "If we knew how they worked, we could release any cats who were trapped. If we knew how they worked, we could also potentially put us in a unique position if we did approach the other clans. We would be the sole ones with this knowledge. Perhaps our medicine cat, Burningshade, could be head of the mission? Making sure we can open the traps without harming ourselves or the cat inside?" It was a challenge to his sister to prove herself useful with this new position. It was also a service to her since she did seem bored. Firesoul knew he would be, shuffling medical supplies around in the den for days just to occupy himself. 

---

+ JAMIE  Scarlet  jackelyn  JOS  Minteh Freshness  andromeda  [:ripples:] 
If Firesoul seems harsh... he is.  

[[:ripples:]]

♥ Stormchaser of thunderclan

LIGHTNINGBOLT.

IT WAS THE NAME his brother would want to be remembered by, and so he repeated it in his head.

LIGHTNINGBOLT, LIGHTNINGBOLT, LIGHTNINGBOLT.

HE HAD LOVED THIS PLACE. This clan. He had been happy here, thrived here, even. He had taken to clan life like a fish to water, made a place for himself, a home. While Stormchaser struggled to fit what felt like a square peg into a round hole, Lightningbolt had managed to make himself more a part of things than some of the cats who had been born here. He'd had friends aplenty among the apprentices, had at least a few girls sweet on him, and, certainly most importantly to his brother, had been practically adopted as a surrogate son by the leader of the clan. Ignoring any instinct for temperance (for he was sure his brother had none), Lighningbolt had dove headfirst into clan life, and came out as truly a part of things. Perhaps that was Stormchaser's problem, he mused to himself- too much temperance of his emotions. Too much overthinking. That's what his brother would have told him, anyway. And he might have been right.

STORMCHASER. He had taken to thinking of himself with the two-part name as well, and his warrior suffix stuck to him much better than the generic -paw that he had borne during his training. He understood now, some of the power in a name.

HE HAD EARNED HIS through his "valiant efforts" in the search for Panthermoon, the cat who had been his mentor, and perhaps his closest friend, aside from his brother. Their relationship had been initially strained, but after some time, they had managed to get used to each other. Stormchaser didn't see that he had been much more valiant than anyone else, but it was true that he had pounded the forest floor until his bones ached from the exertion. They had never found her, of course. That was how it went. It didn't stop them from trying. There had to be some hope. When they had come home empty handed, defeated, again, Stormchaser had been assigned to a rotating cast of mentors, many already with an apprentice to finish out his training. When Saltstar stood over he and his brother, granting them their warrior names, smearing the strange mixture on their faces to mark their ascent, Stormchaser had felt pride as Saltstar called out his new name. The suffix "-chaser" for his valiant efforts in the search for Panthermoon, and his tireless energy in contributing quietly to the clan. He had noted that some burned bright in the foreground (ie, Lightningbolt), but that everyone was needed to weave a strong community. Whatever he thought of Saltstar (complicated), the cat had a way with words. Lightningbolt, of course, had been named for his brilliance, his power, and the way he had risen to a crescendo without warning. It had suited him.

AND THEN LIGHTNINGBOLT HAD DISAPPEARED. They had sat their vigil together, and then gone to their duties in the morning, feeling more a part of things than ever before. Stormchaser even feeling that he might finally have a home in the clan. Lightningbolt high on the ecstacy of becoming a warrior. He could still see the pride in his brother's shoulder, tail held high as he bid his brother farewell for the morning, or so they thought. That last "See you later, Stormchaser" paired with pride and elation... perhaps that was why he called himself by his new name. It was a way to honor his brother. It was what Lightningbolt would have wanted. And while he couldn't say that he would ever feel completely comfortable with Saltstar, the frantic search for his brother, led by the leader himself, had at least convinced him of something important- Saltstar had cared deeply for Lightningbolt. The relationship between the two of them had not been manipulation of a young mind in the way that Stormchaser had always feared, but a true fondness, a connection felt on both sides. While Stormchaser did not think he would ever see Saltstar with that same affection, as his paws pounded the dirt beside the leaders', he felt the bond of shared love of another between them- loose, but leading them in the same direction. They had both lost something important. Of course they had to search. And, like always, they had come back emptyhanded.

STORMCHASER PADDED INTO THE CLEARING and looked dully at Saltstar. He had become used to having so many cats around, though he still didn't particularly love it. Since his brother had disappeared, he had considered leaving, but... He couldn't put his paw on it. Was it that he was scared? Was it that he wanted to be here for his brother if he ever returned? (yes, of course he did, but that wasn't all...) He had now spent over half his life with ThunderClan. Perhaps it was that he just didn't feel like he had anywhere else to go. This was the closest thing to home he had. Without Lightningbolt, he wasn't sure he would ever truly feel at home again.

HE LET OUT A LITTLE SCOFF under his breath as Firesoul spoke. Always thinking of how to best the other clans, even in a time like this. That was what put him off about clan life. Why did they feel the need to fight each other? But he had to admit, it wasn't a bad idea. Now that they knew about the traps, it seemed like they might be able to rescue those who were caught. But it would still be too late to rescue Lightningbolt.

♥ + JAMIE ✦dreamy DELAWARE Christalclear. Complicated feelings.

wish we could turn back time
to the good old days
when our mama sang us to sleep
but now we're stressed out