memories (open)

[Sparrowstar ♥]

The breeze was surprisingly cold as it sailed over WindClan hills. Long grass was whipped back and forth, swaying like the ocean's waves. The sky was stormy blue with low black clouds nearly touching the ground. Rain was on the way; the musty scent hung in the air like the swirling fog. The sun was hidden by a dark shield of cloud. Off in the distance was ThunderClan territory - the forest. From there, no birdsong rang, making an eerie feeling fall over the whole Clan territories. Stepping out of the drying ferns was a dusty orange tabby tom with stunning blue eyes and a chopped tail. He stood, watching the black woods, the trees swaying dangerously in the harsh wind. The tabby's eyes narrowed, pupils turning into very thin slits. If he had a tail, it would be lashing in fury right now. Even though he had no quarrel with ThunderClan, he knew that they called his Clan weak. Every Clan did. But why would any cat want to slink under the trees like a fox? At least the other two Clans had sense. ShadowClan lived in the marsh, hardly any trees grew there. RiverClan had next to none as well. As for WindClan... they didn't have any. But that was the way it should be. When the tom blinked, the anger faded away into sadness. The leader of WindClan - Sparrowstar, as the Clan cats called him - was remembering his terrible past, and what had happened to his family. He would have died for them. He wished he could go back in time and have slayed that badger to save them... but he couldn't.

Birchpaw, how stupid his bigger brother had been, when he'd attacked that badger with no signal at all. Did he think he could take it down by himself, or that the little family would help him? But he didn't blame his sibling - he would have been like that if he was braver. That was when the badger had killed him. It took Goldenpaw next... Sparrowstar shivered as the memory passed through him. It had ripped his littermate to shreds with its long, sharp claws. Then it had pounced on Dappledface - his mother - and snapped her spine in two, like a twig. His eyes widened, and he started to shake. Then Willowpaw, with nowhere to go, just bolted, and he never saw her again. The Clan had guessed that she had been hiding somewhere, and the badger had gotten to her. There was no body found, but it had probably been hungry enough to eat cat. Stormcloud, Sparrowstar's father, told him to run. And he did run, faster than ever. If he hadn't of been born in WindClan - the cats with the strongest legs built for running - then the badger would have probably caught up to him and killed him. But luckily he survived. The only thing the badger did was rip off his tail, right before it was going to break his spine. Stormcloud had saved the apprentice by slashing the badger's nose. Sparrowstar remembered the blood that pattered onto the yellow grass, and the badger's eyes went from angry to enraged. Then, Sparrowstar - Sparrowpaw at the time - ran, without thinking about helping his father. But what good would one apprentice be against a huge, monstrous beast? So he had run back to camp. They also never found Stormcloud's body, but they knew that he was dead. How could a warrior survive against a lumbering, full grown badger, especially one that had just killed three others?

Sparrowstar shook his head, clearing the foggy memories. He realized that he was still shivering, whether from cold or fear, he didn't know. His eyes were stretched wide until his whites were showing. Claws dug into the mushy grass, as if holding onto the world he knew, so that he wouldn't get swept backward again. What if his Clan saw him like this - what would he do then? They couldn't know that their leader was still sad about his dead littermates and parents... they just couldn't. Blinking away his history, his gaze swept around. As he did so, a tiny droplet of rain pounded on his head. He looked up, and more were falling down, faster and faster than before. The tabby leader wondered if he should go home and shelter in his den. But what good would that do? My den is outside, so anywhere I go, I will always be wet. He didn't mind getting wet and staying out in the open, but for some reason, this day he was acting like a stinky ThunderClan cat. Scowling, he slowly padded forward. By now it was pouring, and within a couple of heartbeats, Sparrowstar was soaked to the bone. He wasn't exactly fit to be a WindClan cat. He had broad, muscular shoulders, but he was fast and small, like a cat that came from the hills. With his ears pinned flat on his head, he trotted toward Fourtrees - the only place he knew where to find shelter without trespassing. Shivering, he ran over to one of the giant oak trees on the WindClan side and huddled up close to the wet, dark brown trunk, searching for warmth. He scooted in beside a root and began to lick his fur dry until it puffed out. He hoped that no other cat saw him and joked that now WindClan cats like trees. Because he didn't like trees, they were just the only shelter when he needed it. Now look at you - you're turning into a ThunderClan cat! You don't have any connection with ThunderClan whatsoever! No friends, no mate... no family.

[Warfrost]

The stormy blue sky was cloaked in a veil of low, black clouds. They loomed overhead, beginning to pour rain heavily onto the ground. The four oak trees stood like defiant giants before the fury of the storm, the ancient branches creaking and bright green leaves shaking. This wasn't suitable weather for any Clan- unless you were RiverClan. The bulky figure that emerged from the reeds on RiverClan territory padded slowly to Fourtrees, the rain sliding off his fur like water off a duck's feathers. Warfrost's large, muscled body barely felt the pounding rain as he trudged along, dull yellow eyes illuminated briefly in short bursts of lightning. The growling rumble of thunder vibrated through the ground, as if to prove to the earth it was dominant element. Warfrost finally entered the spacious clearing, drops of water weighing down his whiskers. His intentions were unclear, and his reason for coming to Fourtrees was even more of a mystery. He overlooked the small form under the oak tree belonging to WindClan territory, not really paying attention in the darkness that had fell over the territories. His intimidating stare rested solely on the smooth rock in the center of the clearing. It stood as a timeless landmark in the deaf audience of the surrounding oaks, wet and slippery by the water that ran down it's smooth surface. He padded up to it, muscles suddenly bunching and releasing to get his heavy body from the soaked ground to the top of the rock.

Warfrost could imagine addressing the four Clans alongside the other leaders from this rock, looking down at the numerous bodies illuminated by a full moon's light. He wasn't one for make-believe games, but he could practically taste the promises of being leader one day. Warfrost wanted it. He wanted it bad. The large RiverClan warrior's broad shoulders were barely outlined against the dark sky, his black and white fur seemingly unaffected by the pouring rain. Suddenly, the tom noticed a ginger form beneath one of the oak trees. His yellow eyes narrowed searchingly, immediately recognizing this other cat as none other than Sparrowstar, leader of WindClan. Sitting down, the warrior neatly placed his tail over his paws, staring down at the leader. No doubt that he was cowering from the raging storm. "Hello Sparrowstar." Warfrost was unsure where to go from there, since he hadn't been planning on meeting another cat here. He refrained from using any light humor on the idea of a WindClan cat under a tree, for some cats got extremely touchy about it. Warfrost himself hated the uncreative "fish-face" term that had become quite popular among the other Clans. Once he became leader, he'd make sure that the rival Clans would be much too afraid to use that name ever again for RiverClan.

For the lack of it being the full moon, there was no truce that bound the Clans to be friendly to one another. However, this was sacred land, and was not the property of any Clan. In such there was no need to cause a fight, especially with a Clan leader. Warfrost would never do such a foolish thing, and yet he was unsure of how to approach this little meeting. Idle chitchat wasn't really something the tom got into, but for the sake of continuing to be seen as a friendly warrior by his Clanmates, he pretended to make an effort. But as for the other Clans, he believed it was good that they should fear him. For now, Warfrost offered no friendly smile, yet no signs of hostility whatsoever. The young warrior felt a wind buffet his fur, but it wasn't strong enough to push the muscled machine off the slippery rock. It slowly dawned on him how strange he must seem, coldly keeping silent as he stared down at the leader. A monster of battle simply sitting in the rain, the power in those muscles beneath the long fur a deadly force yet controlled in calm tranquility. Worse yet was that he sat on the Great Rock, and Sparrowstar possibly saw the fire of ambition and want in his eyes. Warfrost reasoned with himself quietly that he was, of course, no soft kittypet. Anyone could look at a muscled warrior and stereotype him as being ambitious. Not like Sparrowstar would ever have reason to mention any darkness within the tom; every cat must have always thought about being leader at one point or another. Sliding off the rock, Warfrost landed heavily, the wet soil squelching beneath his large paws, leaving deep imprints in the mud. It was a failed attempt to look smaller, the RiverClan warrior not wanting to look threatening or any more dangerous as he already seemed. It wasn't in his intentions to harm Sparrowstar at all. Warfrost forced an awkward, uncertain smile for the leader, hoping he didn't seem too much of a creeper.
~x~

Notes: Yeah, not my best work but I think it was pretty good. You can tell I ran out of ideas of what to write near the end. So it's fairly awkward throughout the wording, but I hope you don't mind.

[Sparrowstar ♥]

Shivering next to the cold bark reminded Sparrowstar again of his family, and how much he missed them. Even though his littermates had been jealous of him, he had still loved them, and couldn't even think of them dying. His bright blue eyes were wide with fear and shock, claws digging into the smashed grass and sloppy mud. He especially missed Willowpaw out of his whole dead family, even though it hurt the skinny WindClan leader to think about missing one more than the other. Willowpaw had been more like him than any of the others, although she was better at fighting than hunting. Birchpaw had been next, then Goldenpaw. Stormcloud and Dappledface... well, he hadn't even known them that well, even though they were his mother and father. Especially Stormcloud, as he had been too busy caring for the Clan to visit his own kits daily. But Sparrowstar didn't hold a grudge agaist the stormy grey tom. He remembered his mother's calico pelt before she died, so beautiful and strong, ready to protect her kits against anything in her path. But she had been so ignorant to believe that she could take on a brute badger like that - so stupid. Sparrowstar was reminded of Goldenpaw's golden tabby fur floating in the breeze, while her body lay at his paws in a sticky pool of blood. Stormcloud, how he had bravely face the badger with an angry scowl on his face, slashing it's nose for revenge for his dying family. Had he known that only one of his sons would live? Had he known that he himself would die? Or did he believe that they would all see each other in StarClan and live there forever and ever and be happy? But I can still see them in StarClan, when I go and share tongues with them at the Moonstone. I'm one of the lucky cats that can do that. Sparrowstar shook his head. He hadn't seen Willowpaw before she died, and he didn't even see her go up to the badger or run away. Is it possible that she's still alive somewhere, then? Maybe in ShadowClan or RiverClan, since they live right next to us? Maybe she escaped the attack and went over to join another Clan out of fear that the badger would get her and that her family was dead. She could be right under my nose... and I wouldn't even know. She could have even changed her name to hide herself... Sparrowstar shook his head again. He knew that it was unlikely. Wouldn't the Clan leader tell the other Clans that they had a new apprentice? And if a Clan found her wandering in their territory, they'd either reconigze her, or smell her WindClan scent in her fur. Unless she waited awhile, until the scent was off of her fur, or turned rogue... Or left the Clan territories for a while... No! Stop thinking about Willowpaw! She's dead, okay? Dead! She couldn't have escaped the badger! But doubt began to creep into his mind as he was reminded that he escaped the badger. But not on my own.

He jumped as he realized that some cat was watching him. A low growl escaped his muzzle as he stared at the huge tom in front of him, sitting calmly on the Great Rock. He realized that the tom must have said hello to him, but Sparrowstar didn't reply back. A cold look snuck across his icy-blue eyes. He quickly leaped to his feet, his fur already dry. His eyes were blazing as he trying to reconigze the cat standing before him. It was pitch black outside, so it was hard to tell if he knew him or not. Deciding to go with his nose, he sniffed the air. Through all of the rain and mud, he knew that this was a RiverClan warrior. A gust of wind left his mouth. At least it wasn't some rogue - or ThunderClan. But he was still cautious as the enourmas tom bounded off the Great Rock and stood, smiling awkwardly in front of the orange tabby tom. Sparrowstar just glared back, unsure of what to say. This guy is... weird. The leader took a step back. He's like... twice as big as me! Now... I don't want any problems with this cat. I'm not afraid to fight him... but great StarClan, this cat is so big! What's his name? I know I've seen him before... Just as he thought it, he remembered the black-and-white tom cat's name. Warfrost, the tom built for fighting. If he was Clan leader, would he lead his Clan into many wars, just like his name promised? Warstar. Would he be feared like Tigerstar, or would be become another Firestar, turning away from his name and leading his Clan to good? Sparrowstar knew one thing for sure - if this cat became leader, he'd be really powerful. How do you know that he'll even become a leader? The chance is really rare for one cat to become it, especially one that is named after battles.

In a cool, silk-like voice, Sparrowstar slowly meowed, "Hello, Warfrost." The look on Sparrowstar's eyes said, "Joke about me huddling next to a tree and I'll call you a fish-face or a fish-breath." His voice was niether friendly or hostile, but it sent a shiver down Sparrowstar's spine. He had never been very rude to a cat before, unless, of course, they were harming his Clan. But this cat had done nothing wrong. He was probably misunderstood in his Clan, maybe for his size or strength that he would hurt another cat by accident because of it. Or maybe he was looked up to - the WindClan leader had no idea. But something inside of him told him to be friendly toward his RiverClan warrior, just because maybe he'd need RiverClan as an ally sometime in the future. His stumpy tail twitched, as if it still thought it was a whole tail and could show his emotions. But no, now only his eyes expressed them, and they showed sadness, a tinge of fear, surprise, and something else. Sparrowstar frowned, then sat down on his slim haunches, confusion now clouding his gaze. For some reason, the tom wanted to learn more about Warfrost, for some reason he couldn't put his paw on. Blinking slowly, Sparrowstar began lightly, "So, Warfrost. How are you?" Sparrowstar wasn't a very good conversation started, especially to a cat that was a giant compared to him. But there was no trace of unfriendliness in his blue eyes, only open curiousity. Hopefully the RiverClan tom didn't think he was being too nosy, otherwise there could be trouble.

[Warfrost]

Warfrost watched in piqued interest as Sparrowstar took a step back, quite possibly in small shock at his size. The RiverClan tom held back a smirk, inwardly fighting to keep his expression the same pleasant smile it was. But for good measure, he let this smile falter and looked at Sparrowstar with common amusement. There was an icy glare in those stunning blue eyes, and Warfrost felt himself tense instinctively. Surely the WindClan leader would know better than to start a fight where there needn't be one. "Hello, Warfrost." Ah, so he does recognize me. Warfrost's yellow eyes searched Sparrowstar's own brilliant blue ones, finding sadness, fear, surprise and something else Warfrost couldn't quite put his paw on. However, he also noticed warning not to tease him about being under a tree. Warfrost gently chuckled, a deep rumble in his round chest. So, Warfrost. How are you? The young warrior now only saw curiosity shining through the mixed emotions of the leader. "Bored." Came the simple answer, and the corners of Warfrost's mouth twitched in a smile. What ideas would come to someone's mind if a cat like Warfrost said he was bored? "I suppose I'm just wandering right now, lost in thought. Trying to find something useful to do." The tom nodded towards the moorland that stretched up from WindClan's oak, filled with earthy colors that were darkened by the falling rain. "How's WindClan?" Warfrost frowned at his pointless question. WindClan could be starving for all he knew, but no leader would admit weakness to an enemy warrior. "Actually, don't answer that. I'm already aware of the answer. WindClan is stronger than ever, prey is running fine, and there haven't been any problems your warriors couldn't take care of." His yellow gaze turned back to Sparrowstar, a humored purr rumbling deep in his chest. "As would every other cat, regardless of Clan, would say."

Warfrost, unlike a few cats, did not question the division between the four Clans. They may have their similarities, but it was their differences that gave them strength. ShadowClan's ability to sneak around silently was a talent exclusive to their own Clan, no hefty RiverClan cat could be so skilled in stalking like that. It was because of these differences that built strong warriors. It demanded all the more loyalty to one's own Clan. Call Warfrost a traditionalist, but he firmly believed that the Clans had no need to merge and be friendly with one another. There was no place for Half-Clan cats in this survival of the fittest. "But perhaps you could be able to tell me why you are out here, instead of finding warmth in this cold drizzle in the fur of your Clanmates? Perhaps sharing tongues with kin, while a storm is raging outside your dens?" Warfrost knew WindClan preferred to stay outside, sleeping under the stars. But at Gatherings he had learned WindClan had their dens to retreat to if the weather was unfavorable- like today. He had also overheard the gossip of a few elders about how Sparrowstar's family had been killed by the same badger that taken his tail. But these were nothing but rumors without cold, hard evidence. Anyway, Warfrost didn't want Sparrowstar to reel off into a sob story about how his family had been killed by a vicious badger. The bulky warrior was in no mood to pretend to care or give sympathy, for that matter. So for the sake of not wanting to hear rambling of a tragic event, Warfrost expertly veered the subject away from where it might be headed. "Before you were leader, I heard you became deputy without an apprentice. Was it a shock to you or did you already know that you were destined to lead your Clan?" Now this was something Warfrost could get into, a conversation that actually interested him. Battle strategy, positions of power, any information that might be useful in the future... It all was something Warfrost was willing to hear. The large tom positioned himself on the wet ground, unconcerned about the soggy soil underneath him. He neatly placed one paw over the other, and laid his head down comfortably, yellow eyes gazing at the WindClan leader. Some would tease him about it, but the battle-hardy warrior actually enjoyed listening to tales of cats rising to power, stories of leaders that led their Clans to greatness and others that practically destroyed them. He wasn't like a kit wanting to hear nursery rhymes or an apprentice listening to elders' tales; the tom had more intention behind it than that, no matter how soft it seemed for a large warrior like himself. Warfrost knew he could learn much from knowing what brought Clans into greatness, as well as what brought them to the ground. Especially if he'd lead RiverClan one day. The ambitious hunger stirred again within him.

With another deep, practically growling purr, Warfrost nodded towards some fallen leaves beneath the great oaks. "Paw a shallow trench around you and put leaves in the middle. This will keep you separated from the wet ground and keep any rain on the ground to flow away from you. Since I assume WindClan cats don't like getting their paws wet." Warfrost continued to stare at Sparrowstar, his eyes giving nothing away. Would the leader come to an unsupported feeling that Warfrost was being unusually friendly? There was no reason to doubt his calm kindness, since Warfrost hadn't given him anything to even allow that thought to sound rational. Knowing more about this orange tabby just might prove to be helpful one day- if they ever happened to become allies or enemies in battle one day. As the old saying goes, Warfrost mused in his head. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

[Sparrowstar ♥]

The WindClan tabby tom narrowed his eyes, wondering why Warfrost was being so friendly. He and his Clan had no quarrel with RiverClan, but he didn't expect the huge black-and-white warrior to be so nice. He was used to insults by now, cats asking him why he was huddled next to the tree, or calling him a fast mouse-brain, or a skinny, weak cat. But he wouldn't let any more emotions seep through his eyes, for he could tell that that Warfrost had caught all of them. He saw the fear. Sparrowstar shook himself lightly. When he heard Warfrost ask how WindClan was doing, he was just about to retort, "It's none of your business how my Clan is doing, thank-you, but we are doing fine!" But then the RiverClan warrior answered his own question and told him not to speak. He'd guessed what Sparrowstar would have said, just like all cats would have. He folded his ears back on his skull. Instead of spitting and hissing, the tabby leader just calmed himself and listened to the pattering of rain while Warfrost was blabbering on. The leader closed his eyes and rolled them. The warrior was acting such like a kit that it was amusing! Sparrowstar heard the wind blow, and he longed for his home. He shouldn't have gone to Fourtrees - he should have just turned around and headed toward the camp. The orange tabby should have known that going into the trees would only cause trouble... Well, not cause it, but meet into trouble. Or get tangled with it. The leaves amove him rustled, and it made Sparrowstar jump a little. He wasn't used to this awkward sounds, and it was making him be more like a kit than Warfrost. He shouldn't be scared out of his pelt because of some dumb trees and leaves.

Then Sparrowstar heard the tom ask another question. Sparrowstar thought about it for a moment. The reason why he was out here was because he'd been thinking about his dead family and the reason why his whole tail was gone. Should he tell Warfrost this, or did he already know? After all, the elders or senior warriors could have told him about his terrible past. Again, once he opened his mouth the speak the words, "I was thinking about my lost littermates and parents. Would you like to hear the story of them... or do you already know it?" Warfrost interuppted him again with another question. Sparrowstar's face burned, as if on fire. Was this tom ever going to let the WindClan leader speak, or was he going to keep asking question after question? The leader's whiskers twitched impatiently. Warfrost was starting to annoy Sparrowstar a lot. Mouse-brained, big lump of puff-ball fur! Rolling his eyes again, he wondered if he should answer his question or not. Why should he? He was a Clan leader! But Sparrowstar decided to reply to it, as he didn't want to seem guarded. Once he knew that Warfrost wasn't going to talk again, the leader began, "Yes, I did become the deputy before I had an apprentice. My leader, Thornstar, promoted me. He must have thought I would lead WindClan good, and I think he chose well. I knew that I was going to lead my Clan some day, but I didn't expect to be picked to be deputy so early. When he called the ceremony, I thought he'd pick one of the wiser, older warriors, for example, Branchflight or Tornadofur, who are both elders now, and since they each had a couple of apprentices in their lifetime. But, obviously, he didn't, since I'm the leader now. Then later on, I got an apprentice of my own, Cloudstorm." Sparrowstar decided not to tell Warfrost why Thornstar had picked him as deputy, since that would only bring his dead family in the conversation.

Sparrowstar was actually starting to like Warfrost. He didn't know why his opinion of him had changed so quickly, but something in the black-and-white RiverClan warrior had turned around. The leader blinked as Warfrost meowed, nodding over to a pile of fallen, dark green leaves, "Paw a shallow trench around you and put leaves in the middle. This will keep you separated from the wet ground and keep any rain on the ground to flow away from you. Since I assume WindClan cats don't like getting their paws wet." Sparrowstar gave a curt nod, and once again, anger returned to his heart. What would the leader really feel for Warfrost at the end of the night, since his emotions for him kept swinging? "Thanks for sharing that with me, Warfrost. I'll be sure to tell my Clan just in case another newleaf shower comes. And you're right," Sparrowstar growled, "we do hate getting our paws wet."

[Warfrost]

Warfrost lowered his head slightly, but it wasn't like dipping your head in respect. His yellow eyes showed nothing; they remained the cold, emotionless void as they always were. His ears flattened only slightly, until a vague expression of dark calculation was apparent. He offered a lopsided smirk, made possible by one side of his mouth twitching upward, almost resembling a sneer. He didn't like Sparrowstar, and he had an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of his stomach that the WindClan leader didn't like him very much either. Oh well, they were from rival Clans. Perhaps it was time to give up the foolish kindness act? His eyes closed, and the smirk eased into a simple, small smile- but nevertheless still partly devious. The bulky warrior nodded as Sparrowstar spoke of becoming leader, and then chuckled when the WindClan leader growled in answer to his wet paws comment. His eyes slowly opened, and he shook his head in humor at the situation. "I wouldn't expect you to. I'm sure swimming and fishing seems mouse-brained to you, and when you've lived on a moorland your entire life that's understandable. Of course, chasing rabbits and being unprotected from the wind is as just as curious a thing to do to me as is swimming is to you." Calmly staring at the tabby tom for a while longer, Warfrost plaintively spoke. "Look, I know we're strangers to one another. But it's not like I'm going to attack you or am intentionally trying to offend you. We're both trying to keep things as civil as possible. Still, I find it very awkward when we're treating each other like an unpredictable predator." With a rumbling purr he closed his eyes and twitched his tail. "I'm not the best at socializing, but I have to say this is by far the most uncomfortable conversations I've ever had."

The RiverClan warrior seemed quite relaxed as he spoke his mind. "I assure you, Sparrowstar, I'm not a monster. I'm just like any other warrior. I don't believe you've ever seen me in battle, and let's hope you don't. But I fight for the well-being of my Clan, not just because I meet a cat from another Clan. Anyway, what motive do I have to attack a Clan leader on sacred ground?" He opened his eyes, and rolled onto his side, sighing deeply. Tail flicking lazily, his head rested against the muddy ground. "So what is it like, being a WindClan cat? I can't imagine living in such conditions, what with all those gusts of wind. I mean, you must really get the worst of the storms. Storms like these." Warfrost glanced up at the thick bundle of dark storm clouds, almost looking like the unruly fur of a stormy grey cat. He wasn't sure what time it was, for the sun was swallowed by these intruders of the sky. Thunder roared out after jagged claws of lighting lashed repeatedly in the distance. Involuntarily, Warfrost shivered. The tension of the storm electrified the air, and his fur would have been standing on edge if it was continually pounded flat by rain. This was quite the beast of a storm, and Warfrost wondered how much damage would be done after its passing. He'd expect some trees to have fallen over or dens to be flooded. As if instinct, his head turned to stare back at his own territory. The river would undoubtedly swell after this horrid weather. RiverClan's territory might be flooded during this storm, and more specifically the camp. Luckily the RiverClan nests were able to float, but that wouldn't change the fact of all the work that would be required. Warfrost blinked, and settled down again, relaxing. They'd need him, but there wasn't anything to be done while the storm was going. The whole Clan would just have to wait it out.

[Sparrowstar ♥]

Sparrowstar couldn't believe that he was loosing his patience to this young RiverClan warrior. But the orange tabby tom had no idea why he was so nervous around Warfrost. Was it because he was a bit intimidated by his large appearance, or was it just because he was of a different Clan? Either way, they were both good reasons why he shouldn't trust him. The black-and-white tom sent shivers racing down Sparrowstar's spine. He tried not to show this to Warfrost, but he was afraid that he already knew. It was kinda hard to hide his emotions in his eyes, and he knew that he had to try to do better at it. With his icy blue eyes gleaming, Sparrowstar glared straight at Warfrost, unblinking and unmoving. The WindClan leader wished that he didn't have to act so stubborn, but he was only doing his job. Anyway, that was just his personality. He couldn't help out the way he was, and even if he could, he wouldn't change it to make some cheeky RiverClan warrior happy. Quickly shaking his head to clear his rambling thoughts, Sparrowstar listened to what Warfrost had to say. A low growl rumbled in his throat, too low for Warfrost to hear, or so he hoped. Wind lashed at him, and even the powerful oak tree couldn't protect him. Rain drove into his face, going into his eyes and nearly blinding him. He shut them and listened to the rival Clan warrior. "You're probably right about me hating the river and you hating the moorland," the orange tom began, "and I understand that. We all have our weaknesses and our strengths. That's what makes us strong, and in different Clans. A fast cat wouldn't be fit for ShadowClan, a tree climber can't be for WindClan, and a cat that likes water wouldn't fit in my Clan." Sparrowstar finished his short lecture with a blink, and huddled closer to the brown trunk for warmth. Sparrowstar hoped that Warfrost would forgive him, but wouldn't speak of their clashing personalities. For some reason, that ticked the leader off. He stretched out one paw and sunk his razor sharp claws into the muddy soil. As he dragged it back to his body, he left hard, deep furrows on the ground. He flicked the mud off his paw and turned his attention back to the RiverClan warrior.

When he heard Warfrost's second statement, Sparrowstar froze with what he was doing. His bright blue eyes widened with surprised, although he tried to hide it. The leader knew that Warfrost was right, but he didn't want to admit it, especially to this smug tom. Grunting, he watched as he flicked his long, curled tail, as if he was irritated. Sparrowstar's ears folded back onto his head. Okay. If he wanted to play that game, then he would. Don't play games with the WindClan leader - you'd just get played back. That was his motto. Standing up on his swift paws, he forgot about the storm and the gusting wind. He wished that he had a tail so that he could smartly flick it over Warfrost's shoulder - ever so gently that it would irritate even the most cunning warrior. But his stump just twitched as he brushed past the stinking black warrior. Although his whiskers did twirl, and his ears lifted and perked, as though listening to a whole field of cats. He stood proudly on his fairly short legs. When he heard Warfrost's last statement, it just flared Sparrowstar up even more. He was fanning the flames, not trying to blow them out. Through narrowed eyes he turned to look at Warfrost. "I know that you're not going to attack me," he growled through clenched teeth. Mousebrain, was what he wanted to add, but he kept it under his tongue. Sparrowstar was being too stubborn to realize that Warfrost was actually right. Sometimes the orange tabby leader could be stupid. Warfrost was actually smarter than the clever Sparrowstar. "This is indeed uncomfortable, but that's my life. My life has always been like this. Best get used to it." It was as if someone else were controlling him, as if he was a plaything. He wasn't acting like himself, and it terrified him. The leader wanted to tell Warfrost about his past, but he had a feeling that he already knew. Or that he was just avoiding the conversation.

Sparrowstar snorted. "And trust me, I know you aren't a monster. I've met them before, in battle." His eyes narrowed, and he swung around and glared at the rival warrior. His muscles tightened, ready to leap into war if he had to. The snarl on his face was surprisingly frightening... or so he hoped it would look like that. "You wouldn't fight a leader on sacred ground, Warfrost. I know you all too well." The Clan leader shuddered at his coldness. He was acting a bit odd, if he did say so himself. It wasn't normal to taunt another cat into a battle. Should he see the medicine cat of his Clan...? No. Nothing was wrong with him, and he was sure of it. Sparrowstar knew that he was just sad because of his dead family, and meeting Warfrost had reopened that wound, and now the blood was spilling into the trees. When he faintly heard Warfrost speak again, he froze, his eyes transfixed on the ground in front of them. For a couple of heartbeats he stood still, icy blue eyes wide. Then he gave himself a good, long shake, as if clearing his pelt of mud and twigs. Sparrowstar spoke as if he hadn't done anything wrong, "Life of a WindClan cat is good, in my opinion. Although each cat will find his Clan better than all of the others." He purred, a deep, loud sound echoing from his throat. "The storms are bad sometimes, but some of my cats love the rain as much as you like the river. I'm just not among them. As surprising as it is, I'd rather be a ThunderClan cat when it storms than a WindClan leader. We learn to get over those huge gusts of wind, and go about with our day. When it's very windy - the kind of wind that will pick up a cat - we usually stay in camp all day, besides border and hunting patrols. No cat will go out by himself on those kinds of days." The tabby tom blinked, then nodded. He sat down on his slender haunches and looked over at the moorland - his home. The rain had eased into a fine drizzle, but as he sniffed the air, he could tell more rain was on the way. The clouds still covered StarClan with their misty wrath. "What's life like in RiverClan?" Sparrowstar wondered absently as he gazed thoughtfully into WindClan territory.

[Warfrost]

The rain lightened to a cool drizzle, but Warfrost could taste the tension on the air. He couldn't read Sparrowstar's emotions as easily anymore, but the leader's glare made his fur prickle. The orange tabby stretched out a paw and dragged his claws across the earth. A threat, perhaps? A warning that isn't meant to be direct, but still noticed? Warfrost was unsure if Sparrowstar was trying to intimidate him or not, so he thought it better not to say anything. But when Sparrowstar stood up on his fairly short legs, tail stump twitching, Warfrost knew the conversation had just taken a turn for the worse. Sparrowstar stalked past him, now standing back to back alongside him. The black-and-white warrior rolled onto his paws, standing up. If Sparrowstar was actually going to attack him, the large tom would have to step up to the challenge. "This is indeed uncomfortable, but that's my life. My life has always been like this. Best get used to it." The leader was emitting many low, quiet growls. Warfrost unsheathed his claws and flattened his ears. "And trust me, I know you aren't a monster. I've met them before, in battle. You wouldn't fight a leader on sacred ground, Warfrost. I know you all too well." The RiverClan warrior was on edge, fur rising. "Watch it..." He warned in a small growl.

But it seemed that there wouldn't be need for a fight. Sparrowstar quickly relaxed, having swung around to face Warfrost and was now calmly staring at him. "Life of a WindClan cat is good, in my opinion. Although each cat will find his Clan better than all of the others." He purred, a deep, loud sound echoing from his throat. "The storms are bad sometimes, but some of my cats love the rain as much as you like the river. I'm just not among them. As surprising as it is, I'd rather be a ThunderClan cat when it storms than a WindClan leader. We learn to get over those huge gusts of wind, and go about with our day. When it's very windy - the kind of wind that will pick up a cat - we usually stay in camp all day, besides border and hunting patrols. No cat will go out by himself on those kinds of days." Warfrost stared blankly at Sparrowstar, partially in confusion. What the StarClan just happened? He thought, taken aback by how quickly Sparrowstar had changed. What kind of cat starts growling and gets all upset and then just as quick become...calm and relaxed again? Warfrost almost missed Sparrowstar's question. "What's life like in RiverClan?" Warfrost was jolted out of his puzzled thoughts and answered, "Huh? Oh, uh... it's fine. Swimming and fishing is, of course, a common activity. Apprentices and warriors will usually do it together, and it's a good way to bond with your Clanmates." Warfrost shrugged and continued softly, "But I usually go solo when I'm doing something, so I skip out on group projects, unless it's a border patrol." Pausing, he thoughtfully added, "Swimming is a pretty strange thing if you think about it, but it's rather enjoyable. That feeling of being weightless while you forget all your troubles. In the water, I have to say it simply washes the rest of the world away. You're floating, stroking easily through the water, without need for earth under your paws. Do WindClan cats feel like that when they run? I mean, when you run so fast it feels like you're flying? Being in the river is the closest thing we RiverClan cats have to flying, with nothing bounding you to the ground."

Warfrost blinked at Sparrowstar, secretly pleased at how well he had said that, sounding just like a normal warrior who only wanted the best for his Clan, putting their needs before his own. But perhaps it was a little too good. Certainly deep down inside he didn't feel that way. With inward disgust Warfrost shook this thought off and lifted his dull yellow eyes to the sky above, where a few weak rays of sunlight had managed to break through the clouds. The storm wasn't over completely, perhaps, but this little pause made Warfrost feeling the want to just stretch out and take a nap. Turning, the tom jumped back up onto the rock and sprawled across it, hoping that just perhaps those weak rays of sunlight could warm his fur. Looking down at Sparrowstar with half-closed eyes, he purred, "But you're right, you know. RiverClan would not last long in WindClan's territory. Running isn't one of my strengths. Probably would have to resort to falling on top of prey instead of chasing it. Much too clumsy and bulky to catch a rabbit." Warfrost gave a good-humored chuckle for good measure, imagining himself trying to chase after rabbits."I wonder if WindClan cats would like fish. It's a mixture of both sweet and salty, with a fresh, watery tang to it." Warfrost yawned and licked his muzzle hungrily, but remained on the Great Rock, much too comfortable to make an effort to catch something.