The Sweet Bitterness of Revenge (Open)

[Brackenshade]

Quiet pawsteps moved in the direction of the abandoned twoleg nest. Keen eyes and ears stayed alert the entire time, taking in everything surrounding them. A small noise sounded and a large tom paused, ears straining in the direction of the sound and pale green eyes scanned the area. It had just been a bird, ruffling it's feathers against pine needles. The striped tom continued onward. When the building came into view, the tom quickened his pace, hearing sounds coming from within. The dark tom slipped inside and a shuffling sound and hiss were heard, but stopped when the tom came into view.

"Oh, thank goodness it's you Bracken. I was frightened something would find us before you could come." Came a relieved voice. A beautiful she-cat laid back down into the makeshift nest. The sounds that had been heard from outside had risen when the she-cat had stood up, and now quieted. "Come closer. Please." Her yellow green eyes looked at him with love.

The brown tabby came closer and standing over her, looked down. "Meet your four daughters." She mewed and let him see them. One resembled the mother in being a mostly white calico with black and orange spots. One could almost be an exact replica of the tom, burnt brown with black stripes and white on the chin. The third was a tortishell of black and brown tabby. The last was a creamy orange with tabby markings on her head. "They are beautiful, just like you, Leaf." He said with love. Leaf smiled at him and then spoke, something like embarrassment in her voice. "I sort of picked names out for them already. I hope that's okay." Bracken nodded. "It's fine. What are their names?"

The young she-cat smiled gladly and spoke again. "The one that looks like you, I named her Bramble. The one that looks like me is Maple. The tortishell is Birch and the pale ginger is Tansy." The tom smiled. "I love them."

She started to look confused as she sniffed at him. "You don't smell like you, Bracken. You have a strange scent on you." The young she-cat said and the dark tabby tom laughed. "I got a horrible smell on my pelt and couldn't stand it so I rolled in something to cover it up. Seems like it did a pretty good job." She laughed and shook her head a little before placing her head onto her paws. She closed her eyes. "I'm really tired, so if you don't mind, I think I'm going to take a nap." She said softly and yawned.

The large tom put his nose into the fur behind her ear and spoke softly, his voice full of sorrow. "I didn't mean to fall for you but I did. I'm sorry I have to do this, but I hope you can forgive me."

Leaf was obviously confused. She opened her eyes and opened her maw to ask him what he meant. When her eyes opened, the first thing she saw was razor sharp claws coming down towards her. She didn't even have enough time to make a noise for they came down on her neck, slicing through her throat only because she had jerked her head away. Her eyes were wide as she tried to breathe and as she watched Bracken turn to her kits.

The dying calico she-cat tried to struggle and save her kits. She died just before the tom she loved killed Tansy. He killed Birch next and then looked at the two remaining. The ones that looked like their parents. The large tom steeled his heart even more than he had to when he killed the others, and batted them away, his claws hooking into Bramble as he did so. After that, he planted fur from another tom into Leaf's claws, turned and left, not bothering to check to see if the last two kits had died, though he was pretty sure one would still be alive.

Brackenshade, deputy of Shadowclan, grabbed some herbs and used them to hide the blood scent trail he left. Once far enough away from the twoleg nest, he got rid of the herbs and went to a small puddle. He used the water to get the blood off and then rolled in mud. He used the earthly scents to hide the scent of blood and then washed the mud off in another cold puddle. Once done, he hunted quickly, catching a thin bird, and headed back to camp as fast as he could while carrying the piece of prey.

Behind cold, pale green eyes, Brackenshade knew that the tom he hated should have been sent that direction already, for he had passed Rockettail's scent on the way back. He had made sure to get the other tom sent out there without being directly involved.

Brackenshade burst into camp. "Take this bird to the freshkill pile." He ordered an apprentice that was nearby and then spoke loudly. "I need cats to come with me to the abandoned twoleg den now! I heard noises coming from within and smelled other cats. I want to make sure Thunderclan isn't trying to steal territory from us." He yowled. The tabby tom looked around, hoping to see Nightfeather. He wanted her to be in the patrol.



Words || 905
Ooc || I posted pictures of the loner and kits in the Shadowclan Plot thread. Also, sorry if it gets worse or doesn't make sense at a part. I was trying to hurry it and get all I wanted in it. xD
Tagged || Rockettail || Nightfeather || The rest of Shadowclan!

[Firestorm]

Firestorm lay coiled with his nose pressed tightly in front of his nose with his eyes shut. The moss was soft and comforting against his fur and during the cold leaf bare he appreciated the warmth of the warriors den as he slept. He dreamed of running through lush fields with few pine trees in sight, the sun blazing down against his orange pelt with a satisfying warmth spreading through his body and a deep purr erupting from his chest. The scents were incredible, he could scent out his clan mates in the distance, but the more prominent scents were the sweet smells of  flowers and honey mixed with the smell of fresh kill that made his stomach ache with hunger. His peaceful dream was corrupted by the powerful command of another cat, and he stirred. His eyes opened, revealing stunningly blue eyes in the dark light, the warriors around him still slept and he wondered who was making such a racket in the clearing. His tail flicked irritably he pushed himself up, might as well get up now that he was awake. His ears flattened against his head as he straightened his legs with a yawn, he perfectly good dream disrupted - all for some noisy kits. But that was when he heard Brackenshades call for warriors.

"I need cats to come with me to the abandoned twoleg den now! I heard noises coming from within and smelled other cats. I want to make sure Thunderclan isn't trying to steal territoy from us." His ears pricked curiously as he padded out of his nest, avoiding the nests carefully and pushing through the thorn barrier of the nest. He blinked his eyes adjusting to the light and looked at Brackenshade with a glare. Sure he respected the deputy, but he respected his nest even more. Flicking his tail he walked over slowly to Brackenshade with another yawn. "Cool off, if those rats have crossed the border, we'll beat them back with one paw." he drawled lazily sitting beside the powerful tom. Twisting his head to smooth down the ruffled fur on his shoulder before glancing up at the larger cat with a raised brow. "Maybe you should tell Raggedstar about this while cats gather, he'd want to know." He followed the deputies gaze around the camp - as if he was looking for someone in particular. Standing up with a huff he continued in his meaningless talking, "Then again. You didn't actually scent Thunderclan did you? You just want to make sure. It could just be a rogue." he flicked his tail dismissively. Firestorm had no fear of the other clans or rogues, he wouldn't allow them to cross their territory of course but Brackenshade was a cat that irritated him. He was too serious, and although Firestorm was known for his silver tongue, he could never get anything good out of the deputy - he was boring in the orange toms eyes.

"I thought I saw Nightfeather earlier, but I could have been dreaming. I'll poke my head into the warriors den, perhaps they didn't hear your call." he dipped his head and padded calmly back to the entrance of the warriors den. "Hey!" he called loudly, "One of you get up and join Brackenshades patrol, he scented non Shadowclan cats across the border." he flicked his tail and turned back to Brackenshade. "Told em, don't know if they'll listen to me, since I'm no senior warrior." he smirked at the dark toned tom and walked closer with a confident air about him. "Ready when you are, boss." he purred looking at the camp entrance. Although he was keep a cool face in front of Brackenshade, his stomach fluttered at the idea of a battle after so many moons of peace. Some entertainment would be good, he flexed his claws digging up loose ear with ease, impatient to leave the camp. He had yet to prove his worth to the clan during the time of peace, and he would surely do it today. His tail flicked impatiently  as he waited for other cats join the patrol, after all, they shouldn't be taking their time. Shadowclan could have trespassers freely taking their prey, his fur prickled at the thought of being robbed in leaf bare and he suppressed a hiss of irritation.

words || 730
ooc || he won't be involved in the plot just there for the patrol!
tagged || Priestess Shizuka + Mintfeather + Night