Warriors and Fighters; a private Warriors RP for the StealthStorm Sisters

Blossomfall pricked her ear. "What's going on, anyway? What's put ants all in FirePack's fur?"

Riverstar emerged from her den. Looking down at the commotion below. "Let all creatures gather below the Rock-Path for a Clan/Pack meeting!" She looked at all the cats and foxes below. "Don't you think it'd be a little more orginized, and controlled, if you told us why you were here, and if you had any questions, come, and ask, FirePack!" She gave a slight twitch of her tail "Allot of us were still asleep."

Copper lifted his tail, telling them all to belay Riverstar's order, but he looked the most calm of all of them. Pawstep came forward and explained in a stern, urgent voice, not even giving time for FirePack to organize themselves.

"Ash is missing!! Is she here???"

Surprised murmurs spread through the clan cats. Riverstar shushed them with a look. Then, looking up at the guards, said "Nightglare, Blossomfall, have either of you seen Ash enter the camp on your shift?" Both young she-cats shook their heads. She turned to Copper, and Pawstep. "Then she is not here." She said simply. "Stoneleap. Arrange a search party to help FirePack." The tom beside her nodded, and called out names, to help in the search. (Troutfall, Tuftstorm, Eagleheart (Don't ask why, she can help xD) Briarclaw, and Oakleaf went) After Stoneleap was done, and the listed cats gathered at the entrance to the camp, Riverstar continued. "Now, FirePack foxes, I suggest you go, now, and the search party will go with you. We'll keep on a look out, but I see no point in remaining in the camp. I'll check up on you all in the morning." She gave a curt nod, and said "Meeting dismissed."

Copper told Pawstep to organize search parties according to Riverstar's plans, which he did, promptly. FirePack's Beta was strangely withdrawn from the whole operation.

All the clan cats returned to their proper dens. Riverstar returned to hers. But had trouble going back to sleep, as she worried about her friend. All she knew was, it wasn't worth whipping the clan into a froth about yet. But it was enough to unsettle the young leader's heart.

They searched all day, to the point where they were hunting for food and searching at the same time. The foxes even went onto the other Clan territories (something they were not very inclined to do) to search for her, with no success. By the end of the day, the tired foxes were looking outside the forest, and checking beyond familiar borders, bringing back memories of great journeys in all directions.

I don't know.. Oakleaf said. Panting heavily. "I don't think she's here!" Briarclaw trotted up next to her. "But we've gotta find her! She's a fox for cryin' out loud! Not a misplaced piece of fresh-kill!" Oakleaf groaned annoyedly. "Ok." Then she added in a whisper that only Briarclaw could hear "but we'd better rest soon." Briarclaw chuckled softly.

Eventually, right around sunset, Pawstep rejoined Copper, followed by Diamond.

"Call off the search." Copper said to Pawstep. "FirePack is tired. We need to stop for the day."

"But......Ash is still out there...." Pawstep reluctantly argued. "Do you think we can leave her out there all night?"

"Yes." Copper replied sternly. "Ash can take care of herself. At this point, she'd want us to just make sure FirePack is OK. NightPack ULTRA patrols could be coming out soon."

Pawstep looked at Copper, puzzled. Few things can puzzle Pawstep. But regardless, he nodded and started rounding up FirePack to go home.

Diamond stepped forward, her ears naturally drooped from her unused muscles and cartilage wasted away.

"I'm with you," She said in a slightly off-tone voice. "I trust Ash. She'll have no problem out there."

The clan cats agreed. "Come." Briarclaw said to the other cats "Let's return to camp." They all followed him without question.

"We should wait till morning." He whispered.

"Dad?" Phoenix asked Copper in the den, cuddling up with him. "Are you worried about mom coming back or anything?"

"No." He smiled to his daughter, and the questioning faces of his other two offspring. "I trust your mother, and she's been through a LOT worse. I know she's going to be just fine, and she should have no trouble getting back."

The litter seemed put to ease. If their father didn't have to worry, then neither did they.

Copper was grateful in this situation that he could have peace to give to his Students in this particular time of uncertainty. He only wished the rest of the Pack would trust him just as much.

Riverstar awoke, stretching, and flexing her claws. She stepped out of her den, to see the search party returning. Stoneleap trotted up to meet them. She heard their voices faintly.. Carried by the wind, and echoed through the rock that was her den: "You find her?" "No." Briarclaw shook his head solemnly. Stoneleap's tail drooped. Briarclaw continued. "Surprisingly, Copper was the first one to give up." Stoneleap tilted his head.

Riverstar leaped down. "Get some rest." She ordered the cats. Looking at the exhausted looks on their faces. "Eat some prey if you need to... Take the rest of the day off." She glanced at Stoneleap as she said this for confirmation, who promptly nodded. "Me and Copper... Or whoever in FirePack has the energy, can go looking for her alone. We'd cover much more ground if we didn't have to take breaks as often." Stoneleap gave a nod of understanding, and hearded the search party towards the Warriors den. Riverstar made for the FirePack camp.

She knew they'd find Ash, if she wanted to be found, but Riverstar was also half worried by the fact that she had not made an appearance yet... What if they were to find her dead?

"Copper, Sir." Pawstep said when he found him outside the den. "What do you think? Do we look for her some more?"

"Well, what do YOU think?" Copper asked.

Pawstep thought for a minute. Silverstone watched intently.

"Silverstone? Any suggestions?"

"Uhh......check near the boundaries of DawnPack territory....and some of us should probably look around PondClan since they left. B-but we should maybe sneak into NightPack territory.....first....?"

"Well?" Copper asked Pawstep.

The old Gamma had faith in his successor. "Let's do it. But we'll have to be careful in NPU terf. Let's also bring some students and apprentices so they can get some firsthand enemy experience..."

"Sounds good to me." Copper said.

Riverstar trotted into the camp right then. "Copper! Pawstep! I'm glad I found you so easily." She nodded to the two pack-foxes in turn. "Copper, Pawstep, I believe we must continue our search for Ash. I know that if she wants to be found, she will be found.. And the fact that she hasn't turned up yet, if she wants to be found, worries me. I know she can hold her own... But every fox has their limit. I don't want to find her dead. Will one, or both of you come with me, on a solo search for her? We will cover more ground this way." Her tail twitched as she waited for their response.

*Le skip*

"Could we have chosen a different night...?" Copper asked Lunakin. "The moon is full, and we're all alone in the open.....I feel like the whole of the world is watching us."

"The moon can always be trusted," Lunakin smiled, something which Copper had never before seen him do, under cover of darkness. "But you're right. We won't be alone for long."

"What do you mean? Is someone joi--!!"

The pungent odor of the enemy wafted clear through the cold night air, without any trace of an individual entity. This scent came straight from the source.

"Stone............." Copper gritted his teeth.

"What's got you so upset? I'm alone. Just like you asked."

"Where's Riverstar?" Copper asked. "I thought she'd be here by now..."

Riverstar ran towards them. "Sorry I'm late." She whispered. She was about to explain herself, but her eyes met Stone's, and she was silenced. "Why did you want me here?" She whispered in an odd tone.

"Well," Stone began matter-of-factly, "I'll start by informing everyone....I know Ash is missing. I've known for quite some time."

"Do you know WHERE she is?" Copper asked?

"No, but we're looking for her."

"What interest do YOU have in Ash?" Lunakin inquired.

"She's my littermate. It's pretty much mandatory that I keep tabs on her. Y'know?"

Copper rolled his eyes. "Lunakin....I've done everything you asked. I came here. What is going on?"

"Well, it's been long enough. Ash has been absent and no one has found ANY trace of her. Copper, it's time to make a decision. What are you going to do?"

Copper thought about it, and sighed, as if bracing himself.

"Stone.....would you consider letting us join NightPack ULTRA?"

Riverstar's tail shot up. "What? WHY?" She took a step forward, blocking his view of Stone so that Stone couldn't answer Copper's question just yet. "Are you CRAZY? Just because your Alpha HAPPENS to be missing, you're giving up?! What about the Army?! What about US?" She drew back from Copper like she was grossed out by him. "You know I would never force my clan to go through the torture that is the blackness that is in the hearts of the Night Pack ULTRA fighters, and warriors."

She unsheathed her claws, which were shaking, as they dug into the soft dirt of (I'm guessing) the Peace Cliffs.

Lilystar trotted up. Her tail cocked in calm curiosity. Even as her innocent eyes met Stone's, she didn't blink. She tilted her head at Riverstar's obvious distress "Riverstar, what's wrong?" Riverstar didn't respond.

"If FirePack joins NightPack ULTRA, what will become of the rest of us. Consider that, BETA, before you put everything we've spent the entire year on go to waste. I cannot put my clan though this. If you join the enemy, then we can no longer be our allies, and I, as ranking leader, will evict FirePack from my territory, and with the others' agreement, the forest." Her gaze was stern.

(Pulling rank o3o)

*Several days later, FirePack have joined NightPack ULTRA, and MapleClan have broken their alliance*

Copper watched with curious satisfaction as Stone stomped frustratedly across the cave. He got up to speak with her.

"What's the--"

"Move it or I will END you."

Copper moved, but looked curiously on. He was the only fox in FirePack who was undeterred by her temper.

She stopped, sighed, gripped her claws in the ground.

"Do you have anything to do with this??"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Copper smiled honestly.

Stone looked at him and saw the honesty in his eyes, but didn't believe it.

"Three of my STRONGEST militia are dead. DEAD! In one week! It all happened since you FirePack came here....."

She strained a sigh, trying to recollect herself. She couldn't let herself appear bothered.

"If you know what's going on, and you do NOT tell me, I will find out. And I will murder your whole Pack. WITH MY OWN CLAWS."

"I really don't know." Copper persisted, a little tense from the threat against his Pack. He had every right to be, since she herself had already killed both Lightstream and Squirreltooth, and he had seen her eyeing his Students (full-fledged Fighters in a few days) on many occasions.

Stone glared at him, and he couldn't help shivering a little as he watched her eyes seemlessly go from golden red to black and empty.

"Fine. But I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I will say it as long as it is the truth. I. AM. WATCHING. YOU."

She stomped off with one last toothy sneer.

Copper breathed a shaky sigh of relief.

Over in MapleClan, rather the opposite of what was happening in FirePack was happening:

Cats gathered around the den. All murmuring excitedly. Riverstar watched from the Rock-Path. Her eyes glimmering with joy, and excitement.

Soon, Stripewhisker emerged from the den, nuzzled his sister, Eggstripe, who was waiting for him by the entrance, then yowled in a loud voice, so everyone could here. "Eagleheart has three healthy kits. Two girls and a boy!" Cheers and yowls of joy spread through out the clan in a triumphant wave. Riverstar herself yowled to the sky.

This is the first good news sense the alliance was broken. Three healthy kits, oh what warriors they would become! Stripewhisker pushed his way through the cats, and leaped up on the Rock-Path next to Riverstar, who welcomed him with a lick. "We have already decided on names, before the kits were born." He explained. "The tom is Spiderkit, the oldest she-cat is Spiritkit, and the youngest is Lilykit." The clan cheered once more.

Joy seemed to be so thick, one could almost not push their paw through it. "Only a few cats may enter today. Eagleheart still needs to recover, and the kits are young." And with that, he leaped down from the Rock-Path, and hurried back to his mate's side in the Queen's Den.

Dapplewing didn't leave for a little while later.

Suddenly, the scent of fox wafted into the camp. It was FirePack, certainly, but it was mingled with the bitter scent of NightPack ULTRA. Whoever it was didn't even really try to disguise their scent, and in fact hid upwind of the camp.

Riverstar's back fur bristled. "Defend the kits! And any other warriors, guard the entrances! Stoneleap, come with me!" She leaped down from the Rock-Path, Stoneleap right behind her, and ran out of the camp to track the scent.

A familiar fox tried to run for the entrances, but when a guard stopped him, he had a slightly confused and defeated look;

It was Pawstep.

The guard (Berrypelt) snarled. Alerting Riverstar, and Stoneleap to Pawstep's presence. Riverstar and Stoneleap came from behind Pawstep. Slightly surrounding him. "Pawstep, why are you here?" Riverstar's voice was mix of concern, warning, and dignity.

"I...I left them." He confessed, sounding slightly ashamed. "I left FirePack. I invited my family to come with me....I tried to protect them.....but they all told me they would stay......ohh, man...."

He looked earnestly at Riverstar.

"Would you accept me into MapleClan? If only for a little while?"