Quote:
Originally Posted by Charmer
As much as the old medicine cat respected his leader, anger and pride simmered within him at being chastised like an apprentice by a cat who was younger than himself. Back when he was a senior warrior, he would have bore his teeth at a younger cat who spoke to him that way. But he wasn't a senior warrior anymore. He was a medicine cat, and he had taken a vow to heal and care for all clan cats. He hadn't harmed anything but Fallenstar's pride, he knew that, but the warrior code was just as much about the spirit of the words that made them up as the words themselves. He may not have harmed a clancat, but he had not used his rank and his power for healing or set himself above clan rivalries in that moment. So the fact was that Grousestar was right. "There will be no next time," he promised again, solemnly squelching the flames under his pelt.
Relief began to take its place as Grousestar explained his reasons for this alliance. If anything, it was helpful to know that Grousestar had thought this through and had fixed a discerning eye on the drawbacks that he feared from aligning with Windclan. What it boiled down to was that Grousestar saw another battle between the clans as imminent, that Skyclan was unlikely to stay outside of the conflict for ever, and that of all the clan leaders to form a pact with, Blazingstar was the best known and least deplorable. The only thing Shinefang knew about Passionstar was that the leader had attacked Goldenstar while he was still deputy. He had heard that tidbit from a mouthy apprentice at the last gathering. He wasn't sure what this made Goldenstar, but it certainly made Passionstar an unpredictable cat at best. Still, the fact remained that he had found Blazingstar's actions rash and this was worrisome. At his age, very few decisions were rash decisions. He distrusted cats who acted before they thought, especially when those cats had lives in their paws. Was an reckless ally better than no ally?
"Hmmmm. You make a convincing argument... I would just be cautious. If it so happens that Skyclan needs to call on Windclan for aid first, I have no doubt this choice will be remembered as a wise one. But if Windclan calls on Skyclan first...it would be wise to think carefully about what you will and will not do now so that in the heat of the moment, you don't get caught up in his brazen antics... Also, while I can't technically prove that stupidity is contagious like greecough, I wouldn't push your luck. There's no herb to cure." The old tom smiled his twisted grin, loosing a wheezing laugh at his own joke as he did so. "In any case, the next new moon will be here soon. If you like, I'd be happy to consult our ancestors about Skyclan's future when I visit the Starcave. Don't worry, I won't even share any plans with the gleaming ones. I'll just glean what I can from them."
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Perhaps if situations were calmer, and less stress was settled on his shoulders, Grousestar might have had a different talk with Shinefang, and not chastised him in a relatively demeaning and belittling matter but.. He wasn't exactly his self lately. As much as he tried to hide it, sometimes it slipped out, especially when he was alone and not within view of the clan. It was hard to keep bottled up and out of sight.
But currently, the tom didn't see any fault in what he had said to his medicine cat. Instead, he seemed relatively happy to at least be done with that manner of business as the older tom promised that there would be no next time. He hoped for the clans sake that that was the truth. They didn't need another screw up like that. Not before they could use their secret and hopefully gain an upper hand. At least for a little bit. He hated thinking like this, but in the presence of these other clans, it was inevitable. Regardless of what he wanted, war would be scooping them up and throwing them in the mix.
After explaining to the one eyed tom the reasoning behind his decision, he would fall silent and focus his emerald eyes on the medicine cat, to listen to what he had to say. Even in a time like this, Grousestar appreciated any advice that the other tom was willing to give. Sometimes he wondered about his own decisions and whether or not they would be for the greater good of the clan. Of course he tried his best to make them all good, but he couldn't help but wonder if he's made choices that weren't so great.
"I would never throw caution to the wind." The brown tabby said almost defensively, the tip of his tail flicking just slightly before he forced himself to be quiet and hear the other tom out. He needed to breath, the stress and his own level of tiredness were wearing on him in a not so good fashion.
The faintest of smiles touched his lips at the joke, but there wasn't an audible chuckle or laugh to be heard from the leader. However his eyes did shine with hope at the mention of consulting Starclan, his head quickly nodding. "I would appreciate that. Their guidance is always appreciated and it seems like its been moons since I've heard anything from them. Perhaps it can help to.. To calm my nerves." The leader spoke more quietly in the final part of his sentence, in his mind he pondered if that was another source of stress. That he had heard so little from Starclan, the warrior ancestors he held so high and trusted so deeply for guidance. It was wearing on him.