~ IVYSNAKE OF SHADOWCLAN ~
The night was dark and shadowy, the thick pine needles blocking out the light of the moon and stars while the grip of leaf-bare gave ShadowClan territory its own added layer of bleakness. There were no leaves to lose here, nothing that would expose the land to the false promise of light, which the other Clans seemed to think meant happiness and security. And maybe they were right. For the shadows brought Ivysnake and every other sensible ShadowClan cat a sense of peace and belonging while everyone else was afraid of what lurked in them. The medicine cat apprentice padded behind Dawnstar and next to Vixensnarl, making the living definition of what it was to be a true member of ShadowClan. Developing, strengthening muscles rippled under her short yet thick pelt, and her dark brown tabby fur - sluiced with black stripes resembling ivy climbing and wrapping itself around her - turned her into a living shadow. Only her amber eyes, sharp and piercing, cut through the darkness. She was here with Dawnstar, her platonic mate, and one of the Enforcers. Only the best in ShadowClan. If her younger self could see her now, she'd be pleased. And Ivysnake was pleased.
A wall of fishy stench hit the tall medicine cat apprentice's nose, and she wrinkled it.
RiverClan. Dawnstar had led the patrol in the direction of their border, and she saw some cats gathered there. Two of them she recognized: Gingerfrost, the deputy, and Fawnpaw, the cowardly medicine cat who had a heart soft enough for a bug to squish. Anyone else, she did not recognize. Vixensnarl broke away from her, and Ivysnake copied the brown tabby Enforcer, flanking her leader. Her long, sharp claws slid out as she eyed the other cats - a show of strength and a willingness to fight, but not anything that would drive the RiverClan cats over the edge unless they were that soft.
I wonder if Fawnpaw will burst into tears. If she did, Ivysnake wouldn't be surprised.
Her gaze idly shifted to Cougarivy, who she hadn't paid much mind during the duration of their walk. The black-and-white she-cat looked a little mad, not as collected as Ivysnake would've liked, but she wasn't bad. She was loyal, and Dawnstar trusted her to make her the Enforcer Commander. Ivysnake's piercing eyes shifted back to the RiverClan cats. She remained still and silent, stoic, her ears not even flicking as Dawnstar and Vixensnarl made their comments or Cougarivy giggled. She wouldn't start a fight if one wasn't provoked, but if one did break out... It had been far too long since Ivysnake had drawn blood or taken someone's pelt as a prize. Did anyone still do that?
We haven't had enough conflicts, she thought, disappointed. The thought of mirroring the old days sent a tingle of excitement through her belly, one that didn't reflect anywhere else, not even her eyes, which were supposedly the window to the soul. The medicine cat apprentice remained as solemn and serious as ever - although she was ready.
@
Undertaker @
birdie @
Estelle @
Ravensong @
perseus. @
NinjaBloss @
lane. (Apologies for the wait!)